POLS206-17S2 (C) Semester Two 2017

Public Policy: An Introduction

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 17 July 2017
End Date: Sunday, 19 November 2017
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Friday, 28 July 2017
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Friday, 13 October 2017

Description

This course introduces the concepts of and approaches to studying public policy. Focusing on technology policy areas including health, population, genetic engineering, human reproduction, environmental and information technology, the course examines the interaction of technology, society, and public policy and clarifies the intricacies of the policy process in light of technological change.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will:
1) understand core concepts and major approaches of public policy analysis and decision-making;
2) be able to conduct policy research and issue analysis and write an effective policy memo;
3) be able to apply policy tools and concepts to real-world controversies;
4) understand public policy analysis as both an applied/professional field and as an academic discipline;
5) be able to identify tensions between science, expertise, policy-making and democracy in specific cases;
6) be able to articulate the values and interests that underpin their own policy views.

Prerequisites

15 points in POLS at 100-level; Or HLTH101, or
HLTH106 or HSRV101. Students not meeting the prerequisites but with at least a B average in 60 points in appropriate courses may be admitted to take Political Science and International Relations courses at the 200-level with the approval of the Programme Director.

Lecturer

Amy Fletcher

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Midterm Test 21 Aug 2017 20% class time, MC + concepts + 1 short essay
Final Exam 30% As scheduled by Registry. 2 essay questions.
Tutorial Attendance 10% 1 point each, week 3 through 12
Public Policy Memo 17 Oct 2017 30% 2600 words
In-Class Futures Exercise 02 Oct 2017 10% 2 hours

Textbooks / Resources

Required Texts

Fischhoff, Baruch and John Kadvany; Risk: A Very Short Introduction ; Oxford University Press, 2011.

Pielke, Roger A.,1968-; The honest broker : making sense of science in policy and politics ; Cambridge University Press, 2007.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $732.00

International fee $2,975.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences .

All POLS206 Occurrences

  • POLS206-17S2 (C) Semester Two 2017