Policy in Social Context (11248.1)

Please note these are the 2026 details for this unit
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Policy in Social Context
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods Online real-time
 Bruce, Canberra
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Business, Government & Law
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
Canberra School Of Politics, Economics And Society Level 3 - Undergraduate Advanced Unit Band 2 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan Social Work_Exclude 0905)
Policy in Social Context expands students' knowledge of developments in the field of public policy and the impact of policy on people. Focusing on contemporary policy problems, students will define, analyse and apply these theoretical lenses against the background of a range of societal influences. The unit examines the complexities of the policy process in its political and social context. This subject will engage students in the analysis and evaluation of both the policy process and social policy outcomes.

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to: 1. Explain and evaluate the key theories and concepts developed by public policy scholars for understanding the policy process;
2. Evaluate the effectiveness of the policy processes in Australia;
3. Examine and evaluate a range of contemporary social policy issues;
4. Apply theories to real world policy scenarios to critically examine the ways in which policy is created and applied in context;
5. Collaborate on a policy analyses, utilising research and referencing and communicate the results effectively in writing; and
6. Reflect upon their unit experience, including theories, discussions and feedback, and how it relates to the goals set out in their professional portfolio.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development


Prerequisites

Must have completed 24 credit points AND
11235 Introduction to Politics and Government OR 11378 Introduction to Public Policy.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

7534 Social Policy: Government, Wealth and Welfare 8716 Civil Society: Politics and Policy

Assumed knowledge

None.
Availability for enrolment in 2026 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 03 February 2025 Online real-time Dr Michael Jensen
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 16 February 2026 Online real-time Dr Michael Jensen
The information provided should be used as a guide only. Timetables may not be finalised until week 2 of the teaching period and are subject to change. Search for the unit timetable.

Required texts

There is no assigned textbook for this unit. The required readings for the tutorials will be made available on Canvas. 

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

All assessment is to be submitted via Canvas.

Generative AI Warning

The university's position is that artificial intelligence -- specifically, generative artificial intelligence (AI) or large language models (LLMs) -- must not be used in constructing an assessment or in assessment preparation unless explicitly authorised in the assessment instructions or an assessment task published with the assessment task and/or in the unit outline. For this unit, we direct students to refrain from using these services in the production of their work. Any form of assisted work that is submitted as part of this unit will be referred to the Associate Dean as a form of academic misconduct.

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Participation requirements

Students are strongly encouraged to attend and to participate in all workshops. Students will be required to join small groups in order to complete the second assessment item.

Required IT skills

This unit involves online meetings in real time using the Virtual Room in your UCLearn teaching site. The Virtual Room allows you to communicate in real time with your lecturer and other students. To participate verbally, rather than just typing, you will need a microphone. For best audio quality we recommend a microphone and speaker headset. For more information and to test your computer, go to the Virtual Room in your UCLearn site and 'Join Course Room'. This will trigger a tutorial to help familiarise you with the functionality of the virtual room.

Standard IT skills are also needed to complete assessment items for this unit including the first assessment item which requires students to create a poster. 

Work placement, internships or practicums

None

Next step

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