Public Policy in Theory and Practice (8785.2)

Please note these are the 2016 details for this unit
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Public Policy in Theory and Practice
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods
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)
This unit introduces students to the origins of and developments in research in the field of public policy and applies these theoretical lenses to contemporary policy challenges. The unit examines the nature of the policy process, the role of key actors and institutions and the challenges of administration and policy implementation. The unit seeks to engage students in the analysis and criticism of both the policy process and policy outcomes.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the complexity of the public policy process and the challenges facing policy makers;
2. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the key theories developed by public policy scholars for understanding the policy process;
3. Apply these frameworks to real world policy examples; and
4. Demonstrate key skills needed to undertake policy analysis.


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 - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
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
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures


Skills development

Public Policy in Theory and Practice is designed to help students further develop a number of their graduate attributes. 



Prerequisites

675 Politics and Democracy OR 9548 Introduction to Politics OR 8296 Introduction to Politics and Government OR 9549 Introduction to Western Political Thought OR 6606 Government-Business Relations

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

9555 Ethics and Public Policy

Equivalent units

7074 Introduction to Public Policy 9555 Ethics and Public Policy

Assumed knowledge

None.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
Not available

Required texts

There is no set text for this unit. Details of the weekly readings will be provided via the unit's Canvas page. All readings will be freely available to students in digital format.

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

Participation in tutorials is essential if you would like to do well in 8785's in-class team test.

A large body of research shows that attending lectures, and taking notes, greatly assists in learning. Coming to lectures, and using the echo360 recordings to revise your notes, is a solid strategy to adopt if your aim is to do well in this unit. 

Required IT skills

None.

Work placement, internships or practicums

An opt-in work integrated learning program is available to any interested student. Please contact the unit convenor (Dr Gagnon) for more.