Postgraduate Course: Policy Analysis for Social Justice (EDUA11326)
Course Outline
| School | Moray House School of Education |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Online Distance Learning |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course focuses on the challenges of enacting social justice ideas, principles and practices in policy-making processes. Because scholars, activists and practitioners for social justice are particularly interested in disputes about the fair allocation of resources and the experiences of marginalised groups in public and private spaces, this course aims to introduce students to the contested processes, strategies and actors involved in social policy making and implementation at the local, national and international levels. In addition, this course will offer a range of frameworks and strategies for shaping and influencing the policy process in different contexts. |
| Course description |
What's the problem represented to be? Frameworks for understanding the construction of social policy problems
Understanding the policy making process: Actors, resources and institutional constraints
Strategies for influence and advocacy in policy-making and policy implementation
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | none |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | none |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2017/18, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
| Course Start Date |
15/01/2018 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
196 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Indicative assessment:
Task 1: Briefing Paper (70%, Equivalent 3,000 words): In consultation with the course organiser, students will choose a contemporary public policy relevant to them and using language accessible for a popular audience, provide a background and overview of the key disputes around the policy area; provide a summary of the enacted policy; offer key recommendations and conclusions; and provide a dissemination plan for the briefing.
Task 2: Group project (30%): Working in groups using a group wiki, students will choose a contemporary policy dispute and develop an advocacy strategy for influencing the key policy actors and the chosen policy development, resourcing and implementation processes. The group wiki forms the basis of the formative assessment and part of the summative assessment for this course.
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| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Critically analyse the processes, strategies, actors and resources in policy-making for social justice
- Compare and contrast competing frameworks for understanding the constructions of policy problems and solutions, policy processes and policy-making environments
- Understand and evaluate strategies and tactics for influence and advocacy in the policy- making process
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Reading List
Indicative reading list:
Bacchi, C. (1999) Women, Policy and Politics: The Construction of Policy Problems. London: Sage.
Choudry, A. and Kapoor, D. (eds) (2013) Learning from the Ground Up: Global Perspectives on Social Movements and Knowledge Production. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Keane. J. (2003) Global Civil Society? Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Kech, M.E. and Sikink, K. (1998) Activists Beyond Borders: Advocacy Networks in International Politics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Lang, S. (2012) NGOs, Civil Society and the Public Sphere. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
McGrew, D. and Held, D. (2002) Governing Globalisation: Power, Authority and Global Governance. London: Polity.
Scholte, J.A. (2005) Globalisation: A Critical Introduction. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Veneklassen, L. and Miller, V. (2007) A New Weave of Power, People, and Politics: The Action Guide for Advocacy and Citizen Participation. New York: Practical Action.
Weiss, T.G. (2013) Global Governance: Why? What? Whither? London: Polity.
Yeats, N. (2014) Understanding Global Social Policy. Bristol: Policy Press. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Critical analysis, Oral and written communication skills, Access research materials |
| Keywords | public policy,policy analysis,policy advocacy,participation,citizenship,democracy |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Callum Mcgregor
Tel:
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Angela Hunter
Tel: (0131 6)51 1196
Email: |
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