Course Details in 2024/25 Session

Module Title	LM Making Policy
School	Government
Department	International Development
Module Code	07 08345
Module Lead	Fiona Nunan and Adrian Campbell
Level	Masters Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 2
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Exclusions
Description	Making policy is at the heart of government. It sounds simple, but in reality policy making is a complex process, with competing interests trying to influence the agenda and design of solutions, with those with more power and resources more likely to influence policy. A wide range of strategies are used by those seeking to influence policy, making it important to understand how a policy process works and which strategies are best to use to gain influence. This module is essential for those students working in government, or intending to work in government, and playing a role in making, implementing and/or evaluating policy. It is also essential for those who hope to play a role in influencing policy, whether that’s through an NGO, a campaign group or a think tank. You will gain knowledge of policy-making and skills in making, analysing and influencing policy that will be of real use to you in the policy world. The emphasis of the module is on the process of making policy, rather than on the content. Key concepts associated with policy analysis are introduced to analyse the process of policy-making, providing students with: a better understanding of how policies are made; an appreciation of the complexity of the policy process; familiarity with key factors that limit the government’s ability to achieve its goals; and the ability to identify links between the various levels of constraints facing policy makers.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module the student should be able to: Critique the main decision-making theories and models of the policy process; Apply institutional analysis to policy-making situations to explain the roles and interests of institutions; Analyse the role of policy communities and policy networks and critique these approaches; Evaluate policy issues in terms of agenda-setting and relationships between policy decision and policy implementation; Critically evaluate and assess the outcomes of policy decisions; Be familiar with key concepts and theories from the policy analysis literature; Apply policy analysis concepts and theories to ‘real world’ scenarios; Have a deeper understanding of the richness of the policy process; Think more rigorously about the ways in which public policies might be formulated; Appreciate the difficulties facing those who seek to tackle social problems.
Assessment	08345-01 : Policy Paper- 2000 words : Coursework (50%) 08345-02 : Essay - 2500 words : Coursework (50%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: 1 x 2000 word Policy Paper (50%) and 1 x 2500 word essay (50%) Reassessment: Completion of an essay from the list that has not yet been submitted by the student
Other
Reading List	Hudson, J. and S. Lowe (2009) Understanding the Policy Process: Analysing Welfare Policy and Practice, 2nd edn., Bristol: Polity Press. Howlett, M., M. Ramesh and A. Perl (2009) Studying Public Policy: Policy Cycles and Policy Subsystems, 3rd edn., Oxford: Oxford University Press. Knill, C. and J. Tosun (2012) Public Policy: A New Introduction, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.