Public Policy Problems

POLI30291 Public Policy Problems 20 Semester 1 Undergraduate Level 3 Nicholas Turnbull Unit coordinator Politics 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Last part of a Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 10.0 The course will cover academic scholarship on the major contemporary issues being debated in public policy studies. Students will learn about the contested nature of policy problems, with particular emphasis on the use of knowledge and the role of politics in the construction and framing of problems.  They will study the major theories of public policy and the policy process. Key debates addressed include controversies about the stages of policymaking, policy design, policy networks, narrative theory, implementation, multi-level   governance, policy learning, and evaluation.  Students will also consider the role of ideology and power in problem formulation and policy responses. The research case study will involve in-depth analysis of a problem, its causes and effects, the scope for government action from local to national and supra-national levels, and a deep knowledge of policymaking in the case study.  The course content will be developed with regard to advancing upon, but not duplicating, the Year 2 undergraduate module, The Politics of Policy Making POLI20801.  The two modules will provide a pathway for Politics students specialising in public policy studies, leading to our Masters pathway in political science, Governance and Public Policy.     The unit aims to: teach students key ideas in the field of public policy and give them an   authentic experience of researching a public policy problem for government. The core of the course is learning the latest theories of public policymaking and governing. This will cover debates about the nature and scope of public policy problems, theories of the policy process, symbolic meaning and narratives in policy, theories of policy change, and the political power of government, business and non-government activists in policymaking. The research aspect of the course involves analysing a contemporary public policy problem,   from its causes and effects through to possible solutions. Students will learn how to   research a policy problem, devise a policy response and write a policy Briefing Paper based on real-world practice. They will produce practical recommendations to government for policy change. They will relate theories learnt in the lectures to the case study, linking theory and practice. The course aims to give students a strong knowledge of public policy studies and also to train them to become policy analysts after graduation.The case study for 2026-27: The UK Water Pollution Problem Understand and critically analyse theories of public policy   Understand the institutional and political context of UK governance   Understand the dimensions and causes of a contemporary policy problem  Understand contemporary public policy solutions to that problem   Understand the political process of policymaking     Critically analyse a social problem   Critically analyse government policy on that problem   Discover knowledge for policymaking and assess its quality   Identify and reflect upon the exercise of power in public policymaking  Develop persuasive arguments for policy proposals   Understand and strategise for political contingencies   Conduct research into policy problems  Work collaboratively on a policy research project  Devise and justify a practical recommendation to government for policy  change   Present ideas effectively to an audience of their peers   Use digital sources and software in research and collaboration  Work autonomously in an independent manner   Acquire skills in public policy analysis   Acquire skills in collaborative work and project planning The course is taught by two different means. First, is a conventional one-hour lecture focusing on scholarly theory and empirical research on public policy. The second means is a 2-hour workshop format, replicating a real-world experience of researching, discussing and writing a policy Briefing Paper for government. This is based on a real-world guide to Cabinet submissions. Students develop their own policy idea and learn how to justify and argue for it in a political context. The workshops are mainly students working together in small groups and as a whole class. The key approach is learning through practice. Students find this type of task is exactly what is required of them when applying for policy-related jobs in government and other sectors, so there is a strong employability dimension.  1 Written exam 50% 2 Written assignment (inc essay) 50% Y Lectures 10 Practical classes & workshops 20 0 170 Total Learning Hours = 200