AIP230 - Understanding Public Policy
Unit details
Year: | 2020 unit information |
---|---|
Important Update: | Classes and seminars in Trimester 2/Semester 2, 2020 will be online. Physical distancing for coronavirus (COVID-19) will affect delivery of other learning experiences in this unit. Please check your unit sites for announcements and updates one week prior to the start of your trimester or semester. Last updated: 2 June 2020 |
Enrolment modes: | Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Cloud (online), CBD* |
Credit point(s): | 1 |
EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
Unit Chair: | Trimester 1: Amy Nethery |
Prerequisite: | Nil |
Corequisite: | Nil |
Incompatible with: | Nil |
Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. |
Scheduled learning activities - campus: | 1 x 2-hour class per week |
Scheduled learning activities - cloud: | 1 x 2-hour class per week (recordings provided) |
Note:*CBD refers to the National Indigenous Knowledges, Education, Research and Innovation (NIKERI) Institute; Community Based Delivery |
Content
In this unit, we study public policy from three key viewpoints:
- We investigate the relationship between government and citizens, the role of policy in the lives of citizens, and contribution of different actors to the policy making process.
- We examine various areas of public policy in depth, analysing each in terms of policy development; actors; institutions; instruments; context (political, social, economic, historical); and human impact.
- We develop skills central to policy work, including preparing policy briefings and conducting policy analysis.
These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this unit At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | ||
ULO1 | Review and analyse major theoretical, conceptual, and policy debates about the nature and significance of politics and governance, the differences between political systems, and the contexts in which they operate | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
ULO2 | Effectively communicate the findings and analyses of research that deploys political concepts, theories and technical knowledge, in a selection of written, digital and oral formats, and to a range of readers and audiences | GLO2: Communication |
ULO3 | Employ a range of generic and specialist politics-specific digital communication technologies to apply political knowledge, to conduct political research, and to deliver reports and presentations to a diverse range of readers and audiences within and outside the field | GLO3: Digital literacy |
ULO4 | Analyse and critically evaluate different interpretations of political phenomena. Demonstrate knowledge of the different research methods used to investigate political phenomena. Recognise the importance of ethical standards of conduct in the research and analysis of politics | GLO4: Critical thinking |
ULO5 | Employ initiative and creativity when using accepted evidence-based methods of political science to generate approaches and solutions to complex problems of politics and governance at all levels from interpersonal relations to forums at local, national, regional, and global levels | GLO5: Problem solving |
ULO6 | Demonstrate autonomy, responsibility, accountability and a continued commitment to learning and skill development, as a reflective practitioner, while working in political science | GLO6: Self-management |
ULO7 | Analyse and address political issues in both domestic and global contexts as a reflective scholar and practitioner, taking into consideration cultural and socio-economic diversity, social and environmental responsibility and the application of the highest ethical standards | GLO8: Global citizenship |
These Unit Learning Outcomes are applicable for all teaching periods throughout the year
Assessment
Trimester 1:Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
---|---|---|---|
Assessment 1 - Research and Writing Exercise | 500 words | 10% | Week 6 |
Assessment 2 - Report | 750 words | 20% | Week 8 |
Assessment 3 - Report | 750 words | 20% | Week 11 |
Assessment 4 - Essay | 2000 words | 50% | Week 12 |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning Resource
The texts and reading list for the unit can be found on the University Library via the link below: AIP230 Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
Click on the fee link below which describes you: