GV4E9      One Unit
Approaches and Issues in Public Policy and Administration

This information is for the 2025/26 session.

Course Convenor

Availability

The course is designed to introduce MSc students to major issues in understanding public administration and policy. Students will be divided into two to four classes, depending on the number of students taking the course. 18 of the lectures will reflect the topics to be covered in the weekly classes addressing key themes in Public Policy and Public Administration. Some of the lectures may be given by other colleagues teaching on the MSc degree as well as by outside speakers. 2 lectures and classes will cover dissertation writing (for GV499) in the field of public policy and administration.

10 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the Autumn Term.
10 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the Winter Term.

This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Autumn and Winter Term.

Essay (2000 words) in Autumn Term Week 11

One formative assessment in the AT.

Arjen Boin and Martin Lodge (2024) The Politics of Policymaking; Christoph Knill and Jale Tosun (2020) Public Policy; Paul Cairney (2019) Understanding Public Policy; Merilee Grindle (2012) Jobs for the Boys; B Guy Peters (2018) Politics of Bureaucracy (7th edn); David L Weimer and Aidan R Vining (2016) Policy analysis: Concepts and practice; Steve Balla, Martin Lodge and Edward C Page (eds) (2015) Oxford Handbook on the Classics of Public Policy.

Exam (80%), duration: 180 Minutes in the Spring exam period

Course participation (20%)

The course participation element will be assessed in both the AT and WT.