PROGRAMME APPROVAL FORM SECTION 1 THE PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION 1. Programme title and designation Public Policy For undergraduate programmes only Single honours Joint Major/minor 2. Final award Award Title Credit ECTS Any special criteria value equivalent MA Public Policy 180-210 90-105 n/a 3. Nested award Award Title Credit ECTS Any special criteria value equivalent n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 4. Exit award Award Title Credit ECTS Any special criteria value equivalent PGDip Public Policy 120-140 60-70 n/a PG Cert Public Policy 60 70 30-35 n/a 5. Level in the qualifications framework M 6. Attendance Mode of attendance Minimum length of programme Full-time Part-time Distance learning X X N/A 1 year 2 years N/A Maximum length of programme 4 years 4 years N/A 7. Awarding institution/body King s College, London 8. Teaching institution King s College, London 9. Proposing department Department of Political Economy 10. Programme organiser and contact Professor Ken Young, x 2708 Details ken.young@kcl.ac.uk 11. UCAS code (if appropriate) N/A 12. Relevant QAA subject benchmark/ Professional, statutory and regulatory N/A
body guidelines 13. Date of production of specification September 2005 14. Date of programme review 2018/19 15. Educational aims of the programme i.e. what is the purpose of the programme and general statements about the learning that takes place over the duration of the programme The central programme aim is to develop the student s understanding of the factors which shape the emergence and development of public policy, and deepen that understanding through the study of a selection of substantive policy areas. Specifically, the programme aims: to enable students to apply critically the key theories and concepts used in policy analysis to the policy making process to equip students with the skills necessary to engage with the key debates about the working of the policy process in democratic societies to broaden and deepen the student s appreciation of common policy problems and the ways they are addressed in different societies to provide a stimulating teaching and learning environment by allowing students to benefit from first hand exposure to staff research to provide an open and supportive learning environment by encouraging students to draw on their own experiences and relate them to the courses for students progressing from the taught component to the dissertation: to offer skilled supervision to enable students to attain a level of competence in the design and execution of a policy-analysis research project. 16. Educational objectives of the programme/programme outcomes (as relevant to the SEEC Credit Level Descriptors) On successful completion of this programme, students will be able to demonstrate: understanding of the different conceptual and theoretical approaches to the study of public policy that have arisen in political science knowledge and perspectives for a political orientation for policy analysis understanding of the key concepts and debates about making, implementing and evaluating public policy the ability to compare and contrast the ways in which common policy problems and issues are approached in different political systems awareness of the ways in which knowledge is constructed and deployed in the policy process a deepened conceptual grasp acquired through the study of a range of optional courses in e.g defence and security studies, education, health, gerontology or human geography or area studies. and for students progressing from the taught component to the dissertation: the ability to present undertake policy-relevant research and present findings in a professional manner their acquisition of transferable competences and skills, equipping them for a career as a policy analyst in the public service or to proceed to the next stage of a higher degree by research. The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding and skills in the following areas:
Knowledge and understanding The programme provides a knowledge and understanding of the following: different conceptual and theoretical approaches to the study of public policy perspectives arising within a political orientation towards policy analysis key concepts and debates about making, implementing and evaluating public policy awareness of the ways in which knowledge is constructed and deployed in the policy process a deepened contextual and conceptual understanding acquired through the study of a range of optional courses in defence and security studies, education, health, gerontology and human geography. These are achieved through the following teaching/learning methods and strategies: Knowledge and understanding in these areas is acquired through a combination of: Lectures designed to provide students with the theoretical basis for understanding key approaches in public policy analysis Classes, small group discussions and syndicate work Independent study focused on key essential and supplementary reading attendance at fortnightly seminars given by visiting speakers from civil service, political parties, local authorities etc., with the opportunity for students to question the speakers in both formal and informal settings An extended research project to be submitted for the dissertation Option courses selected to provide depth of understanding of a range of areas of public policy, and the analyses developed within those specialist fields. Skills and other attributes Assessment: By coursework essays designed to assess students knowledge and understanding of key processes and their ability to sustain a critical argument. For option courses a mix of assessment methods, including unseen examinations, extended essays both formative and summative and oral and group presentations supplement the core courses. Intellectual skills: The ability to compare and contrast the ways in which common policy problems arise and are approached in different political systems the ability to analyse the relationship between policy and practice in a range of These are achieved through the following teaching/learning methods and strategies: Intellectual skills are developed through the teaching and learning strategies outlined above, which are designed to facilitate the students acquisition of relevant knowledge
areas, including the influence of organisational and professional influences the ability to perform a critical reading of published policy studies and evaluate their rigour, validity and relevance the ability to provide a reasoned assessment of the feasibility of policy proposals the ability to think critically and independently the ability to plan, develop and undertake policy-relevant research the ability to engage critically with the issues arising in a range of substantive policy areas. and understanding, together with the development of appropriate critical research skills; specifically by: independent critical reading and thinking in preparation for lectures, classes and assignments peer group discussion collaborative work in groups preparation of work for presentation to course members preparation and development of dissertation proposals (MA candidates) tuition for dissertation project (MA candidates) Assessment: Intellectual skills are assessed by coursework presented on the core courses, as well as informal assessment and feedback on performance on individual group and syndicate presentation sessions. The ability to plan, develop and undertake policy-relevant research is formally assessed by the dissertation and informally in the workshops on project preparation. Skills in respect of substantive policy areas are assessed by the spectrum of methods used in the option courses. Practical skills: the ability to undertake policy-relevant research the ability to present findings in a professional manner, both orally and in writing the ability to identify and source secondary literature and primary research material the ability to use appropriate information technology These are achieved through the following teaching/learning methods and strategies: Practical skills are developed through the teaching and learning programme which in the core courses makes use of case studies as well as coursework and presentations. The first and third of these in particular are developed through workshop attendance in preparation for the research-based dissertation. The dissertation is also key to the acquisition of a high standard of presentation skill. Assessment: Practical skills are formally assessed by coursework and informally by presentations, using IT appropriately as an adjunct to oral delivery, as well as in the submission of the research dissertation.
Generic/transferable skills: The ability to tackle problems in a rigorous and open-minded fashion, in a spirit of critical enquiry Develop effective and sustainable learning skills Work effectively as a member of a team Manage time and input to best effect in fulfilling individual assignments Make effective use of IT Write clear and well-focused reports Deliver findings to audiences with clarity and confidence These are achieved through the following teaching/learning methods and strategies: Generic and transferable skills are developed throughout the teaching and learning programme outlined above and specifically through individual and group assignments in the core courses and, where applicable, across the spectrum of option courses. Assessment: Generic and transferable skills are informally assessed primarily through coursework assignments and exercises, where students are required to work both jointly and individually and by performance on assessed coursework and, in the case of some option courses, by unseen written examinations. 17. Statement of how the programme has been informed by the relevant subject benchmark statement(s)/professional, statutory and regulatory body guidelines The programme has been designed with reference to the framework for Masters level qualifications published by the QAA. There is as yet no Masters level benchmark statement for Politics and International Studies, within which this programme largely falls. However, the 2007 Honours statement for that discipline (Section 4.14 Knowledge and understanding of the subject) records that graduates in Politics will, inter alia be able to apply concepts, theories and methods used in the study of politics to the analysis of political ideas, institutions and practices and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of different political systems, and evaluate different interpretations of political issues and events. At 4.16 (Generic intellectual skills) the QAA panel aver that graduates in Politics and International Relations will be able to gather, organize and deploy evidence, data and information from a variety of secondary and some primary sources; identify, investigate, analyse, formulate and advocate solutions to problems; construct reasoned argument, synthesize relevant information and exercise critical judgement; reflect on their own learning and seek and make use of constructive feedback; manage their own learning self-critically; and recognise the importance of explicit referencing and the ethical requirements of study which requires critical and reflective use of information and communications technology in the learning process. While this is a level 7 programme proposal and, as such, a specialised, advanced course, its design has nonetheless taken account of how these benchmarks might be built upon at a higher level of study. 18. In cases of joint honours programmes please provide a rationale for the particular subject combination, either educational or academic N/A
19. Programme structure Please complete the following table and, if appropriate, to include joint, major/minor or other variations Code = code of each module available for the programme Title = title of each module available for the programme, plus its credit level and credit value Status = please indicate whether the module is introductory (I), core (Cr), compulsory (Cp), one or more of however many modules must be passed to progress (CrCp), (P) professional (i.e. module testing skills/competency that has no credit level or value but is a professional body requirement) or optional (O) for each type of programme. For postgraduate programmes use the "single honours" column Pre-requisite/Co-requisite = where appropriate please indicate whether the module is pre-requisite to another module or co-requisite by noting pre or co and the module code that it is pre/co-requisite to. Assessment = please indicate in broad terms the assessment for the module eg written examinations, coursework (Note: the availability of optional modules may vary slightly from year to year; the following are the modules available at the commencement of the programme) Code Title Credit Level Credit Value Status (I, Cr, Cp, CrCp, P, O) for each type of module Single Joint Major/ Minor Pre-requisite/ Corequisite (Please note the module code) Single Joint Major/ Minor Assessment Full-time Study 7SSPP001 The Policy Process 7 20 Cp Coursework 7SSPP002 Comparative Public Policy 7 20 Cp Coursework 7SSMM401 Management of the Public Services 7 20 Cp Written examination 7SSPP003 Research Dissertation 7 60 Cr Graded proposal and final dissertation Students must take at least 40 credits from the following modules: 7SSPP004 Designing Public Policy 7 20 O Coursework
7SSPP005 Evaluating Public Policy 7 20 O Coursework 7SSPP007 Public Policy Internship 7 20 O Presentation and internship report 7SSPP008 Liberty, Equality and Justice: 7 20 O Coursework Political Theory and Public Policy 7SSPP009 Case Studies in Policy Decision 7 20 O 7SSPP Group presentation and coursework 001 7SSPP020 European Public Policy 7 20 O Coursework 7SSPP014 US Foreign Policy 7 20 O Coursework 7SSPP015 Quantitative Methods for Public 7 20 O Written examination Policy 7SSPP016 The Regulatory State: Theory and 7 20 O Coursework Practice 7SSMM402 Economics of Public Management 7 15 O Written examination 7SSMM405 Research Methods in Public 7 15 O Take-home test and coursework Policy and Management 7SSMM406 Human Resource Management in 7 15 O Coursework and written examination the Public Services 7SSMM407 Education and Training Policies 7 15 O Coursework and written examination and Programmes 7SSMM409 Key Issues in Health Policy 7 15 O Coursework and written examination 7SSMM411 New Public Management in the 7 20 O Coursework and written examination UK Defence Sector 7SSMM414 Leadership and Innovation in the Public Services: Theory & 7 15 O Coursework and assessed course participation Practice 7SSMM415 Strategic Management in Public 7 15 O Group presentation and written examination
Services Organisations Students may take up to 30 credits from the following modules: 7SSPP010 Public policy and the governance 7 20 O Coursework of complex societies 7SSPP011 The Third Sector and Public 7 20 Coursework Policy 7SSPP019 Religion, Politics and Policy 7 20 Coursework and presentation 7SSPP024 Public Policy and the Global 7 20 Coursework Financial Crisis 7SSPP031 Science Policy, Innovation and 7 20 Coursework Society 7SSPP032 Global Health Policy 7 20 Coursework 7SSPP040 Disaster Management and Policy 7 20 O Coursework Change 7SSPP113 Emerging Asia: Opportunities and 7 20 O Coursework complexities Exceptionally, students may select as options other level 7 modules offered by King s College London with the approval of the programme director. 7 30 O varies Part-time Study First Year 7SSPP001 The Policy Process 7 20 Cp Coursework 7SSPP002 Comparative Public Policy 7 20 Cp Coursework
Second Year 7SSMM401 Management of the Public 7 20 Cp Written examination Services 7SSPP003 Research Dissertation 7 60 Cr Dissertation Students must take at least 40 credits from the following modules in their first or subsequent year of study: 7SSPP004 Designing Public Policy 7 20 O Coursework 7SSPP005 Evaluating Public Policy 7 20 O Coursework 7SSPP007 Public Policy Internship 7 20 O Presentation and internship report 7SSPP008 Liberty, Equality and Justice: 7 20 O Coursework Political Theory and Public Policy 7SSPP009 Case Studies in Policy Decision 7 20 O Group presentation and coursework 7SSPP020 European Public Policy 7 20 O Coursework 7SSPP014 US Foreign Policy 7 20 O Coursework 7SSPP015 Quantitative Methods for Public 7 20 O Written examination Policy 7SSPP016 The Regulatory State: Theory and 7 20 O Coursework Practice 7SSMM402 Economics of Public Management 7 15 O Written examination 7SSMM405 Research Methods in Public 7 15 O Take-home test and coursework Policy and Management 7SSMM406 Human Resource Management in 7 15 O Coursework and written examination the Public Services 7SSMM407 Education and Training Policies 7 15 O Coursework and written examination and Programmes
7SSMM409 Key Issues in Health Policy 7 15 O Coursework and written examination 7SSMM411 New Public Management in the 7 20 O Coursework and written examination Defence Sector 7SSMM414 Leadership and Innovation in the Public Services: Theory & 7 15 O Coursework and assessed course participation Practice 7SSMM415 Strategic Management in Public Services Organisations 7 15 O Group presentation and written examination Students may take up to 30 credits from the following list in their first or subsequent year of study: 7SSPP011 The Third Sector and Public 7 20 O Coursework Policy 7SSPP031 Science Policy, Innovation and 7 20 O Coursework Society 7SSPP024 Public Policy and the Global 7 20 O Coursework Financial Crisis 7SSPP032 Global Health Policy 7 20 O Coursework 7SSPP019 Religion, Politics and Policy 7 20 O Coursework and presentation 7SSPP113 Emerging Asia: Opportunities and 7 20 O Coursework complexities 7SSPP010 Public policy and the governance 7 20 O Coursework of complex societies 7SSPP040 Disaster Management and Policy 7 20 O Coursework Change Exceptionally, students may select as options other level 7 modules offered by King s College 7 30 O varies
London with the approval of the programme director. If a Masters programme, are level 6 credit levels permitted within the programme? NO Maximum number of credits permitted with a condoned fail (core modules excluded) 30 Are students permitted to take any additional credits, as per regulations A3? to a maximum of 30 credits Are students permitted to take a substitute module, as per regulations A3? With programme director s agreement for option modules Are there are any exceptions to the regulations regarding credits, progression or award requirements? (where relevant the information should also differentiate the particular requirements of pathways within a programme or nested/exit awards) NO Other relevant information to explain the programme structure Please note that new students enrolling on the information provided on this section of the PAF will have these regulations stipulated throughout their programme of study. The only exception to this will be if there are changes made by Professional, Regulatory or Statutory Bodies that are noted to this programme. n/a
20. Marking criteria The College generic criteria for assessment of postgraduate work apply to the assessment of this Programme, with the addition that no mark in any element may fall below 40%. 21. Particular features of the programme which help to reduce the barriers experienced by disabled students and ensure that the programme is accessible to all students who meet the entry requirements All sessions are taught in Strand or Waterloo main buildings, which are accessible to students with disabilities. Teaching staff are located in a building which is also accessible to students with disabilities. There are a number of ways in which staff provide more general pastoral care to students with disabilities. All students have one member of the Department s academic staff as their Personal Tutor. Because of the small size of the Department (four permanent members of academic staff, all of whom teach on the Programme), students report communication with staff as excellent. Staff liaise with the School s disability advisor, on any issue affecting a disabled student. All students have access to Student Welfare Services.