External summary

What are the factors that shape the policy decisions taken by governments at supranational, national and local levels? How do these decisions interact and impact on society and on the economy? Answering such questions effectively requires an inter-disciplinary understanding of the field of public policy, drawing insights especially from politics, sociology, economics and law. With a particular focus on the social and economic policy fields that are at the heart of modern welfare states, this programme offers an advanced understanding of the political, social, economic and legal context of policy-making and government activity in modern societies. The degree draws on the School of Social and Political Science???s wide, multi-disciplinary expertise across different fields of public policy, with a focus that ranges from the local to the global.

The programme???s learning outcomes will allow students to:

• develop a detailed understanding of the range of forces that shape and constrain government action and policy choice in complex modern societies
• engage critically with different disciplinary and theoretical perspectives on public policy, especially political and economic
• assess the effectiveness of policy interventions on the basis of alternative evaluative criteria
• develop their ability to present - in written and verbal form ??? coherent and cogent assessments of policy frameworks in different fields
• use a range of research skills to plan and execute a significant project of research on a major public policy decision, reform or problem

Educational aims of programme

• to provide an advanced understanding of political, economic and social contexts of policy-making across a wide range of policy-relevant areas and policy making contexts.
• to equip students with the research skills required to analyse and research policy decisions and outcomes in a wide range of areas.
• to offer an educational setting where students from various backgrounds learn from the policy experience of their own and each others??? nations.
• to provide a recognised qualification relevant to professional work in social and public policy research and practice.

Programme outcomes: Knowledge and understanding

By the end of the programme, all students on this programme would be expected:

• to have a firm grounding in a broad set of literatures on policy making and public policy
• to know and understand core explanatory theories, concepts, and issues in policy analysis,
• to have an awareness of different models of the policy process
• to understand the use of concepts and measures in analysing policy
• to have specific in-depth knowledge about specific policy areas and/or policy settings
• to be able to analyze and evaluate policy decisions and outcomes in a wide range of policy areas,
• to be able to draw on a variety of disciplinary paradigms in the understanding policy and policy making.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in research and enquiry

Students on this programme will develop their ability to conduct independent research into policy problems to allow them to present - in written and verbal form ??? coherent, balanced arguments surrounding contemporary policy issues, actors, dynamics and outcomes. Written assessment with feedback provided, combined with individual and group oral presentations and feedback from them, will help students develop and refine these skills.

Students on this programme take a course focussed on the practice in policy making, and will also their insights to plan and execute a significant project of research on a major public policy decision, reform or problem themselves, either as a stand-alone research project or as part of a placement.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal and intellectual autonomy

Through participation in this programme students will develop skills in articulating, sustaining and defending a line of argument, and the capacity to exercise informed independent thought and critical judgement. At the end of the programme students will acknowledge the diversity of social and public policies across the world with an open mind, and be able to analyze, use and assess empirical evidence to defend or critique different explanatory and normative claims.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in communication

The opportunity for students to develop oral communication skills will be ensured through on-going coursework and seminar activities, including group work and presentations. Students will gain skills in participating effectively in seminars, workshops and discussions, and in presenting research and other scholarly research to others. Assignments will help students develop skills in effective written communication on complex issues, particularly in the synthetic presentation of complicated policy structures, processes and outcomes.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal effectiveness

Students on this programme are encouraged to work independently both in their coursework and in their final project. They will develop the ability to think clearly and produce work under pressure to meet deadlines. In executing the dissertation project they will hone their skills in working autonomously while seeking advice efficiently and where this is appropriate.

Programme outcomes: Technical/practical skills

Students will develop practical skills in the areas of making presentations, participating effectively in group work and locating and using sources of (especially government-produced) information on public policy issues. To complete the degree successfully they will need skills in efficiently locating relevant policy information through library and on-line resources. The dissertation project will be an opportunity for students to apply and refine particular practical skills, for example in elite interviewing, statistical analysis of pubic data sets or comparative research. The degree does not involve other ???high-level technical skills, e.g. those involving significant time within the laboratory.???

Programme structure and features

SCCF credit points and exit awards:

Successful completion of 180 credits is required for an award of MSc: 120 taught credits (level 11) plus 60 credits for the dissertation.  Students completing only 120 taught credits may be eligible for a degree of Postgraduate Diploma.

Programme Structure

The programme includes

A. 40 credits: Two required core courses; Political Issues in Public Policy (PGSP11247) (semester 1) and Policy in Action (PGSP11522) (semester 2) .

B. 80 optional credits from a list of relevant public policy courses and courses focussed on specific analytical techniques, mainly in the School of Social and Political Science

C. 60 credits: Dissertation

Modes of study: MSc full-time (12 months) or part-time (24 months)

Progression and Awards: To proceed to the dissertation, students must have an overall average of at least 50% for the six taught courses.  The Postgraduate Diploma is awarded if the overall average is between 40% and 50%.  In addition, at least four of the marks must be 50% or more. To graduate with an MSc, students also have to pass the dissertation with a mark of at least 50%.

The MSc degree may be awarded with distinction.  To achieve a distinction, a student must be awarded at least 70% on the University???s Common Marking Scheme for the dissertation, and must pass all other courses with an average of at least 70%. Borderlines (from two percentage points below the boundary up to the boundary itself), for both the dissertation and course average elements, are considered for distinctions.

The Diploma can be awarded on the basis of coursework alone.

Teaching and learning methods and strategies

The MSc in Public Policy courses include a broad range of teaching and learning methods.  Most courses included a lecture component and a seminar discussion including interactive methods including student debate, individual or group presentations, and small group discussions. Some courses are organised through primarily web-based learning supported by regular workshops. On each course students have opportunities to complete formative assessment, with feedback to inform their development of relevant academic skills during the course. The School of Social and Political Science has its own reading room and computing lab for SPS students. In semester 2 creative learning week features dozens of opportunities for exciting workshops and events linked to problem-based learning, creating learning space, using film and social media.

Assessment methods and strategies

The courses include a variety of assessment methods, including essays and reports, policy briefs, but also assessed seminar presentations, book reviews and contributions to online discussion fora. Feedback is provided on all written work, and most assessed presentations will also receive written or verbal feedback. Feedback is provided in line with the Graduate school policy on second-marking and moderation. Courses will include possibilities for formative assessment. The dissertation is a 15,000 analysis of a major public policy decision, reform or problem.

Career opportunities

The MSc Public Policy opens up a wide variety of career opportunities and scope for further study. Recent graduates have gone on to employment within government at European, national and sub-national local levels, as parliamentary assistants/researchers, in the health and education administrations, with a range of think tanks and policy consultancies and in the charity/voluntary sector. Others have progressed to doctoral study at the University of Edinburgh and other world-leading research Universities in a number of countries.

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