The Government, Policy and Society with Quantitative Methods Programme is specifically designed for students interested in the content of public policy, the process by which policy is made, and its impact on society. If you are fascinated by how politicians and civil servants make decisions; how they are constrained by resource constraints, developments in the global economy, market forces and existing institutions; how crucial areas of social policy, such as health, education, inequality, welfare and employment are shape; the relationship between government and society; the ways in which various non-governmental actors try to influence policy; and how quantitative evidence might cast light on all these questions, then this is the programme for you. GPS with QM allows students to engage with core debates that divide political opinion on how to develop societies positively. GPS with QM is committed both to interdisciplinary learning and to understanding the interactions of multiple levels of government in the policy process. Students will be enabled to do so by engaging with core concepts from diverse social science disciplines such as political science, social policy, sociology, economics, and public administration and then be able to specialise in specific policy areas of their interest. And our expertise covers Scotland, the UK, the European Union, and the international as well as the linkages between these levels of government. Learning about the workings of government and the development of policy in the capital of a powerful sub-state is a highly enriching experience. This degree has been developed as a strategic response to employers’ request to have more quantitatively trained graduate social scientists. Students with quantitative skills integrated with an understanding of social policy are very attractive to a range of employers, as they will be able to effectively engage with and produce social statistics.
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