This undergraduate-level course provides a comprehensive introduction to the study of public policy. Through lectures, discussions, simulations, and assignments, students will gain an in-depth understanding of the policy process and the complex dynamics that shape policy outcomes.
Over 14 sessions, we will explore key theories, concepts, and analytical frameworks related to the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of public policies at the national and international levels. Students will examine the roles of institutions, interests, ideas, and governance models in policy-making. The course takes a comparative approach, analyzing policy processes across different political and institutional contexts.
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Explain the key elements, typologies, and dimensions of public policy
- Understand agenda-setting and problem definition in the policy process
- Analyze the roles of actors and institutions in policy-making
- Apply theoretical models and concepts to explain policy processes
- Evaluate the determinants of successful policy implementation
- Analyze modes of governance and their implications for policy
- Examine policy change, convergence, and transfer globally
- Develop research questions and perform basic policy analysis
Through interactive discussions, stimulating readings, and an engaging role-play simulation, this course will equip students with a sophisticated understanding of public policy and governance. It will enable them to think critically about real-world policy issues and provide practical tools to pursue policy-related academic and professional paths.