Public Policy, _MSc

Candidates must take the following compulsory courses:

• PD5006 Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (0 credit points)
• PI50xx Approaches to Public Policy (30 credit points) [new course]

PLUS 30 credit points from following optional courses:

• SL5011 Advanced Qualitative Methods in Social Science (30 credit points)

• SO5014 Advanced Social Theory (30 credit points)

• SO5015 Policy Evaluation (30 credit points)

• PI5007 International Political Economy: Theory and Themes (30 credit points)

Compulsory Courses

PI50xx Approaches to Public Policy (30 credit points)
This course provides an overview of the main frameworks and theories applied to the study of public policy, along with practical examples of their application. It aims to introduce students to the systematic study of public policy, as well as to bring to them a range of empirical cases that illustrate the approaches in the field. This course will take students through the main approach to the study of public policy, illustrating each with empirical examples from around the world. The course will include frameworks and approaches including:

• Definitions of policy
• The policy cycle and its problems
• Power and public policy
• Rationality and public policy
• Institutionalism and new constitutionalism
• Policy failure and collective action problems
• Multi-level governance
• Agenda-setting
• Networks and advocacy coalitions
• The role of ideas in public policy
• Policy learning and policy transfer
• Evidence-based policymaking

Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD5006)

This course, which is prescribed for all taught postgraduate students, is studied entirely online, takes approximately 5-6 hours to complete and can be taken in one sitting, or spread across a number of weeks.

Topics include orientation overview, equality and diversity, health, safety and cyber security and how to make the most of your time at university in relation to careers and employability.

Successful completion of this course will be recorded on your Enhanced Transcript as ‘Achieved’.

Detailed course information

Optional Courses

Advanced Qualitative Methods in Social Science (SL5011)

30 Credit Points

Qualitative Sociology: Philosophy and Methods: This course introduces students to a range of methods used in qualitative social science research (such as participant observation, qualitative interviewing, focus groups, diaries, photography and film, and archived data sources). The emphasis will be on the research process, from project design to analysis and presentation, with methodological issues raised in the context of researchable questions. Issues of reliability, representativeness and validity, and the potential for combining methods will be addressed. Students use the course work to develop their research interests and reflect on their research practices.

Detailed course information

Advanced Social Theory (SO5014)

30 Credit Points

Karl Popper argued, wisely, at least this time, that all languages are theory-laden. In other words, if we are doing social science, it is impossible not to do theory, but we have a choice to do it well or poorly, informed by the thinking of others who have gone before us, or in ignorance of it. In this course we learn to reflect explicitly about that which may otherwise simply remain implicit in empirical sociological examination. In this project, we are assisted by important thinkers who have developed distinctive and influential ways of considering the social. We begin with classical sociological theory before moving on to the work of more recent social thought, giving students an advanced working knowledge of the most important theoretical tools available to jobbing social scientists.

Detailed course information

Policy Evaluation (SO5015)

30 Credit Points

Institutions and organizations are today commonly demanding evidence-based policy formation. As a result, the necessary social research methods for Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) are in high demand. This course in Policy Evaluation is the core course in the MSc in Policy Evaluation and will equip graduates with the knowledge necessary to understand the current demand for, existing practices of, and substantial challenges to monitoring and evaluation of policy, implementation procedures, and impacts. The course serves as the primary topical course for this MSc and provides student with the theoretical and conceptual understanding of policymaking and programme implementation necessary to put M&E practices in context, and to better understand the need for specific M&E skills and how they might be best utilized across an array of work environments.

Detailed course information

Candidates must take 60 credit points from the following courses:

• PI55XX: US Foreign Policy and Diplomacy (30 credit points)
• SL5512: Advanced Quantitative Methods in Social Science (30 credit points)
• SL5513: Advanced Quantitative Analysis in Social Science (30 credit points)
• PI5518 International Energy Security (30 credit points)

• PI5532 Campaigns, Activism and Political Parties (30 credit points)

Optional Courses

Advanced Quantitative Methods in Social Science (SL5512)

30 Credit Points

All researchers need to understand quantitative research, not only those who carry it out themselves. Everyone comes across quantitative research in literature reviews and even in the press. In this course students will acquire an understanding of the most common quantitative methods they are likely to use or come across in published social science research. The module will encompass different types of quantitative study and address issues such as when quantitative methods are appropriate, how quantitative questions are formulated, research design, sampling (both online and offline), scale construction, reliability and validity and ethical practices in quantitative research and design.

Detailed course information

Advanced Quantitative Analysis in Social Science (SL5513)

30 Credit Points

This course familiarises students with quantitative research techniques commonly used in the social sciences. It begins by covering the basic concepts underlying quantitative methods and the fundamental statistical techniques used for analysing relationships between two variables. The main part of the course focuses on multiple regression analysis, perhaps the most widely used technique in quantitative social science research. Students gain practical knowledge by undertaking two research reports to assess a substantive topic of their choosing.

Detailed course information

International Energy Security (PI5518)

30 Credit Points

Topics:

Oil and Security – how oil crises have occurred since 1973, with a focus on the energy demand and supply pressures and the political factors triggering the 1973 and 1979 oil crises. OPEC and IEA. The factors underpinning the oil crisis of 2008 and its relationships to world economic crisis. The role of China in oil politics.

Natural Gas, the EU and Russia. How conceptions of (natural gas) energy security are constructed and implemented in the EU and Russia –Nuclear Power and energy security;– eg Iran .

Climate Security

Detailed course information

Campaigns, Activism and Political Parties (PI5532)

30 Credit Points

This course explores the role of political parties as a channel of political activism and linkage from the general public to the policy making process. It will examine direct forms of activism and influence-making through political parties, primarily party membership. In addition, however, less conventional forms of activism and influence-making via parties will be explored. These can involve populist parties, and take non-conventional forms such as blockades, burning of books, etc.

Detailed course information

Compulsory Courses

PI590x Dissertation/Research Project in Public Policy (60 credit points)

OR

SO5916 Dissertation in Policy Evaluation (60 credit points)

Dissertation in Policy Evaluation (SO5916)

60 Credit Points

The Dissertation in Policy Evaluation can be completed either as a research project or as a collaborative Monitoring and Evaluation project for a partner organization in the community seeking to have one of their policies or programmes assessed. In either case, this project is a major piece of independent work undertaken by the student with the guidance and supervision of a member of the teaching staff of the department. The project gives students an opportunity to investigate a policy or programme that excites their interest to a depth not otherwise available in the curriculum, and to develop either their research and gain experience of independent study or their M&E skills and gain experience working with a artner organization in the community. If choosing to complete a traditional dissertation the topic may derive from interests developed in other courses, or from subjects not otherwise covered in the curriculum. If choosing to conduct the hands on M&E project, then the topic will be driven largely by the needs of the partner organization. In either case, the project should involve the use and development of the research skills provided by the programme. Students and staff should attach appropriate effort to this important piece of work.

Detailed course information

Optional Courses

PI590x Dissertation/Research Project in Public Policy (60 credit points)

OR

SO5916 Dissertation in Policy Evaluation (60 credit points)