Prof Dan Berliner

This course is compulsory on the MSc in Public Policy and Administration. This course is not available as an outside option.

The course is designed to introduce MSc students to major issues in understanding public administration and policy. Students will be divided into two to four classes, depending on the number of students taking the course. 18 of the lectures will reflect the topics to be covered in the weekly classes (18 plus 1 revision class) addressing key themes in Public Policy and Public Administration. Some of the lectures may be given by other colleagues teaching on the MSc degree as well as by outside speakers. 2 lectures and classes will cover dissertation writing (for GV499) in the field of public policy and administration.

This course is delivered through a combination of seminars and lectures totalling a minimum of 50 hours across the Autumn, Winter and Spring Terms. This course includes reading weeks in Week 6 of both the AT and WT terms.

Two formative essays, one in the Autumn Term and one in the Winter Term.

Arjen Boin and Martin Lodge (2024) The Politics of Policymaking; Christoph Knill and Jale Tosun (2020) Public Policy; Paul Cairney (2019) Understanding Public Policy; Merilee Grindle (2012) Jobs for the Boys; B Guy Peters (2018) Politics of Bureaucracy (7th edn); David L Weimer and Aidan R Vining (2016) Policy analysis: Concepts and practice; Steve Balla, Martin Lodge and Edward C Page (eds) (2015) Oxford Handbook on the Classics of Public Policy.

Exam (75%, duration: 3 hours) in the spring exam period.
Essay (25%, 3000 words) in the WT.