Summer 2018 - POL 460 D100

Selected Topics in Public Policy (4)

Issues in Social and Economic Policy

Class Number: 6008

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 7 – Aug 3, 2018: Tue, 1:30–5:20 p.m.
    Vancouver

  • Prerequisites:

    Eight upper division units in political science or permission of the department.

Description

COURSE DETAILS:

Selected Topics: ISSUES IN SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC POLICY 

This course will explore theories and concepts of how to study social and economic policy at a level suitable for original research. Students will apply theoretical perspectives to understand how some problems get placed on the policy agenda and how others get sidetracked, why particular policy instruments become favoured tools for serving the public interest and others remain untried, how those instruments are used in implementation, and how public programs get evaluated. These perspectives will be gained through exploring the literature in political economy, the new institutionalism, and organization theory. Analytical efforts will then be directed to various policy domains. In order to successfully explain how public policy gets made in Canada and other Western democracies, students will need to assemble the theories encountered during the first half of this course into a conceptual framework that can be applied to empirical evidence, thus revealing the organizational logic of public bureaucracy, private enterprise, the institutions of the state and the state’s relationship to the international political economy.

One four-hour seminar each week.

Combined with POL 856

Grading

  • (Co)Presentation on one week’s reading 10%
  • Participation in seminar discussions 20%
  • One page review of weekly readings 10%
  • Draft research paper 20%
  • Final research paper 40%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

 Readings will be drawn from the scholarly literature that is accessible through SFU’s library databases. Accessing these readings will be part of each student’s research skills development. A reading list will be distributed at the first class.

Department Undergraduate Notes:

The Department of Political Science strictly enforces a policy on plagiarism.
For details, see http://www.sfu.ca/politics/undergraduate/program/related_links.html and click on “Plagiarism and Intellectual Dishonesty” .

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS