Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Summer 2025 - POL 856 G100

Issues in Social and Economic Policy (5)

Class Number: 2300

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 12 – Aug 8, 2025: Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Vancouver

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

COURSE DETAILS:

This course will explore theories and concepts of political influences on social and economic policy at a level suitable to conduct original research. Students will apply theoretical perspectives to understand how some problems get placed on the policy agenda and how others are neglected, why particular policy instruments become favoured tools for serving the public interest and others remain unfamiliar or unacceptable to many. Analysis will also consider how policy instruments are used in implementation, and how programs get evaluated. These perspectives will be gained through exploring the literature in political economy, neo-institutionalism, and organization theory. Analytical efforts will then focus on selected policy domains. In order to successfully explain how public policy gets made, 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 three hour seminar each week. Combined with POL 460

Grading

  • Analytical template of weekly readings 20%
  • Consolidated analytical summary of week’s readings 20%
  • Draft research question 10%
  • Draft research paper 20%
  • Final research paper 30%

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.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.