Course descriptionThe degree focuses on variation in national policy patterns within and beyond Europe with a view to understanding how and why nations differ in their social and public policies and what they can learn from each other's policy experience.
It offers an advanced understanding of key policy issues in modern societies with a special focus on contemporary policy concerns including the environment, crime, health and welfare issues, and family policy and demographic change.
The programme provides an ideal preparation for a wide variety of policy-relevant careers in the private, public and voluntary sectors as well as for academic research on the policy process and its outcomes.
Learning Outcomes
This programme aims to give students:
* a thorough training in methods of comparative analysis
* ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council)-recognised training in analysing datasets
* knowledge of different forms and purposes of comparison
* grounding in the politics and/or economics of policy-making
* a detailed comparative knowledge of substantive areas of policy
* knowledge of policy learning and transfers in a comparative context.
How You Will Be Taught
Taught courses generally combine lectures and seminar discussions. Work on the 15,000-word dissertation involves independent supervised research