Public Policy and Social Change

Programme outline and modules

The Sociology and Public Policy group in the School of Languages and Social Sciences are to start an exciting masters programme in Public Policy and Social Change in September 2010.

The future of key public services and programmes in the wake of the financial crisis hangs in the balance at the very time that levels of unemployment and inequality are rising fast. Policy responses to climate change are likely to disrupt the current social order as we adapt and strive to implement a carbon neutral economy.

The feeling that conventional, growth-oriented policies and ways of making and implementing policy are inadequate to the social challenges that we face runs high. Policy makers (present and future) need new tools for understanding the relationship between these important social changes and policy and of the relationship between policy and service delivery in practice (be that the public or the voluntary sector). We need innovators!

The Sociology and Public Policy is a dynamic, young group of scholars who think and care deeply about these challenges. We are at the forefront of thinking about how we shape and define new public values; how we understand processes of governing; how we can enliven political debate, contestation and engagement; how we think about social change. We also have expertise in a number of key policy domains – social care; urban policy; education; environmental policy. As a postgraduate student, you will be fully engaged in this lively faculty.

But, innovative thinking isn’t just an academic affair. We are also very keen to engage with practitioners and practice. Wherever possible, we will bring in external speakers to talk about their experience of policy in practice and how they see policy responding to key challenges in their areas. You will also have the option of taking a small work placement within a public or voluntary sector organization during the summer term. This is an opportunity for you to test out innovative ideas at the sharp end; ideas which you might take to future employers.

Learning, teaching and assessment

• The programme is delivered using a combination of lectures, tutorials and seminars

• There is a mix of individual and group work

• You will be assessed through examinations, continuous assessment through coursework, and a dissertation.

Personal development

This course helps you to develop team working skills, presentation and communication skills, as well as research and report writing skills. Your IT skills will also benefit from use of our newly refurbished IT Facilities.

Duration of programme: Full-time: 12 months, part-time: up to five years

Requirements

Entry Requirements

• Normally, at least a 2.1 honours classification in a degree taken in an appropriate subject (including Business Studies) at a British or Irish university, or an equivalent qualification on the completion of appropriate tertiary-level studies elsewhere.

International students whose native language is not English and have not completed a full degree programme taught in English, will also need to obtain:

• An overall IELTS score of 7 with a minimum of Band 7 in Speaking and Writing and Band 6.5 in Reading and Listening, or

• TOEFL score of 620 paper-based test (with TWE of 5.0), 260 computer-based test (with TWE of 5.0) or 105 internet-based test with a minimum of 25 in Writing and Speaking and 23 in Reading and Writing.