Department of Political Economy

MA in Public Policy (MAPP)

2016/17

Please read this information carefully, it contains important guidance on your programme structure
and choice of optional modules for your MA programme. Please be aware that details included in
this handbook are indicative and subject to change.

Programme Structure

The MA in Public Policy is designed as a one year full-time, or two year part-time taught programme
which offers students the opportunity to engage critically with the field of public policy and acquire
understanding and skills that will stand them in good stead in a policy-related career.

The programme consists of a broad-based multi-disciplinary curriculum. This is designed around four
compulsory modules (comprising 120 credits) (Band 1) and a selection of optional courses (Bands 2
and 3). You will be expected to take a minimum of 180 credits in order to receive your MA degree.

Guidance on choosing options

Information on the modules offered by the Department of Political Economy in 2016/17 is included
below, along with the School of Management options available to you as a MAPP student. These
reflect the latest scholarship in the disciplines, taught by world-leading academics. We are confident
that these modules will complement each other and allow you to engage with your chosen discipline,
providing an excellent foundation for further study or pursuit of a career.

Please make sure that you read through the information provided and direct any follow-up questions
to the respective module convenors. Every effort will be made to ensure that there are no clashes
between your modules, however, do please note that sometimes a timetabling clash is unavoidable
and you will need to re-select options so as to avoid this. You have guaranteed access to all modules
within DPE (7SSPPxxx codes), with the exception of 7SSPP021 and 7SSPP022, which are both capped
at 20 students. We cannot guarantee availability for modules from external departments and you will
need to discuss space on these courses with the relevant department/convenor.

All modules in your MA year should be at level 7. This is indicated by the 7 at the beginning of the
module code (i.e. 7SSPP001)

Students will choose their modules in September. Following initial registration, students will have the
option to make two changes to their module registration during the academic year. There will be a
two-week window at the start of each semester when you can make changes. Please note that there
is a limit placed on the number of changes that can be made – you may only make two amendments
to your selection. Also do bear in mind, that there may be limited flexibility regarding timetabling, and
it may not be possible to accommodate all change requests.

The information in this booklet is correct to the best of our knowledge, but in the event of
unforeseen staff changes or similar, modules may have to be withdrawn or moved into a different
semester. This is extremely unlikely, and we will inform you of any such changes as soon as we
become aware of them.
Department of Political Economy

Band 1: Compulsory Modules

The following module must be taken in order to complete an MA in Public Policy

7SSPP001: The Policy Process

20 credits – Semester 1
Module Convenor: Dr John-Paul Salter

Assessment: 1x1500-word essay (30%)

1x3500-word essay (70%)
1xformative essay
Teaching Format: weekly 1-hour lecture (Tues 11am) and 1-hour seminar (Tues afternoons); evening
masterclasses (Tues 6pm)

The Policy Process module is designed to enable students to analyse the formation and
implementation of public policy through a variety of perspectives or ‘prisms’, and so make sense of
policy-making. It does so by introducing them to the key stages of the policy process agenda-setting,
policy decision and implementation. Two threads run through the course: ‘agenda setting’ and ‘policy
in action’. This module provides students with an overview of the policy process and equips them with
the tools and perspectives necessary to understand the real world issues confronted in other modules.
Comparative Public Policy enables students to rigorously examine similar public policy challenges
across and within countries. The Management of the Public Services enables students to ground their
learning in the contemporary transformations of public service delivery. Hence, those modules further
understanding of public policy by different means, and students will take from the Policy Process
module a critical and informed approach their option modules, and to the preparation of their
research dissertation.

Aims: This module is designed to introduce students to the study of the policy making process and the
role of policy analysis. Specifically, the module aims to:
 provide students with a thorough grounding in the theories and concepts of policy analysis
 explore in a critical fashion the idea of a policy cycle
 illuminate the factors which bear upon agenda-setting and the decision process in
governmental settings
 illustrate core themes through a series of policy illustrations
 review the roles and contributions of a range of actors to the policy process

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

 critically appraise the concept of a policy cycle in its application to a range of policy issues
 demonstrate understanding of the different frameworks used to examine its various 'stages'
 apply core concepts appropriately to the practice of policy making;
 demonstrate understanding of the varieties and types of policy analysis and their role in the
policy process.

Key Readings:
 Wayne Parson, Public Policy (Edward Elgar, 1995)
 Peter John, Analyzing Public Policy (2nd edition, Routledge, 2012)
 Hugh Colebatch, Policy (3rd edition, Open University Press, 2009)
 Thomas A. Birkland, An Introduction to the Policy Process (2nd edition, M.E. Sharpe, 2005)
 Paul Sabatier (ed.), Theories of the Policy Process (Westview Press, 1999)
 Michael Moran, Martin Rein and Robert E. Goodin (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Public Policy
 Michael Hill, The Policy Process: A Reader (2nd edition, Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1997)
Department of Political Economy

7SSPP002: Comparative Public Policy

20 credits – Semester 2
Module Convenor: Dr Florian Floos

Assessment: 1x1500-word essay (30%)

1x3500-word essay (70%)

Teaching Format: weekly 1-hour lecture (Tues 11am) and 1-hour seminar (Tues afternoons)

Comparative Public Policy is one of the compulsory modules on the MA Public Policy. While The Policy
Process given in semester 1 presents a variety of theoretical frameworks to analyse the different
stages of the policymaking process, CPP provides a number of empirical applications of these
theoretical frameworks in a comparative context (across countries and policy sectors). Comparative
Public Policy seeks to equip students with methodological and conceptual tools to explain similarities
and differences in public policies across countries. While many countries are faced with similar policy
problems (population ageing, migration, structural unemployment, deteriorating public finances, to
name a few), the policies implemented to solve them vary greatly. A number of important but diverse
policy sectors will be analysed: welfare policy; immigration; economic development; finance and
regulation; and foreign policy. Finally, we also look beyond traditional comparative approaches to
consider the impact of European integration at the domestic level and the convergence/divergence of
national policies in response to international pressures.

Objectives: This module offers an introduction to the field of comparative public policy. Specifically,
the course aims to:
 enable students to engage with a range of substantive policy problems and investigate how
the state intervenes in these domains in different countries;
 develop their analytical skills in systematic comparison and achieve valid generalisations and
evaluations of public policy developments;
 introduce students to the logic and standards of comparative public policy research.

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

 Identify the political, economic and institutional constraints influencing policymaking in a
number of policy sectors;
 Understand similarities and differences in public policies across different countries;
 Use comparative methods to compare, contrast and explain public policies;
 Formulate relevant research questions in comparative public policy

Key Reading:
 A. Dodds, Comparative Public Policy (Palgrave, 2013)
 D. Caramani, Comparative Politics (3rd edition, Oxford University Press, 2014)
 R. Hague and M. Harrop, Comparative Government and Politics: An Introduction (Palgrave
Macmillan, 2010)
 J. Bara and M. Pennington, Comparative Politics (Sage, 2009)
 T. Landman, Issues and Methods in Comparative Politics: An Introduction (Routledge, 2008)
 D. Marsh and G. Stoker, Theory and Methods in Political Science (Palgrave Macmillan,
2002/2010)
 P. Sabatier (ed.), Theories of the Policy Process (2nd edition, Westview Press, 2007)
 M. Hill, The Public Policy Process (Pearson Education Limited, 2009)
 W. Parsons, Public Policy (Edward Elgar, 1995)
 P. John, Analysing Public Policy (Pinter, 1998)
 M. Hill, Studying Public Policy: An International Approach (Policy Press, 2014)
Department of Political Economy

7SSMM401: Organisation and Management of the Public Services

20 credits – Semester 1
Module Convenor: Professor Ewan Ferlie and Professor Alison Wolf

Assessment: 1x3-hour examination in May/June (90%)

1x in course test (10%)

Teaching Format: weekly 1-hour lectures (Thurs afternoons) and 1-hour tutorials (Wed afternoons)

This compulsory module explores, in international and historical perspective, the development of
‘public services’, the past and present role of the public sector in their delivery, and the development
of new ideas about how best to manage the production and financing of these services. Particular
attention is paid to the rise of ‘New Public Management’ and quasi-market approaches; to the role of
market failure, principal-agent relationships, trust and professionalism; and to institutional
governance.

Sessions will explore and evaluate the extent to which policy alternatives can be generalised to the
public services as a whole, as opposed to being service- or country-specific.

Key Readings (subject to change):

 Meier, K. and Hill, G. (2005) ‘Bureaucracy in the Twenty First Century’, in Ferlie, E., Lynn, L
and Pollitt, C. (eds) ‘The Oxford Handbook of Public Management’ , Oxford: Oxford
University Press, Chapter 3.
 David Osborne and Ted Gaebler (1992) ‘Reinventing Government’, London: Penguin, chapter
1.
 Hood, C. (1991) ‘A Public Management for all Seasons?’, Public Administration, 69 (Spring),
pp3-19.
 Ferlie, E., Ashburner, L., FitzGerald, L. and Pettigrew, A. (1996) ‘The New Public Management
in Action’, Oxford: Oxford University Press, Chapter 1.
 Newman, J. (2001) ‘Modernising Governance’, London: Sage, Introduction and Ch 9.
 Osborne, S. (2010) ‘The (new) Public Governance: A Suitable Case for Treatment?’, in (ed)
Osborne, S. ‘The New Public Governance’, London: Routledge, Ch1.
 Hirschman, A.O. (1970) Exit, Voice and Loyalty: Responses to decline in firms, organizations
and states (Harvard University Press).
 Gruber, J Public Finance and Public Policy (Worth).

7SSPP003: Dissertation in Public Policy

60 credits – Full Year
Module Convenor: Dr Tyler Goodspeed

Assessment: 1x1000-word dissertation proposal (10%)

1x15000-word final dissertation (90%)

Teaching Format: Series of seminars held weekly in Semester 1 (Wed 9am-1pm), independent study
and meetings with supervisor.

This module is 60 credits and is a core module. This means that in addition to taking the course, you
must pass this module in order to graduate with an MA in Public Policy. The module combines students
in MAPP and MAPE (MA in Political Economy) for a series of lectures and workshops on how to write
a good dissertation, mainly held in semester 1. This workshop will provide you with the basics of how
Department of Political Economy

to choose a topic, how much time to allocate to writing, the choice of advisors, what you can expect
from your advisor, marking criteria and the policy on plagiarism and cheating.

Band 2 Options
You must select at least 35 credits from the following ‘Band 2 Options’ modules.

7SSPP005: Evaluating Public Policy

20 credits – Semester 2
Module Convenor: Dr Elisa Cavatorta

Assessment: 1x1500-word essay (30%)

1x3500-word essay (70%)

Teaching Format: weekly 1-hour lectures (Tues 4pm) and 1-hour seminars (Tues evenings) and 1
workshop meeting Wednesday 29 March 2017, 2pm-5pm

This module will introduce the theory and practice of policy evaluation. It will equip students with a
critical understanding of different techniques of policy evaluation. The specific aims of the module are
to introduce students to the idea of policy evaluation within the context of the policy process and the
theoretical ideas that underpin different approaches to policy evaluation and introduce students to
the practical challenges that face different approaches to policy evaluation and how those challenges
might be overcome.

Aims: This module will introduce the theory and practice of policy evaluation. It will equip students
with a critical understanding of different techniques of policy evaluation. The specific aims of the
module are to:
 Introduce students to the idea of policy evaluation within the context of the policy process
and the theoretical ideas that underpin different approaches to policy evaluation
 Introduce students to the practical challenges that face different approaches to policy
evaluation and how those challenges might be overcome
 Ensure students have an understanding of how evaluation takes place in the contemporary
world of policy-making and have a sound knowledge of (what has been termed) ‘the
evaluative state’.
 Provide students with the knowledge, skills and techniques required for advanced critical
analysis of the theory and practice of policy evaluation.

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

 Demonstrate a sound grasp of the theoretical ideas that underpin different approaches to
policy evaluation and the practical challenges that different approaches face
 Construct practical models of policy evaluation that take into account the underlying
theoretical ideas and practical challenges
 Demonstrate a sound understanding of the practical architecture of policy evaluation within
the context of contemporary government and politics
 Demonstrate the ability to undertake advanced critical analysis of the theory and practice of
policy evaluation

Key Reading:
 Carol H. Weiss, Evaluation (2nd edition, Prentice Hall, 1998)
Department of Political Economy

7SSPP007: Public Policy Internship

20 credits – Full Year
Module Convenor: Dr Damien Bol

Assessment: 1x Oral presentation (20%)

1x4000-word written report (80%)

Teaching Format: The introductory session and the last session are run by the course convenor and
designed to ensure that students are prepared for the course and understand the assessment criteria.
In addition, Kings Worldwide Internships Coordinators host several workshops and are available to
provide individual support to students as they seek to improve their resume and cover letter, or find
internships.

This module aims to equip students with a practical knowledge of public policy issues as they arise in
the day to day working of an organisation. This practical module will provide students with experience
of working within selected governmental, non-governmental or voluntary organisations (e.g.
government departments, local authorities, charities, research institutes and think tanks).

Learning Outcomes: At the conclusion of this course, students are expected to demonstrate:
 a clear understanding of the organisational environment in which public policy is developed
 practical knowledge of the key issues that policy analysts, policy makers, and advocacy
practitioners face in influencing, developing or implementing policy
 the ability to undertake critical analysis of the experience gained through an internship
 exposure to UK policy development process in practice in ways that reinforce what they have
learnt in the classroom based part of their masters course
 informal learning through practical experience in government or non-governmental
organizations
 the ability to experience politics and policy-making in practice and then critically examine and
analyse those experiences in the context of scholarship.

Key Reading: Because this is a practice-based course, there are no assigned readings. However, in
addition to conducting an internship (105 hours minimum), students are expected to conduct a
significant amount of research to prepare for the assessment, drawing upon the learning gained in
other modules.

Obtaining Internship Note: The Internships Office and the Department of Political Economy will do
everything possible to assist students locate an internship, it is ultimately the responsibility of the
student to secure a placement. This should be done by the beginning of semester

Placements should meet the following requirements:

 Placement has some policy or political relevance
 Placement is at least 105 hours (placement can occur over 15 consecutive working days or
spread over time)
 Student misses no class to conduct the placement
 NOTE: Any student wishing to conduct an internship outside of the UK will be required to
complete a Risk Assessment form BEFORE travelling. Internships conducted abroad without
an approved Risk Assessment form will not be eligible for use on the module.
Department of Political Economy

7SSPP008: Liberty, Equality and Justice: Political Theory and Public Policy
20 credits – Semester 1
Module Convenor: Dr John Meadowcroft

Assessment: 1x1500-word essay (30%)

1x3500-word essay (70%)

Teaching Format: weekly 1-hour lecture (Tues 3pm) and 1-hour seminar (Tues early evening)

By examining a series of key texts in contemporary political theory, this module will enable students
to better understand the underlying philosophical and theoretical issues that inform contemporary
public policy-making and to critically evaluate those ideas.

Aims: Specifically, the module will:

 Introduce students to a number of key texts in contemporary political theory that reflect the
different intellectual traditions in political thought and are centred on the core themes of
liberty, equality and justice
 Illuminate the importance of political ideas to the shaping of public policy
 Provide students with the knowledge, skills and techniques required for advanced critical
analysis of political texts and ideas
 Enable students to critically analyse the role of notions of liberty, equality and justice in
contemporary policy-making

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

 Demonstrate a sound grasp of the key ideas and debates in contemporary political theory
 Understand how these ideas and debates relate to contemporary public policy
 Critically assess and evaluate different theoretical ideas in a political and policy context

Key Reading:
 Tom Campbell, Justice (2nd edition, Routledge, 2000)

7SSPP016: The Politics of Regulation

20 credits – Semester 2
Module Convenor: Dr Christel Koop

Assessment: 1x1500-word essay (30%)

1x3500-word essay (60%)
Weekly discussion questions (10%)

Teaching Format: weekly 2-hour seminar meetings (Mon afternoons) and video clips to view before
lectures

This module aims to provide an introduction to the key approaches, concepts, and issues in the study
and practice of regulation. Regulation has not only become an increasingly preferred policy instrument
of governments, but it is also widely used by industries themselves. In the module, we assess the rise
of the regulatory state, the different approaches to regulation, the regulatory instruments that are
used, and the actors that are involved in the process. Also, selected areas of regulation – including
competition policy and financial and environmental regulation – are explored in more detail. We focus
on the different explanations of the introduction of, and changes in, regulatory policies, instruments
and institutions, and we evaluate the merits of these explanations. The module is interdisciplinary by
Department of Political Economy

nature, building mainly on the literature on regulation in political science, law and economics. The
focus of the module is generic, though the literature is mainly concerned with regulation in EU and
OECD countries. Furthermore, the module primarily deals with national-level rather than
international-level regulatory processes.

By the end of the module, you should be able to:

 identify the core actors involved in the regulatory process, the main modes and instruments
of regulation, and the different approaches to regulation that are distinguished in the
literature;
 identify and contrast the core features of the different modes and instruments of regulation
and the different approaches to regulation;
 apply the different approaches to cases of regulatory reform and new regulation and
regulatory instruments which have not yet been assessed in the literature;
 critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of the different approaches to regulation;
 make reasoned arguments – both orally and in writing – on the reasons behind the
introduction of regulation, regulatory instruments and regulatory reform, and substantiate
these with empirical evidence.

Key Readings:
There is no core text for this module. Instead, the reading list for each week consists of a number of
articles and chapters on the topic of that week. Examples of core readings are:
 Robert Baldwin, Martin Cave and Martin Lodge (2012). Understanding Regulation: Theory,
Strategy, and Practice. Second edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Chapter 2: “Why
regulate?” (pp. 15–24) and Chapter 4: “Explaining regulation” (pp. 40–67).
 George J. Stigler (1971). “The theory of economic regulation.” Bell Journal of Economics and
Management Science 2 (1): 3–21.
 Giandomenico Majone (1997). “From the positive to the regulatory state: Causes and
consequences of changes in the mode of governance.” Journal of Public Policy 17 (2): 139–
168.
 David Levi-Faur (2005). “The global diffusion of regulatory capitalism.” Annals of the American
Academy of Political and Social Science 598: 12–32.
 Steven K. Vogel (1996). Freer Markets, More Rules: Regulatory Reform in Advanced Industrial
Countries. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, Chapters 1, 2 and 11.
 Tim Bartley (2003). “Certifying forests and factories: States, social movements, and the rise of
private regulation in the apparel and forest products fields.” Politics & Society 31 (3): 433–
464.
 Cary Coglianese and David Lazer (2003). “Management-based regulation: Prescribing private
management to achieve public goals.” Law & Society Review 37 (4): 691–730.

7SSPP021: The Media and Public Policy

20 credits – Semester 2
Module Convenor: Dr Martin Moore and Dr Gordon Ramsay

Assessment: 1x4000-word essay (100%)

Teaching Format: weekly 1-hour lecture (Thurs 1pm) followed by 1-hour seminar (Thurs 2pm)

This module aims to help students better understand the relationship between the media and public
policy. It is aimed at people who wish to pursue a career in government, politics, NGOs, public affairs,
the media or communications.
Department of Political Economy

The module will look at how media can affect policy-making and what impact it has on outcomes. It
will do this by introducing theories about the relationship between the media and public policy,
followed by an examination of a series of separate policy areas. These policy areas will include: the
environment, criminal justice, science/health, defence and media policy. The module will include
guest lectures by external experts with extensive experience of the policy area concerned. The course
will use a mixture of case studies, focusing mainly on the UK and US.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

 Understand the complexity of the relationship between the media and politics
 Identify key policy areas and policy functions most liable to media influence
 Recognise the distorting effects – both positive and negative – that media can have on public
policy
 Assess the ways in which governments, political parties, and civil society groups seek to address,
appeal to, and manage the media with respect to public policy
 Examine the ways in which evolving digital media is changing the nature of media influence on
public policy.

Key Readings:
 Eduardo Jr. Araral et al (2013) Routledge Handbook of Public Policy, Abingdon: Routledge
 Malcolm Dean (2013) Democracy Under Attack: How the Media Distort Policy and Politics,
Bristol: Policy Press
 Frank Esser and J. Stromback (eds)(2014) Mediatization of Politics: Understanding the
Transformation of Western Democracies, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan
 Maxwell McCombs (2014) Setting the Agenda: Mass Media and Public Opinion,
Cambridge: Polity Press
 Brian McNair (2011) An Introduction to Political Communication, Fifth Edition, Abingdon:
Routledge
 Jon Silverman (2012) Crime, Policy and the Media: The Shaping of Criminal Justice, 1989-
2010, Abingdon: Routledge

Please Note: This module will be capped at 20 students

7SSPP022: Media, Elections and Campaigning

20 credits – Semester 1
Module Convenor: Dr Martin Moore and Dr Gordon Ramsay

Assessment: 1x4000-word essay (100%)

Teaching Format: weekly 1-hour lecture (Mon 9am) and 1-hour seminar (Mon 10am)

This module will examine the use of media in elections and political campaigns, from 18th century
hustings to 21st century social media and data-driven campaigning.

Over the course of a term, the module will look at the evolution of political communication, the growth
of modern spin and news management, the development of an adversarial media culture, increasing
voter apathy and disengagement from traditional politics, rising disillusionment with the constructive
democratic role of traditional news media, the emergence and influence of social media, big data and
micro-targeting, and the rise of digital activism and populist politics.
Department of Political Economy

By exploring and investigating these aspects of media and elections, the module will equip students
with the ability to assess and critique the impact of digital media and new technologies on election
campaigning, and the implications for open and transparent electoral communication in the 21st
century. The course will use a range of illustrations and examples, focusing mainly on the UK and US

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

 Understand the evolution of political communication in elections and political campaigns
 Compare and contrast approaches to political campaigning across political parties and
countries
 Critically evaluate the relationship between media and politics during election campaigns
 Apply various methodologies to the analysis of political campaign communication
 Examine the ways in which digital media is changing the nature of elections and political
campaigning.

Key Readings:
 Philip Cowley and Dennis Kavanagh (2015) The British General Election of 2015, Basingstoke:
Palgrave Macmillan
 Sasha Issenberg (2012) The Victory Lab: The Secret Science of Winning Campaigns, New York,
Crown Publishers
 Brian McNair (2011) An Introduction to Political Communication, Fifth Edition, Abingdon:
Routledge
 Pippa Norris et al (1999) On Message: Communicating the Campaign, Sage Publications
Margaret Scammell (2014) Consumer Democracy: The Marketing of Politics, Cambridge,
Cambridge University Press
 James Stanyer (2009) Modern Political Communication, Cambridge: Polity

Please Note: This module will be capped at 20 students

7SSPP023 and 7SSPP035: No. 10 Downing Street and the History of the Prime Minister
40 credits – Semesters 1 and 2
Module Convenor: Dr Jon Davis

Assessment: 2x1000-word extended essay plans (1 per semester)

2x4000-word essays (1 per semester)

Teaching Format: weekly 1x1-hour lecture (Fri 9am) and 1x1-hour seminar (Fri 10am)

Part I: 1945-1979: Central Government Analysed (Semester 1):

This module in partnership with No. 10 Downing Street examines how British Prime Ministers have
governed in the period 1945-79. It considers the issues from an historical perspective, tracing
changes over the thirty-four years across the biggest issues of government, using the rigour of the
historical method. Special attention will be given to the memoirs and diaries of the prime ministers,
cabinet ministers and senior officials involved in managing the central machinery of government.
Senior figures invited as guest speakers will include Visiting Professors Sir Nicholas Macpherson (ex-
Permanent Secretary to the Treasury), Baroness Jay of Paddington (former Cabinet Minister and
daughter of Prime Minister James Callaghan) and ex-Security and Intelligence Coordinator Sir David
Omand, along with the current Secretary to the Cabinet Sir Jeremy Heywood.
Department of Political Economy

Part II: 1979-2015: Perennial Interests (Semester 2):

This module in partnership with No. 10 Downing Street examines how British Prime Ministers have
governed in the period 1979-2015. It considers the issues from an historical perspective, tracing
changes over the thirty-six years across the biggest issues of government, using the rigour of the
historical method. Special attention will be given to the memoirs and diaries of the prime ministers,
cabinet ministers and senior officials involved in managing the central machinery of government.
Senior figures invited as guest speakers will include Visiting Professor Sir Kevin Tebbit (ex-Permanent
Secretary to the Ministry of Defence), Charles Moore (Margaret Thatcher’s authorised biographer),
the Prime Minister’s Principal Private Secretary and a former PM, probably Sir John Major.

At the end of the module, students will have:

 Acquired a detailed understanding of the way in which UK central government made and
implemented decisions;
 Acquired a detailed knowledge of the current historiography of this area;
 Acquired a detailed knowledge of the key historical concepts in this area;
 Gained experience of using primary sources as a means of analysing the history of the
machinery of government;
 Undertaken a detailed investigation of a particular theme associated with this subject, taking
an historical and theoretical approach, using secondary and primary sources, to produce a
finished piece of analysis in the form of an essay answering a specific question.

Please Note: Each of these modules will be capped at 15 students (it is expected a student will take
both 7SSPP023 and 7SSPP035)

7SSMM402: Economics of the Public Services

15 credits – Semester 2
Module Convenor: Dr Sotiris Vandoros

Assessment: 1x written examination (90%)

1xin-class test (10%)

Teaching Format weekly 1-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial

Prerequisites: Background in micro-economics and/or attendance of the micro-economics refresher

course in Reading Week of Semester 1

Aims and Objectives: On completion of the module, students should be able to demonstrate:
 a systematic understanding of contemporary policy and research developments in the public
services
 critical awareness of, and an ability to synthesise and generalise from, social science analyses
of public services management and policy implementation
 the ability to evaluate critically the desirability of policies towards public services with
reference to particular contexts

7SSMM405: Research Methods in Public Policy

20 credits – Semester 1
Module Convenor: Dr Sónia Gancalves, Professor Christian Heath and Dr Jean Ledger

Assessment: 1x2000-word quantitative coursework (50%)

1x2500-word qualitative coursework (50%)
Department of Political Economy

Teaching Format: weekly 2-hour lectures and 1-hour tutorials/practical classes

This module is intended to provide a working knowledge of basic methods and principles of qualitative
and quantitative research used in the social sciences. Lectures will provide an introduction and
explanation of the theoretical underpinnings whilst tutorials will cover the practical application of
these methods to “real” problems and data.

Module objectives: By the end of this module you should have developed the following skills that you
will be required to demonstrate during your assessments:
 The ability to formulate researchable problems in order to conduct independent research (e.g.
your M.Sc. thesis proposal)
 An understanding of the basic principles of research design and alternative research
methodologies
 The ability to source or collect primary or secondary data
 An appreciation of the ethical considerations in conducting social science research
 The ability to use a range of methodological resources and tools to analyse qualitative and
quantitative data
 An ability to communicate and disseminate research findings to both technical and non-
technical audiences
 Confidence to critically analyse published (and unpublished) work that uses a range of
research methods

7SSMM406: People Management and Leadership in the Public Services

15 credits – Semester 2
Module Convenor: Professor Sam Aryee

Assessment: 1x2-hour written examination in May/June (50%)

1x2000-word essay (50%)

Teaching Format: weekly 1-hour lecture and 1-hour seminar

This module will focus on the management and leadership of the public sector workforce, especially
in the context of change. It will have three main themes. First it will examine the main stakeholders
involved in public sector HRM: employees, including professionals, and their representatives;
managers and the government as employer; and service users. Second it will explore the nature and
changing structure of the public sector workforce and how this has affected these main stakeholders,
particularly in relation to the development of new HR policies and practices in such domains as reward,
union management-relations, and workforce flexibility. The third theme will centre on change
management and leadership in the public sector and how this impacts on the workforce. It will cover
frameworks for the analysis of change and leadership. It will use a number of cases to explore the
utility of the analytic frameworks.

Aims and Objectives: The core aims of the module are to:
 Explore key conceptual and applied issues in the management of the public sector workforce
 Explore the nature and changing structure of the public sector workforce
 Examine and utilise frameworks for the analysis of change and leadership in the management
of the public sector workforce
Department of Political Economy

7SSMM407: Education and Training Policy and Programmes

15 credits – Semester 2
Module Convenor: Professor Alison Wolf and Dr Joanne Lindley

Assessment: 1x2-hour examination in May/June (50%)

1x2000-word essay (50%)

This module examines, in comparative and historical perspective, the most important issues in current
education and training policy, including the role of the education system in the economy, links
between education, social mobility and social inclusion, and the degree to which education systems
can or should be managed through decentralised, ‘choice’-driven mechanisms.

Learning Outcomes: On completion of the module, students should be able to:

 demonstrate a systematic and critical understanding of the development of education and
training policies and programmes in both Britain and other advanced economies
 analyse systematically why particular policies and programmes are or are not chosen in
practice.
 analyse and evaluate critically the merits of particular policy proposals in the education and
training area.
 analyse and evaluate critically the methods of policy evaluation in the education and training
area.

7SSMM409: Key Issues in Health Policy

15 credits – Semester 2
Module Convenor: Dr Juan Baeza

Assessment: 1x2-hour written examination in May/June (50%)

1x2000-word essay (50%)

Teaching Format: weekly 1-hour lecture and 1-hour seminar

Introduction: what is health policy and why study it?; determinants of health: role of health care,
public health etc.; funding health care systems; organising health care; role of the state and the
private sector in health policy; role of professionals and users in health care and health policy;
globalisation and the role of international organisations in health policy; measuring and managing
performance; making health policy; evaluating health policy.

Aims and Objectives:

 Foster a critical understanding of the context and content of key issues in health policy.
 Develop a systematic understanding of the major economic, political and sociological issues
involved in the organisation, production and finance of health care services, both nationally
and internationally.
 Develop a critical awareness of different health care systems and key debates in the funding
and provision of health care, such as the role of the state and the private sector.
 Analyse the roles of professionals, policy makers and users in the making and
implementation of health policy.
 Explore issues of measuring and managing performance in health care.
 Examine the making of health policy and how specific health policies can be evaluated.
Department of Political Economy

Band 3 Options
You may select 25 or more credits in ‘Band 3 Options’ modules. These modules are offered by
external departments and will require you to seek the permission of the relevant convenor as well as
your Programme Director Anna Gwiazda.

We cannot provide a concise list of these options and we encourage you to explore the offerings of
various departments here at King’s College London.

An indicative list of modules that students have taken in previous years includes:

7YYI0001: Making of Contemporary India: Political Power and Social Order in Historical Perspective
Taught by the India Institute

7YYI0009: Indian Foreign and Security Policy

Taught by the India Institute

7AAOM012: Lobbying and Policy Making in the EU

Taught by the European and International Studies Department

7AAOM222: The Political Economy of Britain in the EU

Taught by the European and International Studies Department

7YYA0017: American Political Thought

Taught by the Institute of North American Studies

7SSEM005: Education, Policy and the City

Taught by the School of Education and Professional Services

7SSIJD01: New Labour: The Blair Years

Taught by the Institute of Contemporary British History

7SSI0045: The Treasury and Economic History

Taught by the Institute of Contemporary British History

7YYH0008: History and Policy: Policymaking Under Pressure

Taught by the Institute of Contemporary British History

7SSG5119: Risk Governance

Taught by the School of Geography