AIP230 - Policy and How It Shapes Us

Unit details

Year:

2024 unit information

Enrolment modes:

Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Online, Community Based Delivery (CBD)*

From 2025:
Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online, Community Based Delivery (CBD)*

Credit point(s):1
EFTSL value:0.125
Unit Chair:Trimester 1: Amy Nethery
Prerequisite:

Nil

Corequisite:Nil
Incompatible with: Nil
Typical study commitment:

Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit.

This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site.

Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment:

1 x 1-hour lecture per week, 1 x 1-hour seminar per week

Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment:

1 x 1-hour lecture per week (recordings provided), 1 x 1-hour online seminar per week

Note:

*Community Based Delivery (CBD) is for National Indigenous Knowledges, Education, Research and Innovation NIKERI Institute students only.

Content

Public policy is – in very simple terms – the work that governments do. Our lives are impacted by public policy every single day. As well as shaping us, policies shape the societies and environment in which we live. In this unit we examine public policy in Australia to get to the heart of the relationship between government, our selves, and our society. How is policy made, and by whom? Who benefits from policy, and who is disadvantaged? And, finally, how does policy shape us, and how do we shape policy? Students will gain an overview of seven different policy areas: economic, welfare, environment, education, health, Indigenous, and alcohol and illicit drug policies. With authentic assessment tasks, students will master four methods of policy analysis, and conduct two policy briefings. Students will have the opportunity to publish their final policy analysis in the annual student journal Publicus Consilium: Deakin Public Policy Review.

ULO These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes
ULO1

Review and analyse major theoretical, conceptual, and policy debates about the nature and significance of politics and governance, the differences between political systems, and the contexts in which they operate

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

ULO2

Effectively communicate the findings and analyses of research that deploys political concepts, theories and technical knowledge, in a selection of written, digital and oral formats, and to a range of readers and audiences

GLO2: Communication

ULO3

Employ a range of generic and specialist politics-specific digital communication technologies to apply political knowledge, to conduct political research, and to deliver reports and presentations to a diverse range of readers and audiences within and outside the field

GLO3: Digital literacy

ULO4

Analyse and critically evaluate different interpretations of political phenomena. Demonstrate knowledge of the different research methods used to investigate political phenomena. Recognise the importance of ethical standards of conduct in the research and analysis of politics

GLO4: Critical thinking

ULO5

Employ initiative and creativity when using accepted evidence-based methods of political science to generate approaches and solutions to complex problems of politics and governance at all levels from interpersonal relations to forums at local, national, regional, and global levels

GLO5: Problem solving

ULO6

Demonstrate autonomy, responsibility, accountability and a continued commitment to learning and skill development, as a reflective practitioner, while working in political science

GLO6: Self-management

ULO7

Analyse and address political issues in both domestic and global contexts as a reflective scholar and practitioner, taking into consideration cultural and socio-economic diversity, social and environmental responsibility and the application of the highest ethical standards

GLO8: Global citizenship

Assessment

Assessment Description Student output Grading and weighting
(% total mark for unit)
Indicative due week
Assessment 1: Research and Writing Exercise 500 words
or equivalent
10% Week 6
Assessment 2: Report 750 words
or equivalent
20% Week 8
Assessment 3: Report 750 words
or equivalent
20% Week 11
Assessment 4: Essay 2000 words
or equivalent
50% Week 12

The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.

Learning Resource

The texts and reading list for the unit can be found on the University Library via AIP230
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.

Unit Fee Information

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