COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LIST FOR POLI 604: PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS, SECOND SEMESTER 2019/2020 ACADEMIC YEAR

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

UNIVERSITY OF GHANA

MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY

POLI 604: PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS

4 CREDITS

SECOND SEMESTER, 2019/2020

DAY: Monday

VENUE:  Department of Political Science Lecture Room 5

            TIME: 10.00am - 12.00noon

LECTURER: DR ABDULAI KUYINI MOHAMMED

OFFICE: Room 18, Department of Political Science

CONSULTATION: Thursday, 11 am -2 pm

Email: akmohammed@ug.edu.gh

Course Title	Public Policy Analysis
Course Code	POLI 604
Course Description Purpose and objectives	Public policy analysis may be viewed as an element of the larger process of policy making, beginning with the identification and definition of a problem in the public realm, the generation of policy options or choices for addressing the problem, the selection of a particular policy option through political institutions (e.g., a legislature or governor), the development of a plan for implementation, and the implementation and evaluation of that policy by the government (or others that the government directs). Students will be introduced to the methodology of policy, methods of policy analysis, and methods of policy communication. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the field of public policy and to the analytic applications in that field. In this course emphasis will be placed on the determination of what public policy is and the variation in policy settings and appropriate analytic approaches suited to different public policy arenas. The course will also examine the importance of the political context of public policy and the influences political and other factors have on analytic approaches to policy making and policy analysis. Several policy analysis tools will be examined together with their strengths and weaknesses.
Learning outcomes	Upon completion of the course, students should be able to: distinguish between policy, programme, decision and policy analysis; state the importance of policy analysis; discuss the range of techniques used in policy analysis; develop understanding of the role of formal analysis and the research-based knowledge in public policy; develop a better understanding of the policy process; acquire knowledge and understanding of the diversity of theoretical and practical approaches to policy analysis ·         identify the challenges to effective public policy development and implementation in African countries ·         acquire skills to solving real public policy problems.
Week No.	Date	Lecture Course	Seminar	Venue	Assessment
1	Feb. 6,  2020	Nature and Scope of  Public policy Making		Lecture Room (Department)
2	Feb. 13, 2020	Public Policy Making Process
3	Feb. 20 2020	Nature and Scope of Policy Analysis		Lecture Room  (Department.)
4	Feb. 27, 2020	Structuring Policy Problems		Lecture Room (Department)
5	March 5, 2020	Structuring Policy Problems		Lecture Room (Department)
6	March 12, 2020	Forecasting Expected Policy Outcomes		Lecture Room (Department)
7	March 19, 2020	Prescribing Preferred Policies		Lecture Room (Department)
8	March 26, 2019	Monitoring Observed Policy Outcomes		Lecture Room (Department
9	April 2, 2020	Evaluating Policy Performance		Lecture Room (Department)
10	April 9, 2020	Framework for Policy Analysis		Lecture Room (Department)
11	April 16, 2019	Framework for Policy Analysis		Lecture Room (Department)
12	April 23, 2020	Communicating Policy Analysis		Lecture Room (Department)
13	April 30, 2020	Communicating Policy Analysis
Assessment: Seminar (30%) and Examination (70%)

Plagiarism policy

Plagiarism in any form is unacceptable and shall be treated as a serious offence. Appropriate sanctions, as stipulated in the Plagiarism Policy, will be applied when students are found to have violated the Plagiarism policy. The policy is available at http://www.ug.edu.gh/aqau/policies-guidelines.  ALL students are expected to familiarize themselves with the contents of the Policy.  

Assessment and Grading

Seminars and Term Paper: 30%

Final Exam: 70%

Grading Scale

Refer to the graduate Handbook for details on the grading scale.

Other Information

It is expected that students will attend lectures regularly and punctually. Students are encouraged to ask questions and seek clarification of any portions of lectures they do not understand. Students are also encouraged to study in groups as doing so will enable them to share ideas, help each other out and jointly solve problems. Placing and receiving calls on cell phones while in class is not permissible. While in class students should put their cell phones on the “silent” mode in order that incoming calls might not disrupt lectures. Laptops are allowed in class only for taking notes.

Reading List /Required Text

Anderson, J. (2006), Public policy making 3rd ed. CBS College, New York

Bardarch, E. (2011), A practical guide for policy analysis: the eightfold path to more effective problem solving, 4^th ed. CQ Press Washington DC

Dryzek, J. S. (2008), Policy analysis as critique, In Moran, M. and Goodin, R. (eds.) The Oxford handbook of public policy. Oxford University Press

Hoppe, R. (1999), Policy analysis, science and politics: from speaking truth to power to making sense together’, Science and Public Policy 26 (3): 201-210

Howlett, M. (2008), ‘Government communication as a policy tool: a framework for analysis’, Canadian Political Science Review 3 (2): 23-37

Mohammed A.K. (2020), ‘Does the policy cycle reflect the policy making approach in Ghana?’ Journal of Public Affairs, https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.2078

Mohammed, A. K. (2013), ‘Civic engagement in public policy making in Ghana: fad or reality?’, Politics and Policy 41 (1): 117-152

Ostrom, E. (2002), Policy analysis in the future of good societies’ The Good Society 11 (1): 42-48

Klein, R. and Marnor, T. (2008), Reflections on policy analysis: putting it together again, in Moran, M. Goodin, R. (eds.) The Oxford handbook of public policy. Oxford University Press

Vesely, A. (2007), ‘Problem delimitation in public policy analysis’, Central European Journal of Public Policy 1(1): 81-101

Weiner, D. and Vinning, A. R. (2011), Policy analysis, 5^th ed. Longman