MA Public Policy and Public Management

Our MA Public Policy and Public Management examines public policy-making and change from a political science perspective, international relations, and media perspectives.

You’ll complete two core public policy and public management modules and learn about various applications of public policy issues such as elections, foreign affairs, media processes and international organisations. Your instructors will be world leading experts in the research and teaching of public policy, international politics, media and society, and social and political theory.

You’ll take your interests even further through your Master’s dissertation – a piece of in-depth independent research which you’ll complete with the supervision of a faculty member.

As a member of our postgraduate community you will also have the opportunity to attend numerous events and talks during your time here. We will rely on government and health regulations when deciding whether to have these fascinating talks online or on Campus. We regularly attract distinguished lecturers, with previous guests including Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party; Caroline Lucas, MP for the Green Party; Gary Gibbon, Political Editor for Channel 4 News; Owen Jones, author and columnist for The Guardian; Caroline Flint, Labour MP; John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons; Shami Chakrabarti, former director of Liberty; Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Shirley Williams; Professor Anthony Giddens of the London School of Economics; Douglas Carswell, former UK Independence Party MP; Sir Stephen Wall, retired diplomat; and Lord Richard Dannatt, formerly Chief of the General Staff.

See our webpages to find out more about our postgraduate community and experience some of these lectures.

About

This MA will help you develop an in-depth understanding of public policy and management at both national and international levels. Flexible and multidisciplinary, it’s ideal if you have a social science degree and are hoping to specialise, a degree in environmental studies or geography and are looking for wider applications of your subject knowledge, or if you’re a professional, interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the processes you deal with every day.

You’ll develop transferable skills applicable to many careers, the ability to think critically and to constructively question ‘received wisdom’, presentation and teamwork skills, project work, critical analysis and synthesis of arguments, independent research, and the application of theory to real-world cases.

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Important Information

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the courses listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the regular review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. Changes may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will inform students.

Assessment for Year 1

You will be assessed on the basis of module work which you will complete across the year, and on your 10,000 word dissertation, which you’ll hand in at the end of the year.

We use a range of assessment methods across our modules, but you can expect to undertake essays, project reports, examinations, group work and presentations.

Structure

Our Master’s course lasts one year for full-time students, and two years part-time. As a full-time student you will have classes during your first two semesters, then over the summer you’ll work on your dissertation, which you’ll submit at the start of September. If you are a part-time student, you will have classes in both years and over the summer of the second year you’ll work on your dissertation, which you will submit at the start of September.

The programme includes two core modules, which will give you an advanced understanding of the main theories, models and concepts of both public policy and public management. You will then be exposed to variety of public policy and management applications of enormous contemporary importance. You will be taking modules about the management and integrity of elections, the policy dilemmas faced by the leaders of the United States and how supranational organizations such as the EU deal with policy issues in the context of rising new powers, as well as the role of media organisations in structuring policy debates.

Finally, you will complete your Master’s by writing your dissertation, which is a fantastic opportunity to conduct independent research into a subject area that stimulates you. If you are a full-time student you’ll be assigned an individual supervisor from the faculty to advise you, and after the Easter break you’ll be able to discuss your work in progress with students and staff at our Postgraduate Dissertation day. For part-time students this will take place after the Easter break in your second year.

Teaching and Learning

Planning is now underway in light of the covid-19 crisis to ensure that teaching will continue to be of the highest standard. We are prepared for teaching completely online, and for a mix of online teaching and face-to-face teaching on campus so you can be reassured that, whatever happens, you will be able to start your degree.

Our teaching is research-led, in that we ask the same questions of our students as we do in our research. So you can be sure your learning will be at the cutting-edge of the discipline, taught by leading experts in public policy and management, research methods, political institutions, political philosophy, political communications and media studies.

The department comprises more than 30 members of staff, all of whom actively engage with research in the field. We take an interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary approach to our work, linking theory to practice, to create a distinctive programme of research. This has given us a strong international reputation for research in a wide variety of areas, including international relations, international security, terrorism, human rights, religion, Britain, the EU, Japan, Africa, the mass media (including digital media), political communications, popular culture, identity politics, public administration and public policy, political theory, and political rhetoric.

Many of our modules use small-group seminar teaching, encouraging you and your peers to communicate and inspire each other with your own unique insights. Our postgraduate community includes students from across the globe, adding many different perspectives on – and approaches to – the subjects we study. And our rich programme of research seminars, visiting speakers, panel debates and high-profile public events all contribute to making UEA a stimulating environment within which to study.

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How to apply

Explore our research

Assessment for Year 1

You will be assessed on the basis of module work which you will complete across the year, and on your 10,000 word dissertation, which you’ll hand in at the end of the year.

We use a range of assessment methods across our modules, but you can expect to undertake essays, project reports, examinations, group work and presentations.

Compulsory Modules

PUBLIC POLICY: THEORY AND ANALYSIS

Code PPLX7002A

Credits 20

How and why is public policy made the way it is? Our aim is to enable students to develop a rich and wide appreciation of the many ways that policy is made and the factors that influence these. You will gain advanced critical understanding some of the main theories, models and concepts used in the study of public policy and how they are applied. You will also develop substantive knowledge of specific policies and policy areas, which may include environment, health, immigration and welfare policy. In addition, students successfully completing the module will be able to demonstrate an empirical understanding of the public policy process in the UK, ability to make comparisons with other OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) democracies, and an understanding of the changing role of nation-states in policy development.

PUBLIC MANAGEMENT: THEORIES AND CHANGE

Code PPLX7011A

Credits 20

Is there a crisis in public services? Is the efficient and accountable organisation of the machinery of governments under threat? We hear much about entering a ‘post-bureaucratic age’ for the governance of countries. What might this mean? Is it possible? We will examine the organisation and operation of public sectors in the shadow of democracy, putting current debates in the UK in a historical and international comparative context. On completing the module, you will have analysed and evaluated the most influential models and theories of public management and organisational behaviour, be able to describe and critically reflect on the framework for public management in practice, focussed especially on recent developments in the UK, understand the reasons for public management reform, and be able to engage in debates about the future direction of the public sector.

ELECTORAL INTEGRITY IN THEORY AND PRACTICE

Code PPLX7013A

Credits 20

Elections are the primary way in which citizens hold governments to account, obtain representation and allow direct decision making in referendums. They can also dramatically shape international relations, conflict and development outcomes. However, there are also often under threat by old and new challenges to electoral integrity. These challenges might include cyber-security concerns; gerrymandered electoral boundaries; millions of people missing electoral registers; electoral violence and voter intimidation; ballot stuffing; and, poorly organised electoral management bodies. These problems can manifest themselves in elections in all parts of the world. They potentially have major consequences for who wins elections, democratic accountability, the inclusivity of society, conflict and security, global politics and more. This course will provide students with a comprehensive account of how, when and why elections go wrong and what can be done to improve them. Part I of the course introduces students to key aspects of democratic theory and theories of institutional change necessary for understanding the role of elections in democratic politics and why electoral institutions can be difficult to reform. Part II focuses on the key aspects of elections, from electoral systems, election monitoring and the voter franchise. The focus of the course is global.

AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY

Code PPLI7008B

Credits 20

This module will use case studies of Southeast Asia, Central America and the Middle East to explore the reasons for American interventions and to assess their success or failure. It will offer an historical understanding of the assumptions and practices which lie behind contemporary US foreign policy-making. The module will introduce students to the institutions and processes involved in the making of American foreign policy.

EUROPEAN UNION: POWER, POLITICS AND POLICY

Code PPLI7013B

Credits 20

You will examine the origins, development and recent history of the European Union, the dynamics of EU decision making, and the working of EU policies in key areas, such as the single market, economic and monetary union, trade, and security and defence. You will explore the role and internal operation of the EU institutions, as well as the interaction between the EU and the member states, including what the obligations of membership imply for member countries. You will critically assess the key theories, models and concepts used in the study of the EU.

PUBLIC RELATIONS, PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND THE MEDIA

Code PPLX7005B

Credits 20

This module enables students to develop an advanced understanding of the theory and practice of public affairs, interest intermediation, and the strategies used by interest, advocacy groups and others to influence the political process. As well as covering the main debates in the academic literature, it draws directly on the experience of practitioners and offers unique insights into this under-studied area of politics.

PSI DISSERTATION

Code PPLX7010X

Credits 60

For all MA students registered on programmes in Political Social and International Studies except those undertaking a Dissertation by Practice. Students are required to write a dissertation of 10,000 words on a topic approved by the Course Director or other authorised person. The dissertation is to be submitted the first working day of September in the relevant year.

Admissions Live Chat

How to apply

Explore our research

Important Information

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.

MA PUBLIC POLICY AND PUBLIC MANAGEMENT