UNSW Handbook Course - Policy and Politics: Theory and Practice

Policy and Politics: Theory and Practice - POLS3045


	Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
	School: School of Social Sciences and International Studies
	Course Outline: http://www.arts.unsw.edu.au/politics/
	Campus: Kensington Campus
	Career: Undergraduate
	Units of Credit: 12
	EFTSL: 0.25000 (more info)
	Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 3
	Enrolment Requirements:
	Prerequisite: 12 units of credit at the POLS2000 level, including POLS2008
	Fee Band: 1 (more info)
	Further Information: See Class Timetable

Description

A policy oriented course based on a two day per week research internship attachment, usually with a member of parliament, a government department or unit or an NGO. Students must be able to demonstrate familiarity with the Australian parliamentary and political system. Students are required to produce a research report and a weekly journal and attend a weekly debriefing session as part of their assessment.

Note: Enrolments are limited to the number of available internships, which may vary from year to year. Available spaces are allocated by interview in order to match qualifications of individuals with the requirements of available internships.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of the course students should have:

Successfully negotiated a contract for a workplace project with a workplace supervisor
Improved professional skills by fulfilling the obligations of the negotiated contract - ie. by (a) partipating in the workplace and (b) completing an organisationally-supervised applied research project
Learnt about the application of relevant theory in a professional/community setting
Engaged in critical reflection by acquiring the skills of a reflective practitioner - this will be demonstrated via ongoing performance reviews, a final oral presentation to a panel of peers and professionals and a reflexive written report
Gained an enhanced understanding of public policy that will be evident in a completed research project
Increased personal exposure to professional networks and heightened understanding of career options
Demonstrated good communication skills in the workplace, amongst peers and via an oral presentation.

Assessment

Assignment 1 - negotiaton of the learning contract
Assignment 2 - workplace project report
Assignment 3 - reflexive report
Assignment 4 - oral presentation

Note: Weighting of each of these assessment tasks will be determined by the group in the first meeting. Students must pass Assignments 2, 3 and 4 and must satisfactorily complete the workplace project in order to pass the course.

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© The University of New South Wales (CRICOS Provider No.: 00098G), 2004-2011. The information contained in this Handbook is indicative only. While every effort is made to keep this information up-to-date, the University reserves the right to discontinue or vary arrangements, programs and courses at any time without notice and at its discretion. While the University will try to avoid or minimise any inconvenience, changes may also be made to programs, courses and staff after enrolment. The University may also set limits on the number of students in a course.