Time Schedule:
Peter J. May
POL S 575
Seattle Campus
Covers political science research about policy processes. Research seminar addressing frameworks and perspectives on policy processes as they concern issue emergence, agenda dynamics, policy subsystems, policy learning, and implementation.
Class description
This course is broadly concerned with political science research about policy processes. We will conduct this course as a research seminar in American politics. The material addresses various perspectives concerning policy processes primarily in the American context but with some examples outside of the United States. The course is aimed at PhD students who desire to use the course for developing their interests and research possibilities in studying aspects of policy processes or public policy.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
For much of the quarter, we will be moving back and forth between theoretical notions and discussion of student research. Each week’s topics will typically consist of a mix of theoretical perspectives and prior research illustrating or testing those perspectives. In addition, we will devote time in most sessions to discussion of the development of student-initiated research projects.
Recommended preparation
Baumgartner and Jones, Agendas and Instability in American Politics (2nd ed); Sabatier, ed., Theories of the Policy Process (2nd ed); Patashnick, Reforms at Risk; and journal articles to be designated.
Those without background in policy processes should read Birkland, Introduction to the Policy Process.
Class assignments and grading
Each student will be required to develop: (1) a research paper that advances understanding of an under-theorized concept in policy processes or provides insights about one or more of the theoretical perspectives concerning aspects of the policy process; (2) a set of short response papers that contribute to development of the final research paper; and (3) a response essay about the state of theorizing about policy processes.
Grading. Papers: 80 % Class/quiz participation: 20 % TOTAL: 100 %
