Public Policy Analysis is an interdisciplinary and comprehensive field of study that first emerged in the United States in the mid-twentieth century. Its purpose is to help people gain a deeper understanding of public policy-related issues and phenomena through the study of it, and to help governments promote the interests of society as a whole through the formulation and implementation of high-quality public policies. As a core required course for the Master of Public Administration (MPA), the course on Public Policy Analysis helps to provide theoretical guidance for policy activities and an analytical framework for policy practice in China's public administration practice. The course will introduce the theoretical framework and practical applications of public policy analysis through 11 lectures, which can be divided into four major parts: Public Policy Concepts and Systems, Public Policy Tools, Public Policy Processes, and Public Policy Research Methods.
Students should become more familiar with the main theoretical and policy issues of contemporary public policy, master the main research methods of public administration/public management, learn and master the conceptual principles, disciplinary system and history of public policy, establish the basic concepts and policy values of public policy, understand and recognize the basic theories and methods of public policy process, policy subjects, policy instruments, policy environment, and policy evaluation.
Through teaching, emphasis is placed on the understanding and grasp of contemporary public policy practice issues in order to strengthen and improve student students' ability to sense, think, analyze, and respond to public policy issues, as well as language and written expression.
In addition to knowledge and ability, this course also aims to strengthen students' rational thinking in analyzing public policy, and ability, training the "top" perspective of public policy research, and strengthening the value of scientific, democratization and legalization of public policy decision-making.
