Public Policy
Explore how national, regional and local state institutions formulate and implement policies when you study Public Policy at Waikato. You'll also examine how non-profit organisations, individuals and businesses address issues of public concern.
Government decisions influence our lives on a daily basis. They affect the price of our housing, clothes, food, transport and water. They determine the types of jobs we do, how much we are paid and where we live.
Studying Public Policy equips you with the skills to understand and interpret current affairs, deal with government in your future profession or business, and work within government or for groups that lobby government. It is particularly suitable for students who want a career in the public sector, and for employees of organisations that are seeking to influence public policies.
At Waikato, Public Policy is an interdisciplinary subject. That means you can combine it with programmes from a variety of other disciplines, creating a programme of study to suit your needs. The minor in Public Policy offers both structure and flexibility – there's a compulsory paper at each level of study, but you'll also have the freedom to focus on the particular policy areas that most interest you. Choose from papers on economic, educational, environmental, ethnic, foreign, population and social policy.
In your studies you'll discuss theories of organisation, decision-making and administration, public management, and how public officials work and interact with the public sector and the political executive. You'll learn to examine policies in the context of political values and culture, economic constraints and political party agendas, and come to understand how and why particular policies are adopted by governments.
Key information
| Study Locations: | Hamilton, Tauranga, Online Papers offered differ by location. The Catalogue of Papers has full location info. |
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| Area of Study: |
Study Public Policy in these qualifications
Study Public Policy as a specialisation of
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Communication
- Bachelor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences with Honours
- Bachelor of Laws
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Science (Technology)
- Bachelor of Sport and Human Performance
- Certificate
- Diploma
- Graduate Certificate
- Graduate Diploma
- Master of Arts
- Master of Arts (Applied)
- Master of Management Studies
- Master of Science
- Master of Science (Research)
- Master of Science (Technology)
- Master of Social Sciences
- Postgraduate Certificate
- Postgraduate Diploma
Career opportunities
- Environmental Consultant
- Foreign Policy Advisor
- Health Sector Analyst
- Māori Development Policy Adviser
- Policy Analyst and Planner
Papers
Available Public Policy papers
100 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| POLSC102 | New Zealand Politics and Policy | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) & 24B (Tauranga) |
| This paper provides a foundation for the study of political science and public policy, with a particular focus on the study of government, politics and policy in New Zealand. | |||
| POLSC103 | Introduction to Political Psychology | 15.0 | 24A (Online) & 24A (Tauranga) |
| Politics affects every aspect of our lives. This paper is an introduction to understanding political behaviour, helping you become more critically aware of your own role as citizen. | |||
| SOCPY100 | Introduction to Social Policy | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) & 24A (Tauranga) |
| This paper examines the values behind social policy and introduces students to some of the important issues and debates in New Zealand and other democratic societies. | |||
200 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDSOC200 | Education and New Zealand Society | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| This paper critically examines educational ideas and practices by considering philosophical, historical, political, socio-cultural and economic aspects. It examines how the interrelationships between education and society change over time. | |||
| LEGAL201 | Public Law | 30.0 | 24D (Hamilton) & 24D (Tauranga) |
| Part One examines the principles of constitutionalism and the framework of the New Zealand system of government. Part Two examines the exercise and control of executive power in New Zealand and the relationship between the state, its agencies and the individual. | |||
| POLCY212 | Public Policy Analysis | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| This paper introduces students to public policy analysis. Students focus on the role of politics, public participation and policy in addressing society's big problems, how they are framed and defined, and how solutions are developed and implemented within the context of the policy process. | |||
| POLSC211 | Political Systems around the World | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) & 24B (Online) |
| The paper introduces the comparative study of political institutions, the study of the politics of a number of countries, their similarities and differences, from established democracies to authoritarian regimes. | |||
| POLSC224 | Terrorism, Violence and the State | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) |
| Terrorism is an increasingly prominent global phenomenon. We will clarify it conceptually and situate it historically with theory and case studies in situating it in comparative political and International Relations analysis. | |||
| POLSC229 | US Politics | 15.0 | 24B (Online) & 24B (Tauranga) |
| Students in this course explore the foundational elements of the United States, its governing institutions, the extent of public influence within the system, and major contemporary policy issues that the country faces. | |||
| POPST201 | Population Studies | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) & 24A (Online) |
| This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the multidisciplinary field of Population Studies. Students will develop a sound understanding of the demographic drivers of population change and composition, while exploring some of the rich theories and methodological approaches which comprise Population Studies. | |||
| SOCPY200 | Social Policy and Social Issues | 15.0 | 24A (Online) & 24A (Tauranga) |
| The paper continues the study of social policy at 200 level. The focus of this paper is on the welfare state, the policy cycle as well as social problems, such as poverty. | |||
300 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALPSS390 | Directed Study | 15.0 | 24X (Hamilton) |
| This paper allows students from the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology, and Social Sciences to undertake research on a specific topic related to their major or minor under the guidance of academic staff. | |||
| ECONS307 | Economics of Land, Water and Environment | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) |
| This paper provides students with a detailed understanding of the role of economic analysis in solving real world environmental problems including pollution, sustainable development, resource scarcity, and climate change. | |||
| GNSEX303 | Intersectionalities: Identities and Inequalities | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) |
| This paper provides a comprehensive review of the historical context for understanding contemporary issues of race, gender, sexuality, and social class. It investigates micro and macro level experiences and the social construction of identities. In doing so, this paper looks at how power is distributed in society, the theories that... | |||
| POLCY318 | Global Environmental Politics and Policy | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| This paper explores contemporary debates on environmental politics, sustainability, justice, and environmental governance. It examines the political processes underpinning the search for cooperative solutions to environmental dilemmas, including climate change. | |||
| POLSC301 | Visual Communication: Politics, Propaganda, Protest | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| This paper introduces students to the power of visual communication. The theoretical knowledge gained is applicable to politics and beyond. | |||
| SOCPY300 | Applied Social Policy | 15.0 | 24B (Online) |
| This paper provides students with experience of the ways in which policy is formulated and enacted. Theoretical perspectives are consolidated and extended to enhance opportunities for employment in the social policy field. | |||
500 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALPSS590 | Directed Study | 30.0 | 24X (Hamilton) |
| This paper allows students from the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences to undertake research on a specific topic related to their major under the guidance of academic staff. | |||
| ALPSS591 | Research Project | 30.0 | 24X (Hamilton) & 24X (Tauranga) |
| A research report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical or practice-led investigation (up to 12,500 words maximum). | |||
| ALPSS592 | Dissertation | 60.0 | 24X (Hamilton) & 24X (Tauranga) |
| A research report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical or practice-led investigation (up to 25,000 words maximum). | |||
| POLSC501 | Policy Analysis: Theory and Practice | 30.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| This paper introduces students to the fundamentals of policy analysis, and develops skills for higher-level research in public policy. A key focus is developing critical awareness of policy processes, of the drivers of change, and of the role of both 'evidence' and public participation in policy-making, in the pursuit of inclusive ... | |||
| POLSC537 | Environmental Politics and Public Policy | 30.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| This paper introduces students to the complexities and challenges of environmental policy processes, and develops skills in scholarly research on environmental policy making. A significant focus of the paper is on analysing and understanding the complex intersections of institutions, culture, science and technology, and systems of ... | |||
| POLSC593 | Political Science Thesis | 90.0 | 24X (Hamilton) |
| An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research. | |||
| POPST501 | Population Health and Equity | 30.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| This paper explores population health in Aotearoa/New Zealand and internationally, emphasising the broader determinants of wellbeing and equity. It introduces aspects of epidemiology, considers historical, indigenous and contemporary perspectives of health, and explores relationships between health, community and society. | |||
Scholarships and prizes
New to Waikato? The International Excellence Scholarship is worth up to $10,000.
Visit our Scholarship Finder for information about possible scholarships
Subject links
Subject Requirements
Public Policy is available as a minor for the BSocSc.
Public Policy is available as a minor for the BSocSc. It is also available as a minor within any undergraduate degree, subject to academic approval of the Faculty or School of Studies in which the student is enrolled.
To complete Public Policy as a minor, students must gain 60 points in Public Policy, including at least 30 points above 100 level. Students must include POLSC102, POLCY212, and POLCY318.
Contacts
School of Social Sciences
Phone: 0800 800 145 or +64 7 838 4702
General Enquiries: [email protected]