Duration
30h SEM
Number of credits
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
The course on Sociology of Public Action aims to train students in the main sociological tools (theoretical and methodological), intended for the analysis and the practice of public policy. In order to avoid any misunderstandings, it should be clarified that this is not a course in political sociology, it does not focus on electoral practices, political parties nor democratic processes. The main focus of the course is not politics (nor polity) - in the sense of the political world - but the creation of policy.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
By the end of the course, students will be able to :
- Identify the controversies in the literature
- Understand the concepts, methodological principles and the many facets of research.
- Apply these concepts and principles to the analysis of empirical cases
- Establish links between different theoretical, methodological and empirical elements
- Analyse and compare empirical cases
- Criticise or evaluate certain theoretical and/or normative positions
- Produce a tightly worked argument on a case analysis or a theoretical question
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
To actively participate in this seminar, it is highly recommended that students have followed an earlier course on introduction to sociology. If this is not the case, the student should attempt to catch up by reading a sociology manual, such as Orianne J.-F. (2019), Petit précis de théorie sociologique, De Boeck Supérieur, Paris/Bruxelles.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
This course, designed in the form of a seminar, is divided into two parts:
1) the determining factors of public action;
2) the public players.
The first part consists of an interactive presentation and discussion, based on articles, on the "new" theories of public action, in particular the input of neo-institutionalism and the cognitive approach to public policies. Four general issues structure this study: representations (ideas), change (institutions), rationality (interests), implementation (translation).
The second part is devoted to public players, and more particularly to professional groups responsible for implementing policies in the different fields of public intervention: employment, adult education, teaching, health, the law, etc. Arrangements have been made for external participants (researchers and professionals) to come and expound on empirical "cases" (monographs, assessments, experiences in the field).
Participation in sessions requires students to undertake significant amounts of work at home: reading at least three scientific articles per week; and more occasionally, preparing a presentation of an article during class, research on documentation, developing questions to discuss a text or case study.
Recommended or required readings
In terms of didactic support, students will mainly base their work on a reading portfolio (which is available in Presses de l'ULg). The main advantage of the reading portfolio as compared to a manual or a syllabus is that it forces the student to take into account a wide range of points of view (both theoretical and methodological).
Any session :
- In-person
written exam ( open-ended questions )
- Remote
written exam ( open-ended questions )
- If evaluation in "hybrid"
preferred in-person
Additional information:
A mock exam is organised after Easter in the form of a written examination on the theoretical part of the course.
The final (certificative) assessment of the students' work consists of a written exam on all the material covered in class. It will take place in June and September. In particular, the following will be taken into account: the quality of the argumentation, the analytical approach taken, the ability to identify theoretical controversies, the relevance of the analysis
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Contacts
jforianne@uliege.be
Association of one or more MOOCs
Items online
Sociology of Public Action
reading portfolio