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Comparative Politics and Public Administration, 15 Credits

Jämförande politik och offentlig förvaltning, 15 Högskolepoäng

Established: 2025-02-18

Established by: School of Business, Economics and IT

Applies from: H25

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course the student will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• define and discuss key concepts and theoretical approaches in the field of comparative politics
• define and discuss key concepts and theoretical approaches in the field of public administration
• describe the fundamentals of the comparative method and its use within political science

Skills and abilities

• gather and interpret empirical material for simple comparative analyses of political systems and public administrations
• apply comparative politics and public administration concepts and theories to basic analyses of practical work of civil servants

Judgement and approach

• evaluate the effects of various political institutions and bureaucratic solutions

Entry requirements

General entry requirements

You also need: English 6, Mathematics 2a or Mathematics 2b or Mathematics 2c, Social Studies 1b or Social Studies 1a1 +1a2

The forms of assessment of student performance

The course is examined by active seminar participation, in-class exam, as well as individual and group assignments.

A student who does not fully meet the learning outcomes of a non-supervised examination (i.e., the in-class exam excluded) but is close to the grade “pass” can, after the examiner’s decision, be allowed to supplement an examination assignment in order to reach the criteria for a passing grade. The supplementary examination assignment must be individually adapted based on the learning outcomes or objectives that were not achieved by the student. It must take place within two weeks of informing the student about the examination result and before the next examination opportunity.

Course contents

The course covers formal institutions of political systems in a comparative perspective, as well as the implementation and organization of politics, i.e., the role of public administration and civil servants in a political system. Thus, the course covers central issues in two subfields of political science, comparative politics and public administration. Theories and concepts in these subfields are introduced, and main empirical insights are discussed. The course mainly focuses on democratic systems but contrasting cases from undemocratic contexts are also included.

The course introduces basic elements of the comparative method to help students adjudicate between different institutional designs. Smaller projects are part of the course, including basic data gathering and simple independent analyses of elements of political systems and public administration, as well as oral and written presentations of these projects.

Other regulations

Course grading: F/Fx/E/D/C/B/A - Insufficient, Insufficient- more work required before the credit can be awarded, Sufficient, Satisfactory, Good, Very Good, Excellent

Course language: The teaching is conducted in English.

General rules pertaining to examination at University West are available at www.hv.se.

If the student has a decision/recommendation on special support due to disability, the examiner has the right to examine the student in a customized examination form.

Cycle

First cycle

Progressive specialization

G1N - First cycle, has only upper-secondary level entry requirements

Main field of study

Political Science