Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Policy Communication

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
POLI1088	City Campus	Undergraduate	330H Social Science & Planning	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2006
POLI1088	City Campus	Undergraduate	365H Global, Urban and Social Studies	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2007, Sem 1 2008, Sem 1 2009, Sem 1 2010, Sem 1 2011
POLI1091	City Campus	Postgraduate	365H Global, Urban and Social Studies	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2007, Sem 2 2010, Sem 2 2011
POLI1091	City Campus	Postgraduate	365H Global, Urban and Social Studies	Face-to-Face or Internet	Sem 2 2008

Course Coordinator: Kate Driscoll

Course Coordinator Phone: +(61 3) 9925 8287

Course Coordinator Email: kate.driscoll@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None

Course Description

Public policy is communicated through a series of direct pronouncements, legislation and law, policy documents, media releases and advertisements as well as interpretation and commentary provided by the media. The mix of genres which give authority and legality to parliamentary, judicial and party political decisions can move hearts and minds, generate passion, provoke anger and stimulate debate.
In this course you will further develop your research, interpretation and communication skills with a particular focus on the production of policy-related texts. How we communicate policy matters in terms of who has a voice, what is said and how issues are represented and framed.

Throughout the course consideration will be given to the way policy actors seek to use communication strategies to set political agendas, communicate policy research and construct policy problems.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Upon successful completion of the course you will be able to:

• Critically analyse a broad range of policy communication genres
• Confidently prepare policy documents for a range of purposes and audiences 
• Describe, analyse and use the communication techniques and methods used by policy actors to shape political agendas and influence policy development

Overview of Learning Activities

The course is based around a series of workshops which will open up key ideas and developments, and provide an overview of relevant research and literature for each topic. Guest lecturers will contribute to classes where appropriate. The seminars provide an opportunity for full engagement with the topic and assessment requirements, through workshop activities and discussion.

Overview of Learning Resources

There is no set text for this course however a reading pack will be prepared and be available from the RMIT bookshop. In addition RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems.

Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on the above learning outcomes. Assessment tasks may include but are not limited to write and deliver a speech, class presentations, and policy critique.Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks.

• If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or the Disability Liaison Unit if you would like to find out more.
• A student charter http://www.rmit.edu.au/about/studentcharter summarises your responsibilities as an RMIT student as well as those of your teachers.
• Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions which are available for review online: http://www.rmit.edu.au/policies/academic#assessment