Program Overview

Course Overview

The course GOVT 523, Policy Methods and Practice, examines the roles of knowledge and values in public policy, as reflected in policy methods and practices. Students learn about conceptualisations of science and implications for methods of policy analysis and decisions.

Course Details

• Dates: 6 July 2026 to 8 November 2026
• Starts: Trimester 2
• Fees:
  • NZ$2,313.90 for domestic students
  • NZ$4,848.90 for international students
• Lecture Start Times: Wednesday, 1.40pm
• Campus: Pipitea
• Estimated Workload: Approximately 150 hours or 8.3 hours per week for 18 weeks
• Points: 15

Entry Restrictions

• Prerequisites: None
• Corequisites: None
• Restrictions: None

Taught By

The course is taught by the Faculty of Commerce & Administration — Wellington School of Business and Government.

Course Learning Objectives

Students who pass this course will be able to:

1. Apply appropriate strategies and methods to elicit knowledge for policy purposes
2. Make adequate decisions on the sources, reliability, and limitations of various types of evidence necessary for decision-making
3. Apply suitable principles/strategies to address a diversity of uncertainty types affecting decision-making and communicate uncertainties effectively
4. Select, design, and justify processes/methods to elicit and integrate values and insights from different ways of knowing, including mātauranga Māori, into decision-making

How This Course is Taught

This is a campus-based course. Based on approval by the Coordinator, students facing special circumstances may attend a module via Zoom streaming. Modules are video recorded for the purposes of learning assistance, not for online asynchronous course engagement. There are no assessments requiring in-person attendance.

Assessment

• Policy Brief on Methods: 1400 words, Individual, 30%
• Participatory Plan: 1800 words, Individual, 35%
• Advisory Report: 1800 words, Individual, 35%

Lecture Times and Rooms

Specific lecture times and rooms are scheduled throughout the trimester.

What You'll Need to Get

You do not need to get any texts or equipment for this course.

Disclaimer

This course outline may be subject to change.