Programme Specification: MSc Philosophy and Public Policy
1. Awarding Body
2. Details of accreditation by a
professional/statutory body, e.g. ESRC;
BPS etc
3. Name of final award
4. Programme Title
5. Duration of the course
6. Based in the Department/Institute:
7. Relevant QAA subject benchmark
statements
8. Application Code
9. First written/last amended
LSE
N/A
MSc
Philosophy and Public Policy
Full-time 12 months, part-time 24 months
Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method
N/A
V7U8
November 2010
10. The programme aims to:
1. Encourage reflection on the methods and goals of public policy and on the role of values
and knowledge in policy decision-making.
2. Develop students’ understanding of both conceptual and normative issues in public
policy.
3. Prepare students for doctoral research in philosophy and public policy.
11. Programme outcomes: knowledge and understanding; skills and other attributes
Students completing the MSc Philosophy and Public Policy will have:
Subject knowledge.
 Advanced knowledge and understanding of contemporary theories of public policy
decision-making.
 Knowledge and understanding of scientific method and the use of scientific evidence
in policy making.
 Knowledge and understanding of analytic moral and political philosophy and its
relevance to public policy.
Subject skills. The ability to:
 Integrate concepts, theories and techniques from normative philosophy and social and
policy sciences and to apply them both to the analysis of problems that societies face
and to the formulation of policy recommendations.
 Read, understand and summarise philosophical texts.
 Understand and use philosophical terminology and engage in philosophical debate.
 Clearly and precisely formulate philosophical questions.
 Present, analyse and critically evaluate philosophical arguments and positions
(including their own), both verbally and in written form.
 Develop philosophical positions and argue for them.
 Recognise the soundness and pertinence (or otherwise) of philosophical arguments.
 Conduct supervised research and present the results in the form of a written thesis.
Transferable intellectual skills. The ability to:
 Analyse complex problems and arguments.
 Use formal techniques in arguments.
 Master difficult texts and follow complex presentations.
 Present ideas in clear fashion both orally and on paper.
 Argue cogently and effectively for a position.
 Evaluate positions from different points of view.
 Synthesise solutions to problems.
 Integrate arguments and evidence from different domains.
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Make independent and balanced judgements.
Plan and undertake independent study.
Information relating to careers can be accessed here
12. Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved
and demonstrated
 Students in this degree take three examined courses, participate in a core degree seminar
and write a dissertation (see 13 below). The examined courses develop students’
knowledge in particular domains and foster the development of subject specific and
transferable skills. The core seminar aims to develop students’ research and writing skills
in philosophy and to help them with their dissertation.
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Teaching is centred on lectures and seminars, with directed reading being the main
additional source of learning. Lectures are typically used to introduce new material,
concepts and techniques. Seminars are typically used for group discussion of issues
arising from lectures and students’ reading.

Assessment of courses is typically by means of a three hour examination held in June.
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Supervisors: All students are allocated a personal supervisor whose responsibility is to
provide the student with advice on all aspects of their studies and to review their academic
progress during the year.
13. Programme structures and requirements, levels, modules and awards
See the MSc Philosophy and Public Policy programme regulations.
Additional information
14. Criteria for admission to the programme
Applicants with a good first degree in any discipline, with a considered interest in the area
covered by the MSc, will be considered. If the student’s first language is not English, they
need to submit with their application a sample of their work in English (five to ten typewritten
pages).
15. Indicators of quality
1. Consistently positive reports from external examiners.
2. The department has been ranked joint third in the UK for the proportion of its work
deemed 'world leading' in the Research Assessment Exercise 2008.
3. Members of the Department have written key texts and influential articles in many of
the subject areas falling within the scope of the MSc.
16. Methods for evaluating and improving the quality and standard of teaching and
learning
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Teaching Committee reviews all aspects of teaching and assessment annually.
The Staff Student Forum for postgraduate students monitors all aspects of graduate
teaching. The Postgraduate Tutor is responsible for handling any problems that arise.
Minutes go to the Departmental Meeting.
Student surveys. The Teaching Quality Assessment and Review Office conducts surveys
of student opinion at least once a year in each course. Scores for individual lecturers go
to the Head of Department who will take action in the event of a problem. TQARO
surveys feed into the Department’s procedures for monitoring and supporting lecturers as
well as the School’s appointments and promotions procedures.
Academic staff: Peer review of academic staff on a regular basis. A departmental review
of new faculty normally occurs in the second year after appointment and a School review
in the fourth.
External Examiners’ Reports are received soon after the end of year examinations and
feed into both the School’s monitoring procedures and departmental course and
programme reviews.