Project Planning and Policy Advocacy

DEVS 361/3.0

Woman planning project

Overview

This course is designed to equip students with critical understanding of strategies, techniques and mindsets that can help social movements and other justice-oriented organizations contribute to better policy advocacy in Global Development.  This course connects theory with practice through four in-depth modules on policy advocacy in Global Development. Through independent historical and sociological research students will apply core concepts and best practices to develop new understandings about the challenges of designing a public campaign aimed at legal and policy changes toward the goal of global justice advocacy. 

Students will also assess where policy advocacy fits within a broader spectrum of transformative societal change. 

Please note: This course is typically offered in the winter term

Please note: course no longer includes project planning. For project planning, please see DEVS 210 (offerred on-campus only).

Topics at a Glance

Module 1 (weeks 1-3): Introduction to Policy Advocacy and Theoretical Frameworks

Module 2 (weeks 4-6): Advocacy Circles and Actors

Module 3 (weeks 7-9): Politics, Power, and Collective Advocacy

Module 4 (weeks 10-12): Bringing It All Together: Strategies and Limitations 

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, you will have reliably demonstrated the ability to: 

  1. Identify the main policy actors and institutions responsible for policy advocacy in a Global Development context  

  1. Discuss strategies, techniques, and mindsets that can help social movements and other justice-oriented organizations contribute to better policy advocacy in Global Development  

  1. Consider the role of positionality and self-reflexive behaviour in advocacy networks and the role of marginalized communities in advocating change. 

  1. Evaluate the potential limitations of policy advocacy in shaping transformative economic justice in Global Development and assess where policy advocacy fits within a broader spectrum of transformative societal change 

  1. Situate approaches to contemporary policy advocacy within broader political and historical frameworks 

  1. Apply inquiry skills in exploring the existing body of historical and sociological research in policy advocacy and use academic and other genres of writing to develop and communicate new ideas to relevant audiences. 

Terms

Winter 2025
Course Dates
–
Delivery Mode
Online

Evaluation

20% - Discussion Activities (2 x 10%)
60% - Case Studies (2 x 30%)
20% - Take Home Exam

*Evaluation Subject to Change*

Textbook and Materials

All assignment instructions, supplementary exercises, and links to online resources are available on onQ. 

Time Commitment

Students can expect to spend, on average, about 10 hours per week completing relevant readings, assignments, and course activities.