The degree course in Political and Administration Sciences at the UPF offers thoroughgoing, up-to-date studies in the sphere of political and public-administration work enabling its graduates to gain high-level professional skills and a solid grounding in terms of knowledge and analytical techniques.
Various factors, relating essentially to the consolidation of the welfare state, have brought about heightened demand for graduates in Political and Administration Sciences in our society. The growing diversity of the public sector and the new and ever more complex interrelations between civil society and the political system have resulted in new professional requirements, thereby boosting the demand for professionals capable of understanding, analysing and designing blueprints for action in the complex mesh of public and private organisations that makes up our society. And it is precisely those requirements that can be met by professional specialists in the workings and dynamics of public institutions and political realities, and in the administration, analysis and evaluation of public policies
The rise over recent years in the demand for highly skilled analysts and researchers and for professional specialists in the world of politics and public administration (comparable to the demand levels now found in the United States and in western European countries) has been very sharp. In the case of Political and Administration Sciences in our country, that demand is still far from being met. Our studies on take-up in the employment market reveal that approximately 80% of graduates from the UPF’s Political and Administration Sciences degree course find work within six months of graduating.
At present, these professional openings can be seen clearly in various fields of employment, in both public and private contexts. To mention just a few:
Political-Science studies in the west currently take in six basic study areas: political theory, political behaviour and culture, comparative politics, international relations, public-policy analysis, and administration sciences. The degree course in Political and Administration Sciences at the UPF sets out to give its graduates high-level professional skills in those subject areas. The building of the European Union, and analysing the main institutions and decision-making processes in the political system in Catalonia and in Spain, are given particular attention throughout the degree course.
With that aim in mind, the teaching provision is organised in two cycles. The first cycle provides thorough basic training in political science and in-depth knowledge of economics and law, while ancillary disciplines (mathematics, statistics, research techniques, and data sources and analysis) are also studied. A number of international indicators show that it is advisable to bring multidisciplinary skills to bear in analysing the ever more complex political realities of contemporary societies, thus pointing to a more professionalized and versatile profile for future graduates.
The second cycle brings subjects that are more specifically concerned with political science, combining further theoretical studies with an applied focus in various subject areas.
These studies are rounded off with work experience, arranged in cooperation with the main administrative institutions, organisations and companies involved in decision-making in the political context.
To give an overview of the syllabus for this degree course, it can be broken down into five broad fields:
The specific features of the political world demand a deep knowledge of the sociological and political-science factors involved. This area of knowledge is studied through subjects like political science, sociology, international relations, Spanish politics, political agents, parties and interest organisations, and public administration and policies.
It is essential to be acquainted with the legal framework that governs the way public bodies function in order to examine ways of improving the efficiency and efficacy of their administration work. Subjects such as administrative law, Community law and local law all help to meet that requirement.
Macroeconomic and microeconomic analysis criteria, together with financing systems and budget considerations, enable us to gain a better understanding of our environment. Accordingly, public-sector economics, international economics, the economics of Spain and taxation are all subjects that take us further in that analytical work.
In-depth work is needed on the use of new analytical tools that help us to improve the way we examine and design administration policies and strategies. Defining the issues, planning by objectives, designing and evaluating policies, and marketing methodology all guide us along that path, involving subjects such as mathematics, probability, research techniques, statistics, opinion analysis, management techniques, and project appraisal in economic terms
The complexity of our environment forces us to make an individual analysis of the specific problems entailed in various strategic spheres; accordingly, a wide range of optional topics is offered in various subject areas:
Communication and politics; decision-making theories; sector-specific policies (employment and labour, education, the environment, health policies, town-planning policies etc.); history; international relations; economic analysis; applied game theory; sociology; etc