SS4017 - Introducing Social Policy (2022/23)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2022/23 | ||||||||||||||||
| Module title | Introducing Social Policy | ||||||||||||||||
| Module level | Certificate (04) | ||||||||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 30 | ||||||||||||||||
| School | School of Social Sciences and Professions | ||||||||||||||||
| Total study hours | 300 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Assessment components |
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| Running in 2022/23(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
To explain the development and functioning of different models of social policy in the West and to explore key themes and issues in social policy in the UK over recent decades, mapping the ascendance of the neoliberal model and the decline of the classic welfare state.
Syllabus
I. CONTEXT AND CONCEPTS (LO1, LO3)
1. Social Policy and the Welfare State
2. Needs, Rights, Outcomes
3. Policy Making and Government
4. Economic Policy and Resources
5. Production, Provision, Delivery, Implementation
II. CORE PROVISIONS (LO2, 3, 4)
6. Benefits and Pensions
7. Healthcare
8. Social Care
9. School Education
10. Housing
III. POLICY CASE STUDIES (LO2, 3, 4)
11. Race Equality
12. Disability
13. Gender Equality
14. Childcare, Child Protection
IV. HISTORICAL, INTERNATIONAL (LO5)
15. Social Policy before 1900
16. 1890s to 1930s
17. 1940s to 1970s
18. 1980s to the present: The Neoliberal Era
19. Welfare States Beyond the UK
20. Social Policy and ‘Developing Societies’
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
Teaching: weekly lectures followed by exercises and reflexive discussion in seminars, based on data and key texts
Learning: Learning is supported by the WebLearn site for the module which includes lecture notes, seminar exercises, newspaper articles and longer articles and links to relevant web sites.
The lecture notes and seminar exercises are used as the initial basis for tackling a topic, but students are encouraged to go beyond these in preparing coursework
Learning outcomes
1. analyse reflectively the concepts of ‘social policy’ and the ‘welfare state’
2. describe and analyse major policy developments in key sectors of social policy in the UK
3. identify and describe the impact of social movements and ideologies on social policy outcomes in addressing inequalities and injustices
4. describe and analyse the shift from a public service model of delivery towards a quasi-privatised model
5. identify and describe the key features of the historical development of social policy in the UK and of different global approaches to the welfare state
Assessment strategy
1. Coursework addressing learning outcome 1 due in week 9: five short answers
2. 1500 essay due week 22 addressing learning outcomes 2, 3 and 4
3. Coursework addressing learning outcome 5 due week 29: five short answers
Bibliography
Where possible, the most current version of reading materials is used during the delivery of this module. Comprehensive reading lists are provided to students in their handbooks. Reading Lists will be updated annually. Additional reading is also made available by topic on Weblearn.
Core Reading:
Alcock, P. et al (2016) Student’s Companion to Social Policy, 5th edition, Wiley
Additional Reading:
Alcock, P. (2014) Social Policy in Britain, 4th edition, Palgrave Macmillan
Bochel, H. et al (2009) Social Policy: Themes, Issues & Debates, 2nd edition, Pearson
Bochel, H and G. Daly (2014) Social Policy, 3rd edition, Routledge