Undergraduate Course: Social Policy and Society (SCPL08004)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Social Policy |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
http://www.ed.ac.uk/social_policy/ |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | The course explores how welfare issues are constructed and debated in contemporary society. It revolves around three main themes: social needs, social problems and social rights, and how different debates about welfare have been influenced by these themes. It focuses on the implications of social change for debates about welfare, considering some of the major contemporary issues in social policy. This half course is complementary to Politics of the Welfare State. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2012/13 Semester 1, Available to all students (SV1)
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WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| Central | Lecture | | 1-11 | | | 12:10 - 13:00 | | | | Central | Lecture | | 1-11 | 12:10 - 13:00 | | | | |
| First Class |
First class information not currently available |
| Additional information |
Plus tutorials. |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours:Minutes |
|
|
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | Social Policy and Society | 2:00 | | | | Resit Exam Diet (August) | | 2:00 | | |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course students should:
- have begun to develop an understanding of the main social issues and problems facing societies
- have an understanding of how social policy issues are constructed and contested in contemporary society
- have an understanding of how contemporary societies recognise and manage social change
- have an understanding of some key concepts in social policy debates, such as needs, rights and responsibilities
- be able to explain why needs, rights and responsibilities are central to social policies, and why they are contested concepts
- be able to cite examples of policies which raise such issues
- have an understanding of the differences between universal and targeted social provision, and be able to critically assess the arguments for and against these
- be aware of different perspectives in relation to debates on these concepts
- be able to evaluate the tensions and balances between the needs and rights of different social groups, drawing on policy examples
- be able to compare and contrast theories about responsibilities and welfare with theories of need and of rights
- have begun to acquire some of the skills that are integral to studying social policy, such as assessing arguments and evaluating evidence
- have an enhanced awareness of the social values and institutions that shape our lives, and of the choices that socially aware members of our societies have to confront.
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Assessment Information
| 1 essay of 1500 words; essay = 40%, degree exam = 60%. A pass in the exam is necessary to pass the course. If the examination is failed at the first sitting and is passed at the re-sit examination, the maximum mark obtainable for the course oveall is 50. |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Paul Norris
Tel: (0131 6)50 3922
Email: |
Course secretary | Mr Ewen Miller
Tel: (0131 6)50 3925
Email: |
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