THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2017/2018

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Social and Political Science : Social Policy

Undergraduate Course: Politics of the Welfare State (SCPL08005)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Social and Political Science CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course looks at the politics of the welfare state in the UK in the light of the dramatic economic events since 2008, including from an international perspective. The role of ideology, public opinion, political actors, interest groups and the media will be considered in understanding the directions that the British welfare state took in recent years. Specific social policy areas, for example, health, unemployment and education, will be discussed in detail and current reforms will be scrutinised.
Course description The course analyses the ideological and political factors which have shaped the development of the British welfare state in the past and are shaping it in the present. Pivotal is the context of the financial and economic crisis that unfolded in 2008 and has important repercussions on social policy making until today. Students will be introduced to key welfare benefits and services, how they are delivered, funded and who benefits from them. The role of public opinion, key political actors, the media and their interplay are critically analysed. While the focus is on the British welfare state, an international and comparative perspective is taken with regards to the role of welfare ideologies, key institutional features, the impact of the crisis and other common contemporary challenges to the welfare state in Europe.
Together with the courses Social Policy and Society, European Social Policy and/or Evidence, Politics and Policy this course will form a coherent introduction to Social Policy, but it can also be taken as a topical outside subject on a ¿stand-alone¿ basis.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2017/18, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  246
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 20, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 9, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 165 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 60 %, Coursework 30 %, Practical Exam 10 %
Additional Information (Assessment) 1 essay of 2000 words = 30%; tutorial participation = 10%, degree exam = 60%; resit as for first sitting - if taken as second sitting exam mark becomes overall.
Feedback Students will receive two key pieces of individual feedback prior to writing their final exam, namely comments on the 2000-word essay they submit around Week 6 and comments on their tutorial participation.
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)2:00
Resit Exam Diet (August)2:00
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. analyse the ideological and political factors which have shaped the development of the welfare state in the past and are shaping it in the present.
  2. to understand how the welfare state works, how it is delivered, how it is paid for and who benefits from it.
  3. identify the current political debate and developments in four key policy areas ¿ health, employment and social security, education and housing.
  4. understand the politics of the British welfare state from an international perspective and in the context of the current economic crisis.
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Course URL http://www.ed.ac.uk/social_policy/
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
Additional Class Delivery Information Plus tutorials.
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserDr Elke Heins
Tel: (0131 6)50 4049
Email:
Course secretaryMiss Claire Buchan
Tel: (0131 6)50 8253
Email:
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