Undergraduate Course: Community Education: Theory, Policy and Politics (EDUA08063)
Course Outline
| School | Moray House School of Education and Sport |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course introduces students to a range of theoretical and ideological perspectives on policy and politics in relation to community education. It assesses their historical and contemporary significance and demonstrates that there are different and competing ways of making political arguments. |
| Course description |
An understanding of the dynamic relationship between theory, policy and politics is central to a critical analysis of educational and professional engagement in communities. Professional workers are in a position to interpret and define ¿ and if necessary redefine - social ¿problems¿ and their ¿solutions¿ in ways which benefit individuals and groups in communities. In general terms policy always needs to be interpreted and this creates scope for professional agency to be enacted. This foundational course is intended to develop students¿ ideological awareness, analytical skills and critical capacity to make cogent political arguments in their work in order to assist the analysis of social problem definition. The teaching programme will present a range of theoretical and ideological perspectives as frameworks through which to examine the wider political and policy context in which educational work is undertaken. Many of the concerns addressed in the course are applicable to a wide range of professions which engage with communities.
|
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand the significance of the relationship between theoretical ideas, policy and community education practice;
- Apply political perspectives to the critical analysis of social issues;
- Demonstrate awareness of competing ideological models and identify their impact on policy problems
- Construct informed political arguments relating to social issues, policy perspectives and contemporary practice.
- Evaluate a policy 'problem' and 'solution'
|
Reading List
Set Text
Heywood, A. (2012) Political Ideologies: An Introduction, (5th edition) Basingstoke: Macmillan.
Highly Recommended
Lister, R. (2010) Understanding Theory and Concepts in Social Policy, London: Policy Press.
Additional Reading
Alcock, P. (2003) Social policy in Britain: themes and issues, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Cowen, H. (1999) Community Care, Ideology and Social Policy, London: Prentice Hall.
Blakemore, K. (2007) Social Policy: an introduction, Maidenhead: Open University Press.
Curtice, J., McCrone, D., Park, A. & Paterson, L. (Eds.) (2002) New Scotland, new society?: are social and political ties fragmenting? Edinburgh: Polygon.
Jamrozik, A (1998) The sociology of social problems: theoretical perspectives and methods of intervention, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Leach, R. (2002) Political Ideology in Britain, Basingstoke: Palgrave.
Pierson, C., Castles, F and Naumann I. (2014 Third Edition) The Welfare State Reader, Cambridge: Polity Press.
Taylor, G (2007) Ideology and Welfare, Basingstoke: Palgrave.
|
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
Timetable is arranged annually
|
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Callum McGregor
Tel:
Email: |
Course secretary | Mrs Lesley Spencer
Tel: (0131 6)51 6373
Email: |
|
|
University Homepage