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Department of Social & Policy Sciences, Unit Catalogue 2008/09


SP10001 Social policy, welfare and the state

Credits: 6
Level: Certificate
Semester: 2
Assessment: EX 100%
Requisites:
Aims:
1. To introduce key concepts of social policy, in particular equality, social justice and citizenship.
2. To examine accounts of the development of the relationship between welfare and the state in Britain.
3. To introduce the major areas of social policy.
4. To introduce students to cross-national welfare state comparisons.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this unit students should be able to:
* critically evaluate accounts of the history of the welfare state in Britain;
* assess debates about the role of the state in the promotion of equality, social justice and citizenship rights;
* communicate and discuss ideas in seminars;
* synthesise material from a range of sources in order to construct and present an argument.
Skills:

* To think imaginatively and analytically.
* To construct and communicate an argument.
* To evaluate others' arguments and empirical research.
* Study & learning skills: note taking, avoiding plagarism, using the library, constructing a bibliography, referencing.
* To learn independently and be able to assess own learning needs and seek advice from Learning Support if necessary.
* Basic ICT skills (word processing, email, using the web, use of VLEs).
* Essay research, planning and writing skills.
* Time-management and work planning skills.
* Presentation skills.
Content:
Key themes of equality, social justice, citizenship and the role of the state: histories of the British welfare state (Poor laws, Liberal Reforms, Beveridgean welfare state and postwar settlement, restructuring of welfare); areas of social policy (health care; housing; education; care; income maintenance).