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Programme & Unit Catalogues


SP10001: Social policy, welfare and the state

[Page last updated: 01 August 2022]

Academic Year: 2022/23
Owning Department/School: Department of Social & Policy Sciences
Credits: 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 120
Level: Certificate (FHEQ level 4)
Period:
Semester 2
Assessment Summary: CW 20%, PF 80%
Assessment Detail:
  • Assessment Group N: CW 20% (N) SPS Students (CW 20% - Qualifying Mark: 40)
  • Assessment Group S: CW 20% (S) Sw & Non SPS Students (CW 20% - Qualifying Mark: 40)
  • Assessment Group N: PF 80% - SPS Students Portfolio (PF 80% - Qualifying Mark: 40)
  • Assessment Group S: OT 80% - SW & Non SPS Students Alt Assessment (OT 80% - Qualifying Mark: 40)
Supplementary Assessment:
SP10001 CW 20% Reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
SP10001 CW 80% Reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
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.

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.

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).

Programme availability:

SP10001 is a Designated Essential Unit on the following programmes:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences
  • UHSP-AFB16 : BSc(Hons) Social Policy (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AKB16 : BSc(Hons) Social Policy with Year long work placement (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AFB15 : BSc(Hons) Social Work and Applied Social Studies (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AFB10 : BSc(Hons) Sociology and Social Policy (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AKB10 : BSc(Hons) Sociology and Social Policy with Year long work placement (Year 1)

SP10001 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences

SP10001 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Psychology Department of Social & Policy Sciences
  • UHSP-AFB21 : BSc(Hons) International Development with Economics (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AKB21 : BSc(Hons) International Development with Economics with Year long work placement (Year 1)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2022/23 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2023/24 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2022/23.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.