THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2021/2022

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

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

Undergraduate Course: Social Policy and Society (SCPL08004)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Social and Political Science CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe course explores how welfare issues are constructed and debated in contemporary society. It revolves around a number of main themes including equality, 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.
Course description The course is based around a series of case studies that are linked to the concepts of equality, power, needs, rights and responsibilities. Each week, we examine a specific area or issue in Social policy. Illustrative examples include access to higher education, health inequalities, poverty, social security, city deals and local government. We examine these policies in order to gain a deeper understanding of how social policy is made and how these policies are able to offer a deeper understanding of the concepts within the course.

The course will be taught through a combination of lectures and tutorials. Each week there will be at least two and up to four 25 minute lectures together with a set of moderated and facilitated discussions taking place live on campus. Discussions are very interactive and students will be encouraged to develop their debating and critical thinking skills. Additionally, each week, you will be able to ask your course organiser or lecturer questions to gain a greater understanding of the material and to give students the opportunity to question, debate and discuss pertinent contemporary issues. Furthermore, each week you will have a specific study skill component helping students to develop broader skills such as: how to interpret data graphically and in tables; how to construct an argument; how to read critically; how to evaluate evidence; and how to interpret written documents and discourse. The course is very suitable for students looking for a multi-disciplinary experience. It is historically informed and will complement other courses in sociology, politics, economics, law, and social policy.
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 2021/22, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  250
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 22, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 9, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 163 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) 1500-word Essay 40%. Timed Assignment 60%
Feedback Assessment is via a 1500-word essay (40%) and a take home assignment (60%). Each tutorial features a study skill component, which will allow students to gain feedback from their tutors about how well they construct arguments, evaluate evidence, and interpret data. Students can also submit an essay plan to their tutor for comment.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. have an understanding of the main social issues and problems facing societies
  2. have an understanding of how social policy issues are constructed and contested in contemporary society
  3. have an understanding of some key concepts in social policy debates, such as needs, rights and responsibilities
  4. have an understanding of these concepts contrasted with utility-driven approaches in classical economic analyses of policy
  5. be aware of different perspectives in relation to debates on these concepts
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
Additional Class Delivery Information Plus tutorials.
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserMr Richard Brodie
Tel: (0131 6)50 4278
Email: R.Brodie@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Veronica Silvestre
Tel: (0131 6)51 337
Email: Veronica.Silvestre@ed.ac.uk
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