Undergraduate Course: Social Policy and Society (SCPL08004)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
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 | The 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 migration and equality, health inequalities, poverty, social security and domestic abuse. 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. This is a very contemporary course, debating real life every day issues.
The course will be taught through a combination of lectures and tutorials. Tutorials are very interactive and students will be encouraged to develop their debating and critical thinking skills. Additionally, each week, you will be able to questions to gain a greater understanding of the material and we 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.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| 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 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
60 %,
Coursework
40 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
1500-word Essay 40%
Exam (3 sections c.1000 words each for A+B, c.750 words for C) 60% |
| Feedback |
Assessment is via a 1500-word essay (40%) and a written exam (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. |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
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| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- have an understanding of the main social issues and problems facing societies
- have an understanding of how social policy issues are constructed and contested in contemporary society
- have an understanding of some key concepts in social policy debates, such as needs, rights and responsibilities
- have an understanding of these concepts contrasted with utility-driven approaches in classical economic analyses of policy
- be aware of different perspectives in relation to debates on these concepts
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
Plus tutorials. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Mr Richard Brodie
Tel: (0131 6)50 4278
Email: R.Brodie@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Brodie Hamilton
Tel: (0131 6)51 3139
Email: Brodie.Hamilton@ed.ac.uk |
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