Postgraduate Course: Domestic Violence: Research, Theory and Policy Responses (SCPL11033)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | A course providing students an in-depth course on key theoretical lenses to understand domestic violence research and policy responses, covering UK and global contexts. |
| Course description |
This course will provide students with the tools needed to understand how domestic violence and abuse was and is now understood in public debate and what the key theoretical underpinnings are to understand domestic violence through a social science lens. The course explores how legislation within different countries and jurisdictions has evolved to reflect new research evidence and changes in public debate, and critically reflects on what the global social policy response to domestic violence is and has been in different cultural and geographical settings. The course focuses both on the UK and global context.
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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 |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Critically engage with domestic violence and abuse debates and discourse.
- Demonstrate knowledge of key concepts and theories used in understanding domestic violence and abuse.
- Demonstrate detailed knowledge around how domestic violence and abuse manifestations differ across cultural contexts.
- Demonstrate awareness of how different policy responses to domestic violence reflect different understandings and representations of the problem.
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Reading List
Devaney, J., Bradbury-Jones, C., Macy, R. J., Øverlien, C., & Holt, S. (Eds.). (2021). The Routledge international handbook of domestic violence and abuse. Routledge.
Buzawa E., Buzawa C.G. (2017) (eds) Global Responses to Domestic Violence. Springer, Cham.
Stark, E., & Hester, M. (2019). Coercive Control: Update and Review. Violence Against Women, 25(1), 81-104.
Skafida V (2025) Mothers, Children and Domestic Violence and Abuse: A Tale of Poverty and Inequality Told Through Survey Data. Routledge. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
This course supports the development of key University of Edinburgh Graduate Attributes by fostering both mindsets and skills.
Students will develop curiosity for learning that makes a positive difference through critical engagement with evolving theories, research evidence and policy debates on domestic abuse. They will strengthen their critical thinking and independent judgement by evaluating contested concepts, legislative frameworks and policy responses across different jurisdictions.
The course promotes an ethical and socially responsible outlook, encouraging students to engage thoughtfully with sensitive issues and diverse perspectives, and to reflect on the societal implications of violence, inequality and power. Students will enhance their ability to identify, synthesise and evaluate evidence from academic, legal and policy sources.
Through assessed written work and class discussion, students will develop skilled communication and the capacity to express complex ideas clearly and persuasively to academic and policy-rele |
| Keywords | Domestic abuse,gender based violence,violence against women and girls,intimate partner violence |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Valeria Skafida
Tel: (0131 6)51 3215
Email: Valeria.Skafida@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | |
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