| Unit name | Social Policy Past and Present |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SPOL10034 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Lart |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School for Policy Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
This unit covers the historical development of the British welfare state, and the social and political contexts in which that development took place.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
This is a core foundational unit for the single honours social policy programme, where it complements the other mandatory units which explore theoretical and conceptual understandings of social policy, and which take a comparative and international approach. It is also offered as an optional unit in other joint honours and combined honours social policy programmes for students who wish to deepen their knowledge and understanding of British social policy. Students may then choose options in later years of the programme which allow them to explore specific policy areas beyond this introductory level.
An overview of content
By exploring the question ‘why do we have the welfare state that we do?’ this unit introduces you to the historical development of British social policy. We start with the 19th century and the ways in which society adjusted to the transition from an agricultural society to an industrialised one. The story then moves on to the creation of the welfare state in the twentieth century, culminating in the 1942 Beveridge Report and the post war settlement. We bring the narrative up to date by examining how the welfare state has been challenged, modernised and restructured over the last few decades. At the core of the story is the way poverty has been understood and explained, but we will also focus on other key areas of social policy such as health, housing, education and social care.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
You will have a knowledge of the evolution of social policy in Britain, and an appreciation of both continuities and change in how a society responds to need of different kinds. This will be a foundation for your later study of other societies’ social policies, and for more in-depth study of specific areas of policy.
Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to demonstrate:
The unit is taught through two hours of lectures and a one hour seminar each week. There will be structured preparation for each seminar, which will expand on the key content of the lecture and support you in developing your knowledge and understanding.
Policy Brief 1000 words (25%) - this assessment covers ILOs 1,2 & 3
Essay 2000 words (75%) - this assessment covers ILOs 1 & 2
Subject to the university regulations for taught programmes, unsuccessful students may be offered an opportunity for reassessment in the failed element(s). This will comprise a task of the same format as the original assessment.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SPOL10034).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
