Unit information: Social Policy and the Welfare State: Key Concepts and Contemporary Issues in 2015/16

Unit name	Social Policy and the Welfare State: Key Concepts and Contemporary Issues
Unit code	SPOL10018
Credit points	20
Level of study	C/4
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Eroglu-Hawksworth
Open unit status	Open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School for Policy Studies
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

This unit provides an introduction to the key concepts and issues in social
policy. In the first part of the unit, a series of key concepts, such as need,
globalisation, citizenship and risk will be addressed. The second part of the
unit will serve to illustrate the relevance of these concepts to the analysis of
a number of contemporary issues. The unit will focus on current debates in
a variety of areas of social policy such as employment, housing and poverty.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students will:
•Understand the key concepts in social policy
•Be familiar with contemporary social policy issues
•Be able to apply concepts to the analysis of contemporary issues

Teaching Information

Lectures and Seminars

Assessment Information

Assessment will be against the programme criteria defined for the
appropriate level.
Formative assessment: One timed (50 minutes) essay
Summative assessment: 2 hour unseen exam (100%)

Reading and References

• Alcock, P, May, M and S.Wright (2012) The Student's Companion to Social Policy, (4th Ed.). Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.
• Baldock, J. Mitton, L., Manning, N. and S. Vickerstaff (2011). Social Policy (4th Ed). Buckingham: Oxford University Press.
• Blakemore, K. (2007) Social Policy: an Introduction. Buckingham: Oxford University Press.
• Daly, M. (2011) Welfare. Cambridge: Polity Press.
• Dean, H. (2012) Social Policy: a Short Introduction. Cambridge: Polity Press.
• Lister, R. (2010). Understanding Theories and Concepts in Social Policy. Bristol: Policy Press.