SPOL10010 Social Policy Theories and Concepts I

Academic Year 2024/2025

This module introduces students to the some of the core, recurring concepts and theories employed in Social Policy. Students will learn about the historical development of social policy as a subject and the different research methods and major studies associated with it. The module will focus on some of the following key concepts: well-being and welfare; welfare states, systems and regimes; social exclusion, poverty, and inequality; redistribution; universalism and selectivity; stigma; care; autonomy; disability; gender and the family. It also introduces students to broader philosophical ideas such as justice; equality; needs and rights. Concepts are abstract ideas we use to understand, explain and analyse. Many of them are interconnected, such as poverty and inequality. The module will involve tasks which enable students will learn to understand concepts and how they are related to each other.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:
1. demonstrate that they have an understanding of the core principles of welfare
2. explain some of the key concepts necessary for analysing social policy and how they are interconnected
3. use these concepts to analyse some examples of social policy.

Indicative Module Content:

• What is social policy?
• Concepts, theories and Social Policy?
• Welfare, Well-being
• The environment, sustainable welfare & needs
• Welfare systems, mixed economy of welfare
• Needs and risks
• The Welfare state
• Redistribution, universalism/selectivism
• Citizenship, Social rights
• Stigma
• Social protection: insurance, assistance, universal
• Poverty, material deprivation, and social exclusion
• Inequality
• Social divisions, social groups, needs, rights and recognition
• Models of Welfare/welfare state
• Political ideologies, welfare and social policy.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Tutorial

2
Specified Learning Activities

50
Autonomous Student Learning

24
Total

100
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures, active/task based learning; peer and group work. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

None

Learning Exclusions:

None


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Group Work Assignment: Group work concept map. Week 5 Pass/Fail Grade Scale No

20

 No
Exam (In-person): 1 hour end of semester exam. End of trimester
Duration:
1 hr(s)
 Graded No

80

 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 1 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Name Role
Professor Bryan Fanning Lecturer / Co-Lecturer