Skip to main content
Home

Information for:

  • Alumni
  • Applicants
  • Current Students
  • Staff
  • Job Vacancies
  • Covid-19
My country:

Main Menu

    • Study Options
      • Study Home
      • Why Study at Bangor?
      • Undergraduate Study
      • Postgraduate Taught Study
      • Postgraduate Research
      • Part-time Courses
      • January Start Courses
      • Degree Apprenticeships
      • Study Abroad
      • Work Experience
    • Study Advice
      • Apply
      • Already Applied?
      • Fees and Finances
      • Scholarships and Bursaries
      • Get Ready for University
    • Explore Bangor
      • Virtual Open Days and Visits
      • Virtual Student Experience

    Find a Course

    Order a Prospectus

    • Student Life
      • Student Life Home
      • Bangor and the Area
      • Social Life and Entertainment
      • Accommodation
      • Clubs and Societies
      • Sport
      • Virtual Student Experience
    • Your Experience at Bangor
      • Student Support
      • Skills and Employability
      • Study or Work Abroad
      • Fees and Finances

    Welcome 2021

    Student Profiles

    Student Videos and Vlogs

    • Choose Bangor
      • International Home
      • Why Bangor?
      • Location
      • Student Support
      • Contact Us
    • Apply
      • Entry Requirements
      • Tuition Fees and Scholarships
      • How to Apply
      • Already Applied
      • Study Abroad
      • Exchanges

    January Intake Courses

    Country Specific Information

    Bangor University International College

    Covid-19 Information

    • Research
      • Research Home
      • About Our Research
      • Research in our Academic Schools
      • Research Institutes and Centres
      • Research Portal
      • Research, Innovation and Impact Office (RIIO)
      • Energy
      • Research News
    • Postgraduate Study and Research Opportunities
      • Postgraduate Research Study
    • Events and Training Opportunities
      • Researcher Development
    • The University
      • About Us
      • Our Mission
      • Our Location
      • Academic Schools and Colleges
      • Services and Facilities
      • University Management and Governance
      • Vice Chancellor's Office
      • Working with Business
      • Working with the Community
      • Sustainability
      • Contact Us
    • Working for Us
      • Job Vacancies
    • University Management and Governance
      • Policies and Procedures
      • Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement
    • University and the Community
      • Pontio
      • Sports Facilities
      • Conference Facilities
      • Places to Eat and Drink
      • Public Events
      • Widening Access
      • Services to Schools
    • Business Services
      • Business Services Home
    • Collaboration Hub
      • Collaboration Hub
      • Funding for Collaborative Research and Development (R&D) & Innovation
      • Business Facilities and Networks
      • Consultancy, Specialist Expertise and Knowledge
      • Commercialisation and Intellectual Property (IP)
      • Student Placements and Internships in Business & Enterprise
      • Training and Continuing Professional Development
      • Degree Apprenticeships
    • Conferencing and Business Dining
      • Conferencing Facilities
      • Business Dining
    • Contacts
      • Research, Innovation and Impact Office (RIIO)
      • Get In Touch
    • News
      • Current News
      • Research News
      • Student News
    • Events
      • Events

    • Study Options
      • Study Home
      • Why Study at Bangor?
      • Undergraduate Study
      • Postgraduate Taught Study
      • Postgraduate Research
      • Part-time Courses
      • January Start Courses
      • Degree Apprenticeships
      • Study Abroad
      • Work Experience
    • Study Advice
      • Apply
      • Already Applied?
      • Fees and Finances
      • Scholarships and Bursaries
      • Get Ready for University
    • Explore Bangor
      • Virtual Open Days and Visits
      • Virtual Student Experience

    Find a Course

    Order a Prospectus

    Covid-19 information

    • Student Life
      • Student Life Home
      • Bangor and the Area
      • Social Life and Entertainment
      • Accommodation
      • Clubs and Societies
      • Sport
      • Virtual Student Experience
    • Your Experience at Bangor
      • Student Support
      • Skills and Employability
      • Study or Work Abroad
      • Fees and Finances

    Welcome 2021

    Student Profiles

    Student Videos and Vlogs

    • Choose Bangor
      • International Home
      • Why Bangor?
      • Location
      • Student Support
      • Contact Us
    • Apply
      • Entry Requirements
      • Tuition Fees and Scholarships
      • How to Apply
      • Already Applied
      • Study Abroad
      • Exchanges

    January Intake Courses

    Country Specific Information

    Bangor University International College

    Covid-19 Information

    • Research
      • Research Home
      • About Our Research
      • Research in our Academic Schools
      • Research Institutes and Centres
      • Research Portal
      • Research, Innovation and Impact Office (RIIO)
      • Energy
      • Research News
    • Postgraduate Study and Research Opportunities
      • Postgraduate Research Study
    • Events and Training Opportunities
      • Researcher Development
    • The University
      • About Us
      • Our Mission
      • Our Location
      • Academic Schools and Colleges
      • Services and Facilities
      • University Management and Governance
      • Vice Chancellor’s Office
      • Working with Business
      • Working with the Community
      • Sustainability
      • Contact Us
    • Working for Us
      • Job Vacancies
    • University Management and Governance
      • Policies and Procedures
      • Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement
    • University and the Community
      • Pontio
      • Sports Facilities
      • Conference Facilities
      • Places to Eat and Drink
      • Public Events
      • Widening Access
      • Services to Schools
    • Business Services
      • Business Services Home
    • Collaboration Hub
      • Collaboration Hub
      • Funding for Collaborative Research and Development (R&D) & Innovation
      • Business Facilities and Networks
      • Consultancy, Specialist Expertise and Knowledge
      • Commercialisation and Intellectual Property (IP)
      • Student Placements and Internships in Business & Enterprise
      • Training and Continuing Professional Development
      • Degree Apprenticeships
    • Conferencing and Business Dining
      • Conferencing Facilities
      • Business Dining
    • Contacts
      • Research, Innovation and Impact Office (RIIO)
      • Get In Touch
    • News
      • Current News
      • Research News
      • Student News
    • Events
      • Events

Information for:

  • Alumni
  • Applicants
  • Current Students
  • Staff
  • Job Vacancies
  • Covid-19
My country:

Search

Close

Breadcrumb

Share this page:
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share this page:
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Module SXP-3050:
Social Issues

Module Facts

Run by School of History, Philosophy and Social Sciences

20 Credits or 10 ECTS Credits

Semester 1

Organiser: Dr Teresa Crew

Overall aims and purpose

Social policy is everywhere - from TV's love affair with 'benefits cheats', to when you see someone selling the Big Issue or the latest gaffe by an MP. In its broadest sense, social policy aims to improve the well-being of society. This module focuses on how and why certain social issues become identified as ‘social problems’. We will unpack classic ‘social problems’ such as homelessness, domestic abuse, sexual harassment and NEETs, identifying the way in which social policy responds to these problems. We will then consider if there are other methods of addressing these social problems.

This is an interactive module that is enhanced with student participation.

Students will develop three key employability skills:

  • Problem solving - The ability to understand a problem by identifying the key issues, implications and identifying solutions.
  • Communication - explain your point of view in a clear and concise way and to listen and relate to other people's opinions
  • Valuing diversity - understanding and being considerate of the experiences of different individuals.

There will be weekly case studies of social problems in relation to Social Class, Gender, Disability, Ethnicity, Transgender, Age and Sexual orientation. The overall aim of the module is that students will be able to critically discuss some of the barriers people with these characteristics have historically, and in many cases, continue to face.

Course content

The workshop format will use local and contemporary social problems Subjects may include, but are not limited to:

  • Basic income - a way to tackle class and income inequalities
  • Gypsy Travellers: the last ‘acceptable’ form of Racism
  • Helping young people who are not in education, employment or training
  • Combatting sexual harassment
  • Creating inclusive work places for Transgender employees;
  • Tackling hate crimes

Assessment Criteria

good

Understands concepts such as equality, diversity, stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination in relation to social policy.

Provides a detailed description of the literature in this field.

Proposes policy recommendations for how the 'social problems' in the case study can be tackled.

excellent

Has a critical understanding of how concepts such as equality, diversity, stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination relate to social policy.

Can critically analyse relevant research

Proposes clear and well thought through policy recommendations for how the 'social problems' outlined in the case study can be tackled.

threshold

Shows a basic awareness of definitions of concepts such as equality, diversity in relation to social policy.

Provides a basic description of the literature in this field.

Provides recommendations that are not through through or relevant to the case study.

Learning outcomes

  1. Understand concepts such as inequalities, equality, diversity, stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination in relation to social policy

  2. Become familiar with social inequalities relating to education, health, housing, employment, education policy as well as crime and criminal justice.

  3. Be able to discuss a variety of 'social problems' either through group or individual work - whether it be written or oral communication.

  4. Makes policy recommendations for how to deal with inequalities and injustices

Assessment Methods

Type Name Description Weight
ESSAY 3,000 word essay

3,000 word essay in relation to various Social Problems

50
CASE STUDY Social Policy Case Study

You will be ‘given’ a budget of £10 million to ‘buy’ services in a specific area. Your assignment is to choose from a catalogue of services and describe why you are spending the money in this manner. You will then provide additional policy recommendations.

*Students will practice this in a group before the individual assignment. Students will also discuss how to compile and write policy recommendations

50

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Hours
Workshop

Two hour workshops x 12

24
Seminar

One hour x 12 seminars

12
Private study

Students will be expected to read up before or after each workshop or seminar so that they can contribute in discussion.

152
 

One hour drop in x 12

12

Transferable skills

  • Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
  • Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
  • Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
  • Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others
  • Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
  • Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting

Subject specific skills

  • Develop a sound appreciation of the variety of theories that comprise the discipline of social policy and how these impact on social policy interventions
  • Become cognizant with key conceptual debates within the field of contemporary social policy
  • Appreciate the value of and apply theoretical and methodological rigour to analyses of welfare issues;
  • Be aware of the ethical, social and political contexts within which social policy practice and research is conducted and delivered
  • Develop a knowledge and expertise with respect to a range of evidence-based policy making and practice.
  • Develop a sophisticated understanding of the processes of social policy analysis and evaluation.

Resources

Talis Reading list

http://readinglists.bangor.ac.uk/modules/sxp-3050.html

Reading list

https://rl.talis.com/3/bangor/lists/93C54607-6B37-F917-FF0F-9B1401304FD7.html?lang=en

Courses including this module

Optional in courses:

  • M93B: BA Criminology & Criminal Just (4yr with Incorp Foundation) year 3 (BA/CCJ1)
  • M931: BA Criminology & Criminal Justice with International Exp year 4 (BA/CJIE)
  • M930: BA Criminology & Criminal Justice year 3 (BA/CRIM)
  • MR95: BA Criminology&Criml Just/Italian year 4 (BA/CRIT)
  • MC98: BA Criminology/Psychology year 3 (BA/CRP)
  • MR94: BA Criminology/Spanish year 4 (BA/CRSP)
  • X317: BA Childhood and Youth Studies and Social Policy year 3 (BA/CYSP)
  • X315: BA Childhood and Youth Studies and Sociology year 3 (BA/CYSS)
  • LL13: BA Sociology/Economics year 3 (BA/ECS)
  • LL2B: BA Sociology & Economics (4 yr with Incorporated Foundation) year 3 (BA/ECS1)
  • LQ3J: BA English Lang. & Sociology year 3 (BA/ELSOC)
  • M3Q9: BA English Literature and Criminology and Criminal Justice year 3 (BA/ENC)
  • MR91: BA French/Criminology&Crim'l Just year 4 (BA/FRCR)
  • MR92: BA Criminology&CrimJustice/German year 4 (BA/GCR)
  • MVX1: BA History/Criminology year 3 (BA/HCR)
  • LL53: BA Health & Social Care/Sociology year 3 (BA/HSCS)
  • LL54: BA Hlth & Scl Care/Social Policy year 3 (BA/HSCSP)
  • LP33: BA Media Studies and Sociology year 3 (BA/MSSOC)
  • L200: BA Politics year 3 (BA/POL)
  • L20F: BA Politics [with Foundation Year] year 3 (BA/POLF)
  • L201: BA Politics with Placement Year year 3 (BA/POLP)
  • CL83: BA Sociology/Psychology year 3 (BA/PS)
  • L300: BA Sociology year 3 (BA/S)
  • L31B: BA Sociology (4 year with Incorporated Foundation) year 3 (BA/S1)
  • LM40: BA Sociology & Criminology & Crim Just with International Ex year 4 (BA/SCJIE)
  • LM39: BA Sociology and Criminology & Criminal Justice year 3 (BA/SCR)
  • 3L3Q: BA Sociology and English Literature year 3 (BA/SEL)
  • L30F: BA Sociology [with Foundation Year] year 3 (BA/SF)
  • LV31: BA Sociology/History year 3 (BA/SH)
  • 8Y70: BA Sociology (with International Experience) year 4 (BA/SIE)
  • LQ31: BA Sociology/Linguistics year 3 (BA/SL)
  • L41B: BA Social Policy (4 year with Incorporated Foundation) year 3 (BA/SOCP1)
  • L402: BA Social Policy year 3 (BA/SOCPOL)
  • L40F: BA Social Policy [with Foundation Year] year 3 (BA/SOCPOLF)
  • LL34: BA Sociology and Social Policy year 3 (BA/SOCSP)
  • LM50: BA Social Policy and Criminology and Criminal Justice (IE) year 4 (BA/SPCIE)
  • LM49: BA Social Policy/Criminology year 3 (BA/SPCR)
  • LL14: BA Social Policy/Economics year 3 (BA/SPEC)
  • LL1B: BA Social Policy & Economics (4yr with Incorp Foundation) year 3 (BA/SPEC1)
  • LV41: BA Social Policy/History year 3 (BA/SPH)
  • CL84: BA Social Policy/Psychology year 3 (BA/SPP)
  • CL85: BA Social Policy & Psychology with International Experience year 3 (BA/SPPIE)
  • LVH2: BA Welsh History/Sociology year 3 (BA/WHS)
  • LQ35: BA Cymraeg and Sociology year 3 (BA/WS)
  • M108: LLB Law with Social Policy (International Experience) year 4 (LLB/LIF)
  • M1L4: LLB Law with Social Policy year 3 (LLB/LSP)
  • M1LB: LLB Law with Social Policy (4 yr with Incorp Foundation) year 3 (LLB/LSP1)
  • M932: MSocSci Criminology & Criminal Justice year 3 (MSOCSCI/CCJ)
  • L302: MSocSci Sociology year 3 (MSOCSCI/S)
  • L403: MSocSci Social Policy year 3 (MSOCSCI/SP)

Home

About Us

Academic Schools and Colleges

  • School of Psychology
    • Home
    • About the School
      • Our Location
      • 360 Tours
      • Bangor and the Area
      • Our Staff
      • Contact us
      • Athena Swan
    • Our Staff
    • Undergraduate Study
      • Why psychology?
      • Order a prospectus
      • University Open Days
      • Why Bangor?
      • Get ready for University
      • Accommodation
      • Scholarships & Bursaries
      • Fees & Finances
      • Applying to Bangor
      • Careers & Employability
      • Student Life
      • Studying at Bangor
      • Student Support
      • UCAS Visit Days
      • Psychology Learning Experience
      • FAQ and links
    • Postgraduate Study
      • Why study with us?
      • Why continue to study?
      • Postgraduate Open Days
      • Order a prospectus
      • Fees & Finances
      • Scholarships & Funding
      • Entry requirements
      • Applying to Bangor
      • Accommodation
      • Student Support
      • Student Life
      • Studying at Bangor
      • Modules
      • Research Seminars
    • International
      • International Students
      • International Student Ambassadors
      • International Study Abroad and Programmes for Students
      • International Mobility for Staff
      • International Experience Year
    • Videos and Student Profiles
    • Order a prospectus
    • Open Days and Visits
      • Undergraduate Open Days
      • Postgraduate Open Days
      • Virtual Visit Day
    • Psychology in Welsh
      • Studying in Welsh
      • Welsh staff members
      • Welsh Modules
      • Scholarships and Internships
      • Further study
      • Contact us
    • Research and Impact
      • Research groups
      • Centres
      • Facilities
      • Research students
      • REF 2014
      • Research Seminars
        • Past seminars: 2020–2021
        • Past seminars: 2019–2020
        • Past seminars: 2018–2019
        • Past seminars: 2017–2018
        • Past seminars: 2016–2017
        • Past seminars: 2015–2016
        • Past seminars: 2014–2015
        • Past seminars: 2013–2014
        • Past seminars: 2012–2013
      • Ethics system
    • News
Home

Follow Us

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn

Bangor University

Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DG, UK

+44 (0)1248 351151

marketing@bangor.ac.uk

Visit Us

Maps & Directions

Policy

  • Legal Compliance
  • Modern Slavery Act 2015 Statement
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy and Cookies
Map

Bangor University is a Registered Charity: No. 1141565

© 2020 Bangor University