
Module SXP-3050:
Social Issues
Module Facts
Run by School of History, Philosophy and Social Sciences
20.000 Credits or 10.000 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, poverty and NEETs and identify the way in which social policy responds to these problems. We will then consider if there are other methods that could address these societal concerns.
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.
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
- 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
-
Understand concepts such as inequalities, equality, diversity, stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination in relation to social policy
-
Become familiar with social inequalities relating to education, health, housing, employment, education policy as well as crime and criminal justice.
-
Be able to discuss a variety of 'social problems' either through group or individual work - whether it be written or oral communication.
-
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 |
50.00 |
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 |
50.00 |
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.htmlReading 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)