2023/24 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

SLSP0130 Understanding Social Welfare

40 creditsClass Size: 60

Module manager: Dr Rebecca Taylor (Sem1) / Dr Clare Mawson (sem 2)
Email: R.K.Taylor1@leeds.ac.uk; c.m.mawson@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2023/24

Pre-requisite qualifications

GCSE Maths and English Grade C or above or equivalent qualification.

Module replaces

SLSP0021 Traditions of Thought in Social ScienceSLSP0080 Introduction to Social Welfare

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Objectives

This module will provide an introduction to the key ideas in political and social thought in particular the Liberal, Marxist and feminist traditions. It will discuss ideas of citizenship and democracy. The second half of the module will consider the development of public policy in the light of these key ideas and encourage students to reflect upon the relevance of these theoretical positions in relation to welfare policy and citizenship.

Focusing on the British experience the module is designed to encourage students to use theory to explain social change and also to use theory to critically assess existing social institutions.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module students should be able to:
Describe the main ideological positions and understand their influence on public policy;
Describe the key theoretical approaches to social welfare;
Understand the differences between the key approaches;
Understand the historical development of welfare and the recognise the influence of a range of ideological perspectives;
Define and comprehend the notions of welfare and the 'welfare state' and the mixed economy of welfare;
Examine the role of the state, the private sector, voluntary/charitable agencies and informal familial provision in meeting the welfare needs of individuals;
Appreciate the importance of specified social divisions in relation to welfare;
Develop lines of argument and make reasoned judgments in accordance with basic theories and concepts;
Communicate the results of their study accurately with structured and reasoned arguments;
Undertake and engage in self directed study activities with appropriate guidance.

Syllabus

1. Introduction to the module
2. Conservatism
3. Welfare the Elizabethan Poor Laws
4. Liberalism
5. Welfare and the rise of capital
6. Marxism and socialism
7. The Social Democratic Welfare State
8. Feminism
9. The Limits of the Welfare State
10. Democracy
11. The Provision of Welfare; a mixed economy changes and continuity
12. Citizenship
13. Welfare and citizenship
14. Globalisation
15. The Welfare State Today
16. Poverty - definitions and measurement
17. Poverty and welfare
18. Children, young people and welfare
19. Poverty beyond the welfare state
20. Module summary and revision

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	18	1.00	18.00
Tutorial	18	2.00	36.00
Private study hours			346.00
Total Contact hours			54.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			400.00

Private study

200 hours reading and preparation for lectures and tutorials
146 hours preparation for assessment

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Attendance and participation in tutorials.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	1 x 1,500 words	40.00
Essay	1 x 1,500 words	60.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 02/02/2024

Disclaimer

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