SA409      Half Unit
Social Security Policies

This information is for the 2014/15 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Kitty Stewart OLD2.36

Availability

This course is available on the MSc in Social Policy (European and Comparative Social Policy), MSc in Social Policy (Research) and MSc in Social Policy (Social Policy and Planning). This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

Course content

The course analyses the purposes, design and impact of social security policies, meaning policies that protect and support household income at times when income from the labour market does not suffice. The need for social security arises both from demographic factors that affect nearly everyone during their life course – childhood, parenthood, old age – and from risk factors that will end up affecting only some – unemployment, sickness and disability. The course takes a comparative approach, examining differences in the design of social security policies across welfare regimes and drawing on examples from different countries. The focus is largely on industrialised countries, but the course also touches on issues arising in delivering social protection in other parts of the world. 

Teaching

10 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the MT. 2 hours of seminars in the ST.

Formative coursework

Seminar members will be expected to make regular presentations to the seminar and submit a written paper towards the end of term.

Indicative reading

Basic reading for the course includes: J Millar (Ed), Understanding Social Security, 2nd ed. The Policy Press, 2009; J Dixon, Social Security in Global Perspective, Praeger, 1999; National Equality Panel, An Anatomy of Economic Inequality in the UK, Government Equality Office/CASE, 2010; Child Poverty Action Group, Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook 2013/2014; R Walker, Social Security and Welfare: Concepts and Comparisons, Oxford University Press, 2005.

Assessment

Exam (75%, duration: 2 hours) in the main exam period.
Essay (25%, 1500 words) in the LT.

Student performance results

(2010/11 - 2012/13 combined)

Classification % of students
Distinction 7.8
Merit 71.9
Pass 20.3
Fail 0

Key facts

Department: Social Policy

Total students 2013/14: 13

Average class size 2013/14: 14

Controlled access 2013/14: Yes

Lecture capture used 2013/14: No

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Course survey results

(2010/11 - 2012/13 combined)

1 = "best" score, 5 = "worst" score

The scores below are average responses.

Response rate: 70.7%

Question

Average
response

Reading list (Q2.1)

1.5

Materials (Q2.3)

1.8

Course satisfied (Q2.4)

1.5

Lectures (Q2.5)

1.4

Integration (Q2.6)

1.6

Contact (Q2.7)

1.9

Feedback (Q2.8)

2

Recommend (Q2.9)

Yes

89.6%

Maybe

9%

No

1.4%