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
Course survey results
(2010/11 - 2012/13 combined)
1 = "best" score, 5 = "worst" scoreThe scores below are average responses.
Response rate: 70.7%
Question |
Average | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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) |
|