Professor John Hills

This course is available on the BSc in Environment and Development, BSc in Social Policy, BSc in Social Policy and Criminology, BSc in Social Policy and Economics, BSc in Social Policy and Sociology and BSc in Social Policy with Government. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit and to General Course students.

The course will examine the definition, measurement and causes of poverty and social exclusion in general and analyse selected aspects drawn from the following: social and demographic change, gender and racial inequality,  unemployment, worklessness, social security and poverty, area deprivation, educational inequality, and social exclusion.

10 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the MT. 10 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the LT. 1 hour of lectures in the ST.

A written essay based on a class discussion question will be required from students and each student will be asked to make a short presentation for discussion in class at least once each term.

A detailed list will be provided at the start of the session.  H Dean & L Platt (2016) Social Advantage and Disadvantage Oxford University Press; J Hills (2014). Good Times, Bad Times: The Welfare Myth of Them and Us Policy Press; AB Atkinson (2015) Inequality: What Can Be Done? Harvard University Press; S.P. Jenkins (2011) Changing Fortunes: Income Mobility and Poverty Dynamics in Britain Oxford University Press; T. Shildrick, R. MacDonald, C. Webster, & K Garthwaite (2010). The Low-Pay, No-Pay Cycle: Understanding Recurrent Poverty Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Exam (75%, duration: 3 hours) in the main exam period.
Essay (25%, 1500 words) in the ST.