SA101     
Sociology and Social Policy

This information is for the 2017/18 session.

Teacher responsible

Professor Lucinda Platt OLD 2.25

Availability

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

Course content

This course introduces students to sociological ideas and thinking and how they link to key social policy issues. The course is organised around six major social policy concerns : gender inequalities; educational opportunity and inequality; class mobility and stratification; social networks and social segregation; neighbourhood deprivation and housing; ethnic and racial inequalities. These are related to key classical and contemporary theoretical perspectives and concepts that have been used to describe and explain them, such as occupational segregation, discrimination, cultural and social capital, institutions, socialisation, identity and belonging, and intergenerational transmission of status, values and resources.

Teaching

10 hours of lectures and 9 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.

Formative coursework

One essay in the Michaelmas term.

Indicative reading

The course will draw on three core texts, as well as academic journal articles: David Grusky, D. and Szelenyi, S. (Eds.) 2011 The Inequality Reader: Contemporary and Foundational Readings in Race, Class, and Gender. 2nd Edition. Westview Press; Oxford University Press; Payne, G. (ed.) Social Divisions. Third Edition. Palgrave Macmillan; and Platt, L. 2011 Understanding Inequalities: Stratification and Difference. Polity Press. For those unfamiliar without a background in Sociology, the following text provides useful background: Fulcher, J. and Scott, J. (2011) Sociology, 4th Edition.

Assessment

Exam (75%, duration: 3 hours, reading time: 15 minutes) in the main exam period.
Essay (25%, 1500 words) in the LT.

Student performance results

(2014/15 - 2016/17 combined)

Classification % of students
First 43.5
2:1 44.9
2:2 7.2
Third 1.4
Fail 2.9

Key facts

Department: Social Policy

Total students 2016/17: 30

Average class size 2016/17: 15

Capped 2016/17: Yes (30)

Lecture capture used 2016/17: Yes (MT & LT)

Value: One Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

PDAM skills

  • Self-management
  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Communication
  • Specialist skills

Course survey results

(2014/15 - 2016/17 combined)

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

The scores below are average responses.

Response rate: 84%

Question

Average
response

Reading list (Q2.1)

2.2

Materials (Q2.3)

2

Course satisfied (Q2.4)

2

Lectures (Q2.5)

2.2

Integration (Q2.6)

2.1

Contact (Q2.7)

2.2

Feedback (Q2.8)

2.1

Recommend (Q2.9)

Yes

68%

Maybe

27%

No

5%