Course Catalogue

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This course examines welfare theory and social policies through an exploration of diverse philosophical and political ideas about what constitutes a 'good society'. Critical analysis and evaluation of competing ideological perspectives will be made in the context of social and ethical issues, including environmental concerns; 'race' and ethnicity; and the dialectics of power, community, and individualism.

A weekly two hour teaching session

Mandatory Entry Requirements

Entry to Honours Social & Public Policy normally requires a grade point average of 12 (grade C3) over Social & Public Policy 2A and 2B (formerly Public Policy 2A and 2B) as a first attempt.

None

None

A essay of 2,500 words 40%.

A one hour exam 60%.

Reflective Learning log 20%

Students will be required to write a reflective learning log (500 words) outlining their:-

1.Active participation throughout the course, e.g. prepared for and contribute to small group work, whole class discussions and co-operate learning exercises, including online peer review

2. Reflections on how their active participation has affected their learning and development of graduate attributes 

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below.

The aims of the course are to:

■ define the concept and meaning of 'utopia' in multiple social and political contexts;

■ examine diverse and controversial perspectives on welfare theory and what constitutes a 'good society';

■ explore critically potential social policies that would be necessary to achieve a 'good society' within competing and contrasting ideological paradigms;

■ critically analyse the feasibility of achieving a 'good society' through a range of ideological, political, social and ethical lenses.

By the end of this course students should be able to:

■ outline the meaning of the concept of 'utopia' and its relevance to social and public policy;

■ critically analyse a range of different ideological perspectives of welfare theory and a 'good society';

■ evaluate critically a series of potential social policy proposals in accordance with different views of a 'good society';

■ examine and assess the feasibility of achieving a 'good society' from a range of radical, conservative, classical, and contemporary viewpoints;

■ critically assess the development of their graduate attributes

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.