Homelessness: Problems, Perceptions & Policies (PGT)
Homelessness: Problems, Perceptions & Policies
Duration: 10 weeks
Credits: 10 Academic Credits (PG)
Delivery: All course content is delivered on Moodle, our virtual learning platform. You will converse with the tutors and fellow students in online forums.
Timetable: Fully online and flexible, with no scheduled classes to attend.
Fee: £599 per place. (See Fees & Funding section below)
College: College of Social Sciences
School: School of Social & Political Sciences
Course starts on Monday 27th January 2025
Why have housing emergencies been declared by some councils in recent years? What health and well-being implications stem from housing poverty? Is homelessness really a "lifestyle choice" or simply the consequence of a shortage of affordable housing to rent or buy? What are the root causes of homelessness and what are the most effective policies for homelessness prevention? While homelessness remains a constant presence in headlines, recent times have witnessed unprecedented conversations about its origins, consequences, and actionable solutions. This Microcredential course presents a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of the social and economic contexts surrounding this critical issue, along with current approaches to address it effectively. The course offers a taster of Housing Studies at the UofG and will enhance your professional skills at a time when professionalism and ethics are under scrutiny in the framing and delivery of social and public policy.
Why this course
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Appraise the interconnected and complex causes and consequences of homelessness in Scotland, the UK, and beyond;
- Identify structural and institutional contexts which frame homelessness as a policy problem, a lived experience, and in a comparative context;
- Critically evaluate a range of policy responses and interventions to prevent and mitigate homelessness;
- Synthesise and explain the importance of inter-agency collaborative work and identify key actors in addressing homelessness;
- Demonstrate skills in policy analysis and evaluation, including identifying resources to aid decision making, policy networks, and communities of practice.
Course structure
This course is designed to empower learners to cultivate expertise in a profoundly significant contemporary social challenge. It will cover the following topics:
Week 1: Introduction: Contemporary Debates About Homelessness
Week 2: Definitions of Homelessness
Week 3: The Framing of the Problem & Policy Responses
Week 4: The Consequences of Homelessness
Week 5: What Works: An Evaluation of Current Practice
Week 6: Sharing Professional & Lived Experiences of Homelessness
Week 7: The Prevention Approach to Homelessness
Week 8: Multi-Agency Working
Week 9: Policy Analysis & Evaluation
Week 10: Support For Assessment
Assessment
- Individual Reflective Writing Piece (40%) (optional)
Learners will produce an Individual Reflective Writing Piece (1,000 words maximum) in the form of a blog to evidence learning based on the outcomes of the pre-recorded lectures, live tutorials and reflections upon skills gained on the course. Due in Week 6.
- Homelessness: Evaluating Policy Responses & Professional Practice (60%) (optional)
Learners will produce an Individual Reflective Report (1,500 words maximum) to evidence learning based on the outcomes of collaborative group work, the pre-recorded lectures, and reflections upon skills gained on the course. Where appropriate, this will also include reflections on current professional practice.
Learners who choose to submit these assessments and pass will be awarded 10 Academic Credits towards a relevant Master's degree at the University of Glasgow.
Meet The Team
This course is curated and instructed by Dr. Craig Gurney, an accomplished educator with over 30 years of experience teaching housing and related courses across Scotland, England, and Wales. Presently serving as the program director for the MSc/Postgraduate Diploma in Housing Studies at the University of Glasgow, Craig is renowned for his award-winning teaching. His research and prolific publications extensively cover housing-related subjects, particularly exploring the intersection of housing with health and social theory.
Course alteration or discontinuation
The University of Glasgow endeavours
to run all courses as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw
or alter a course. For more information, please see: Student contract.
Career prospects
Ideal for aspiring housing professionals and anyone interested in understanding homelessness, this course offers valuable insights and career-enhancing opportunities for those in health care, trauma-informed practice, social work, public and environmental health, education, and community development.
Completion of this course grants potential for:
- Further academic study
- Promotion
- Increased earning potential
- New career path
Fees & funding
Course fee: £599 per place.
Alumni and volume-based (group) discounts are available (please direct discount enquiries to Keir.Elder@glasgow.ac.uk)
Entry requirements
It is suggested that learners on this course have an IELTS equivalent of 6.5. Learners will not be asked to prove their academic or professional history.