BA (Hons) Social Policy

Level One

The level 1 modules are primarily used to ensure that students have an appropriate introduction to the interdisciplinary nature of social policy. They also perform the function of developing general intellectual and personal attributes such as effective study methods, communication skills and use of information sources. At this level students are able to explore key developments in social policy which currently inform the political debate and which have affected state welfare strategies.

Social Issues and Social Justice
This module uses an examination of contemporary social issues to introduce students to some of the key arguments and debates, which affect the way people are treated in society. Students will be introduced to how and why a social issue may become defined as a social problem, the form it takes within the social and political debate and be encouraged to make a critical analysis of the action which is, and is not, taken. An introduction of the key social policy concepts will be incorporated into this analysis of real issues. The module also considers the concept of social justice, the extent to which social divisions and inequalities in society persist and the role governments play in promoting the former and combating the latter.

Identity and Citizenship
This module explicitly adopts an interdisciplinary approach to core questions of relevance to today’s society. Taking the notion of identity as its leitmotif, the module introduces students to those ways in which academic knowledge has traditionally been divided along disciplinary lines. The module will guide students to bring knowledge forms from within their own – and other – disciplines to bear on key contemporary social and political issues. As such, the module will expose students to the potentials and pitfalls of adopting an interdisciplinary approach to problem solving and policy development in areas concerning (for example) citizenship, social belonging and isolation, gender, sexuality, ‘race’, ethnicity, religion or nationalism. Throughout, students will be encouraged to think critically about the nature of their own identities and the impact of their future professional practice on the nature and practice of identities.

Applying Research
This module aims to enable students to both recognise and understand the different methodologies employed in social research and to apply these to their own research project and critique of methods. Overall, the aim of this unit is to introduce students to the range of methodological skills and approaches, to involve students in their application, and to encourage critical reflection on a variety of levels. After completing this module students should be able to:

• Explain what research is and why we do it.
• Explain how research may be carried out: quantitatively
• Explain how research may be carried out: qualitatively

Images of Crime and Social Control (Option)
The aim of this module is to facilitate a critical engagement with the dominant ideological depictions of crime and criminality. It seeks to challenge the way in which these interpretations inform commonsense explanations of, and responses to, crime and criminality. It explores recurring claims found in popular, media and political discourses and compares these with more criminological and academic insights in order to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of these issues/problems. In so doing the module will look at the costs of crime myths and contrasting crime ‘realities’ in terms of public anxieties, political discourses, criminal justice policies and practices. The introduction and evaluation of various responses will encourage students to consider the extent and limits of potential ‘solutions’. This will be done through looking at key images of crime/criminality. For instance the study of prostitution will invite explanations of the various issues involved therein at commonsense and more theoretical levels.

Who Runs Britain? Power, Politics and Beyond (Option)
This module introduces students to the key components of the British political system, and the relationship between domestic and international politics through an examination of the distribution of power within the British political system. It will explain the various factors and actors, both domestic and foreign, which serve to shape and define the political process in Britain.

Level Two

At level 2, the modules build upon the material and methods used in Level 1, providing students with the opportunity for an increased emphasis on analysis and criticism. Students explore the foundations of modern social policy in the UK and the way they have developed; different welfare ideologies; diversity and difference; social exclusion and integration. There is also a choice of two optional units.

Challenge and Change in Social Policy I and II
Social policy has developed from the study of the traditional areas of welfare – such as health, education and social security – to broader concerns including the environment, transport and food policy. The terms of the debate have also shifted to reflect changes in demographic and social structures, the changing labour market, concern with the costs of welfare and the impact of the globalization. This module considers the main influences on social policy development in the UK and examines these within the context of alternative models in other countries. It considers the ideological and theoretical debates within which they have been framed and the ways these have impacted on the contemporary debate and policy.

Ideology into Practice
This module is concerned with the impact of ideology on the development of social policy. While the focus is on the United Kingdom, comparison with other European states is made where appropriate. The module considers different perspectives on what constitutes ‘social problems’ and explores the meaning and purposes of ‘social policy’ and ‘welfare’ and their relationship with ideology. It then considers the impact of ideologies on social policy in the post-world war period, and especially from the mid-1970s when the consensus on social policy began to break down.

Diversity, Difference and Exclusion
This module examines the impact of difference and diversity in social policy, with a particular concern around social exclusion. It begins with an introduction to the concepts of ‘diversity’ and ‘exclusion’ and then moves on to consider the relationship between social policy and a variety of forms of diversity and difference, particularly in the context of new thinking around social exclusion that has emerged since the 1990s.

Law, Order and Politics (Option)
At the heart of debate on law and order is the balance between a need for states to maintain civic order and to protect the rights of the individual. One of the defining characteristics of the state is the right to use violence. Although a necessary power, it is one fraught with danger, evoking fears of a ‘police state’ or a military dictatorship, and the world is full of examples of how real this threat is. The Law, Order and Politics module seeks to use a multi-disciplinary approach to the subject area that crosses all boundaries. To this end we investigate concepts and practices in Britain and then go on to examine the processes of globalization with crime and the growing significance of different historical and cultural experiences of law, order and social control. We begin with an overview of the philosophical framework underpinning law and order in Britain from the post-war period up to 1979. We consider relations between politicians and the judiciary in recent years from the perspective of democracy and governance in contemporary Britain. We examine the extent to which political ideology affects the way that both main parties in Britain have viewed crime. We argue that all governments need to grapple with the boundaries between civic order and individual liberty. A key component of this module, therefore, is to make comparisons between law, order and politics in both democratic and non-democratic states. We reflect, for example, on Chinese conceptions of public order and community justice, the influence of Sharia Law in Britain and the Middle East, and characteristics of organized crime and international networks in Europe, North America and Asia.

Model United Nations (Option)
This module is designed to provide an introduction to the activities of the United Nations, as well as providing an understanding of the practices of international diplomacy and governance. The module will use a discussion of contemporary international issues to explore some of the protocol and procedures of diplomacy. It will also provide students with an introduction to issues of international organization and international law and treaty making. All of this will assist students in preparing for their role as a “diplomat” at a Model United Nations conference.

Criminal Justice (Option)
The aim of this module is to provide students with the necessary understanding of the component parts of the Criminal Justice ‘System’ in England and Wales. to allow the students to explore the diversity and interrelatedness of criminal justice policies and practices in this alleged ‘system’. These policies and practices will be evaluated within key theoretical frameworks, which consider the functions and appropriateness of key principles such as the due processes of law, justice and fairness. Students examine in detail key component parts of the criminal justice system such as the police, courts and prison system. The module will examine the political issues, which are often at the heart of the administration of the Criminal Justice ‘system’, emphasizing stereotypes and discriminatory practices principally in respect of gender, class and ‘race’. While a substantial part of the module will focus on the laws and powers of discretion that are often conferred upon agents within the criminal justice system, the situational factors (social, economic and political) that affect the decision-making processes will also be stressed. The module will explore the ‘popular’, political and professional demands placed upon the criminal justice system and the difficulty of reconciling these divergent ‘needs’ and expectations. It will explore various pressure groups vocal within such debates and the power differentials and expertise of some of the key ‘primary definers’ involved.

Researching in Social Policy
This module systematically scrutinizes examples of research undertaken in the subject area of social policy. One of the main aims of the module is to enable students to understand, in concrete terms, what constitutes research and how the research process leads to the production of specific research outputs including dissertations, theses, published academic articles and research monographs. In addition, the module aims to provide students with the knowledge base necessary for the production of research proposals and outputs. Research in social policy typically involves an understanding of both gathering information in various ways and critically scrutinizing the validity of that information. This module provides students with the skills to undertake both tasks.

Comparative Politics and Policy
The use of comparative methodology in the social sciences is neither value-free nor uncontroversial. This module proceeds with the belief that comparative methodology can be a useful tool for social and political analysis. The module therefore begins with a consideration of the development of comparative approaches, the use of a range of comparative techniques and the validity of comparison. The module then proceeds to an examination of some basic concepts that can help provide an understanding of the bases upon which governments are built and operate. For example, we look at political culture, legitimacy and authority, and we consider the process of democratisation from a comparative perspective. The theoretical tools and analytical knowledge from the early parts of the module are then applied empirically to consider a variety of features of contemporary politics and policy, including political systems and constitutions, parties and elections, interest groups and a range of important issues in public policy and social policy, such as immigration, asylum, the role and future of welfare states, the challenges of demographic change, and social divisions within societies.

Level Three

At level 3, the modules allow students to further develop their critical understanding and analysis through taught units and through the preparation of an Independent Study of their own choosing. Students are offered a choice of modules up to 30 credit points at each level of the degree.

Understanding the Policy Process
This module focuses upon the processes of policy making and implementation at both practical and theoretical levels. It introduces students to a variety of models of policy making and discusses the complexities of the distribution of power and decision-making, primarily, but not limited to, the field of social policy. The module encourages students to develop an understanding of a range of ideas that can contribute to the ways in which we analyse policy, and to recognise that these perspectives are themselves contestable and changing. It begins with a consideration of the policy process and different ways of viewing it, including the impact of different approaches under governments from the 1970s, moving on to examine a variety of models of decision making and the range of actors involved in the making and implementation of policies.

Analysing the Policy Process
Building upon Understanding the Policy Process this module requires students not only to continue to develop their knowledge of a range of perspectives on the policy process but, in addition, to use these to analyse a case study relevant to their degree programme. Where Understanding the Policy Process places its emphasis on important models and perspectives, this module explores a range of current ideas which have a significant impact upon the making and implementation of policy, such as the concept of partnership, notions of participation, and issues of accountability.

Independent Study
Students will be required to prepare and submit an Independent Study Proposal during semester B at Intermediate Level and appropriate supervisors will be allocated at this stage. The Independent Study preparation will be focussed through the Research in Social Policy module, which will familiarise students with real and active models of research in relevant areas. Therefore, the module will be guided by a clearly demarcated process of: research proposal; refinement; supervisor allocation; critical comment; initiation of lines of enquiry; implementation and monitoring of research over three Semesters. At stages agreed between the student and supervisor throughout level three, student progress will be reviewed in relation to research undertaken, clarity of objectives, report/dissertation plan and the submission of a dossier of work/chapters undertaken so far. The teaching support will be ongoing over the two semesters; but will be primarily geared to assisting the student on issues/problems such as research methods and ethical considerations, managing and presenting research materials and suitable theoretical approaches in their chosen research area.

Community and Conflict I and II
This module is all about communities – in particular, communities that are poor, disadvantaged, isolated or ‘socially excluded’. In recent years, interest has been re-awakened in the whole idea of community and in what sorts of policies might be most effective in helping communities and solving their problems. This has happened for a number of reasons: New Labour policy, concerns about crime and disorder, increased emphasis on self-help, fears of racial segregation and ‘no go’ areas, rural decline, and the failure of government interventions over the years that have taken no account of the feelings of local people. The new focus on community is often associated with a number of beliefs: for example, that it is better in principle for local people to ‘do it for themselves’; that the involvement of communities is essential if run-down areas are to be renewed or regenerated; and that neither market forces nor the state can on their own offer satisfactory long-term solutions to our social problems. This module will look critically at all these beliefs and come to conclusions about their validity.
Community and Conflict II focuses on the application of theory, concepts and perspectives developed in Community and Conflict I to particular areas of public policy making including policy implementation.

Harm, Agency and Regulation (Option)
The competing claims of ‘individual/organisational’ agency feature strongly in this module as do the variety of frameworks and the feasibility of imposing ‘realistic’ sanctions. The module makes substantial use of the literature on social harm theory; organisational and corporate crime; white-collar crime/professional wrongdoing; international/transnational crime; and harmful activities – or neglect - by the state. It reflects upon the consequences for justice of deploying different frameworks of regulation/criminalisation and the impact these may have upon the nature and scope of Criminology as a discipline and upon the comparative standing of different forms of victimisation. Identifying and then criminalising or regulating economically and intellectually powerful groups as both criminal and or professional is a complex task, and the module will draw upon a range of examples to reflect this.

Human Rights (Option)
This module addresses the general ideas of Human Rights and focuses in particular on the critical reading of Human Rights as one single universal paradigm. The practical critique of Human Rights proposed in this module is founded on the belief that Human Rights must and can be improved. The three main propositions outlined in this module relate to the concept of Human Rights presented as if they are universal; the notion that Human Rights pertain to a logic which focuses on the individual to the neglect of solidarity and other social values, and the fact that the meaning of Human Rights derives from a reasoning which is far too abstract. The academic interdisciplinary approach of this module should be emphasised, as the aid of several disciplines will be called upon, mainly but not exclusively, politics, legal philosophy, sociology, anthropology, international relation studies, post-colonial studies and criminology in order to deconstruct the notion of the universality of Human Rights.

Anti Politics (Option)
Politics and political participation tends dominantly to be understood in terms of formal processes associated with the institutional state, especially the liberal democratic state. But politics extends beyond such a conception to include groups and associations in civil society which, through association, protest and seek to establish alternatives, challenge formal politics and seek to take the meaning of politics and political action and association beyond liberal democratic definitions. Such forms are often referred to as anti-systemic politics. This module examines various forms of political activity and association beyond the formal liberal democratic state. It starts by examining the relationship between liberal democracy and old social movements and considers fundamental challenges to conceptions of politics, drawn from this framework, such as globalisation. The module then traces distinct challenges to liberal democratic politics emanating from civil society, notably various forms neoliberalism, and alternative new social movements. The module concludes by considering projects for the remoulding of politics, post-globalisation, such as cosmopolitanism.

Globalisation and Developing Societies (Option)
The module introduces students to the possibilities of rethinking the processes of international change and exchange as they affect developing societies and peoples. This involves both a critical reading of disciplinary international relations and an engagement with alternative sources of knowledge about international processes. Beginning with the impact of Western imperial penetration, the module explores the interaction between North and South. It then reviews paradigms drawn from postcolonial studies, the discipline of history and globalization theory as they bear upon contemporary issues such as nation, development, violence and gender. Throughout students will be encouraged to relate theory to accounts of lived experience.

Body Politics (Option)
This module introduces the students to different paradigms of the ‘body’ and ‘embodiment’. Recent research suggests that our understandings and our relationship with our own and other ‘bodies’ has been and is continuing to undergo radical changes. This module will explore these ongoing developments in Western and non-Western cultures and societies.

Throughout we will be concerned to link theoretical accounts of the ‘body’ with developments in contemporary societies. The module will further demonstrate the relevance of conceptions of ‘body’ in different academic and professional arenas. The module will equip the students with the skills to identify and critically explore a diversity of current representations of ‘body’ in everyday life.

War Crimes and Genocide (Option)
This module is constructed as an attempt to understand the ‘anatomy’ of war crimes and genocide – their origins, ideological basis, socio-political contexts, the techniques and technologies used - and whether there are precedented and unprecedented aspects to such phenomena. It is organised as a set of thoughts, springboards for further consideration on the historical, philosophical, political and sociological aspects of war crimes and genocide and for this reason it is particularly appealing to students who wish to develop a wider understanding of academic disciplines such as criminology, sociology, anthropology, international relation studies, politics, psychology, law and modern and contemporary history.

Theoretical discourses on war crime and genocide will give rise in this module to several case-study lectures which focus primarily but not exclusively on Armenia, Rwanda, Sudan, the Former Republic of Yugoslavia, and Tibet. Arguments will also be framed around Germany, Australia and South Africa as they each illustrate important aspects of the study of genocide. For example, the structural process in the case of Germany, whereby anti-Semitism was transformed into an industrialised engine of genocide; the matters of definition and interpretation in the case of Australia; and the question in South Africa of whether or not the apartheid regime can be described as genocidal.

This module will also offer some reflections on responses to genocide, both official and not so official and discuss the seemingly inability or refusal by member states and the international community as a whole, to concede in some instances the existence of crimes against humanity.

Studying Social Policy at the University of Lincoln involves both directed and independent learning. Each module is delivered through a combination of weekly lectures and associated seminars and workshops. The seminars provide an opportunity for students to discuss issues raised in the lecture and engage in critical reflection on the issues being studied. Students will also have the opportunity to meet with module leaders in tutorial sessions. As well as directed study, students will undertake independent learning using traditional library resources and a wide range of electronic resources. The level 1 module, Applying Research, supports students to develop the requisite skills for effective independent learning.

The Social Policy Programme offers students the opportunity to engage with the development of social policy and the policy making process. It draws on the current research interests of staff which inform the curriculum. Students have a choice of options at each level and, in the third year, undertake an extended Independent Study on a topic of their own choosing.

The School has a number of unpaid student placements available with Lincolnshire Council (Lincoln) and with North Lincolnshire Council. These are available to students at all levels and last for one month. They provide valuable work experience. Placements are available on a competitive basis. Financial assistance with travel expenses and a daily subsistence allowance may be available.

This programme will appeal to students who are interested in the dynamics of the world in which we live. It offers students the opportunity to think critically about the ways in which governments define policies which affect the everyday lives of citizens, how they respond to the needs and challenges of a changing society and the impact of their decisions on people’s lives. Students develop an understanding of why social problems arise and the way in which government, the media and the public respond to them.

Students should have an interest in contemporary issues, especially those relating to social policy and the way the state treats its most vulnerable citizens. This interest is more important than any specific subject experience, though students who have taken any of the social science subjects which will have touched on issues which are relevant to an understanding of social policy will find that this helps their understanding.

The assessment strategy adopted within the Social Policy Programme is designed to test and enhance students’ knowledge, skills and abilities as well as to prepare them for the demands of work. Assessments test students’ attainments of learning outcomes that demonstrate and encourage not only the knowledge base but also the development of transferable skills across the programme. Written communication skills are developed through essays and examinations, oral communication skills through presentations, literature searching and review through essays, examinations and presentations, computer literacy skills through word-processing and use of electronic resources. We utilise a broad spectrum of assessment strategies. In the final year students combine their study skills to undertake their own chosen area of study in the preparation of an Independent Study.

Students develop an understanding of why social problems arise and can provide a critical analysis of social policies and government, media and popular responses to them. As well as examining the organisation and effectiveness of a range of welfare services, students explore the persistence of poverty and social exclusion, social and cultural inequality and develop a theoretical and conceptual understanding of how policies are developed and implemented. Students will be able to use such skills and build on them throughout their working lives.

Students will normally have studied subjects in the Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences at A or equivalent level. An awareness and interest in contemporary political and social debates would be useful.

The programme provides students with a sound theoretical and practical knowledge of social policy and the policy making process. It also provides students with analytical, research, IT and interpersonal skills, and therefore provides a good basis for a range of employment. Students find occupations across the range of welfare services and agencies in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Students can also continue their studies at postgraduate level or undertake professional training.

For further information and funding your studey please see our Fees & Funding pages.

Fees and Funding