Description

The teaching is excellent. I've had help whenever I've needed guidance, and the staff are always available for a chat if you need to talk something over. And when you're introduced to a subject you've never thought about before, the way some lecturers draw you in, it is inspiring.

~ Karen Steffan, BA in Social Policy Student

Read Karen's full interview here

Social Policy looks at the ways in which we as a society promote the welfare of individuals and families. You study some of today’s central issues, such as poverty, well-being, ill-health, education, crime, homelessness and child protection. This includes looking at both the nature of social problems and also at the policies directed towards them by government, and at the role of voluntary and private welfare. You look at debates regarding how best to provide health care, how to provide affordable housing, how to balance work and family life, and how to achieve equality for women, minority ethnic groups and people with disabilities. In studying these and many other vital topics, you will develop the knowledge and skills to help you succeed in your future career.

Apart from achieving the highest ratings for teaching and research, what is distinctive about studying Social Policy at Kent is that the programme is highly flexible and provides a wide range of option choices, including those outside the traditional areas of Social Policy. We place a high emphasis on developing skills, in writing, presentation and in the use of ICT. Our graduates fare extremely well in terms of finding employment, whether in directly related areas such as health, housing, social work, education, research or the voluntary sector, or beyond.

Modules

You take the following five modules:

•           Social Problems and Social Policy: The Market, the Family and the State
•           Social Problems and Social Policy: Youth, the Family and the State
•           Sociology of Everyday Life
•           Fundamentals of Sociology

And either
•           Introduction to Criminology
Or
•           Modern Culture

A further three modules are chosen from a range of social science options, including modules in Social Anthropology, Politics, Psychology or Economics.

Years 2 and 3

In these years, the programme is aimed at introducing students to all the key issues relating to social policy, both in the UK and globally. It also aims to give students a sound understanding of research methods and hence the critical skills to evaluate the knowledge generated by social research. Beyond these core concerns, we offer a wide range of optional choices, allowing students to pursue their own particular lines of interest and enquiry.

You take the following core modules:

• Key Issues in Welfare Systems
• Social Research Methods
• Welfare in Modern Britain.

Joint honours students are required to take a combination of Social Policy modules and modules from their other subject.

You are then able to choose your remaining modules from a variety of options such as:

• The Care and Protection of Children and Families
• Childhood, Society and Children’s Rights
• Dissertation
• Education, Training and Social Policy
• Environmental Policy and Practice
• Gender, Work and the Family: Exploring the Work/Life Balance
• Health and Health Policy
• Health, Illness and Medicine
• Issues in Social Care
• Kent Student Certificate for Volunteering, Platinum Award
• Mental Health
• Poverty, Inequality and Social Security
• Refugees and Forced Migration
• Reproductive Health Policy in Britain
• Sociology of Work
• The Social Politics of Food
• The Third Sector: Non-profit Associations, Charities, NGOs and Social Enterprise in Modern Society            
• Understanding People with Learning Disabilities
• Youth and Crime

Assessment

Assessment is based on coursework essays, projects, group work, seminar presentations and examinations. Some modules are assessed by 50% coursework, 50% exams; others are 100% coursework. Marks from Years 2 and count towards your final degree result. Year 1 results do not count towards the final mark, but the Year must be passed in order to proceed to second and third years.

Teaching

Typically, students have at least eight hours teaching per week, involving a range of methods including lectures, seminars, workshops, group and individual tutorials.  Some modules involve workshops to develop key personal and study skills, or computing and project work, which you can do individually or in teams. In addition, you spend time in individual study, using the resources of the University Library and computer-assisted learning packages.

Key Teaching Staff
You will come across many teachers during your studies here, but the core group teaching on the Social Policy programme comprises:

• Dr Ben Baumberg
• Professor Mike Calnan
• Dr Heejung Chung
• Dr Jeremy Kendall
• Dr Derek Kirton
• Dr Ellie Lee
• Dr Lavinia Mitton
• Professor Peter Taylor-Gooby
• Professor Julia Twigg
• Professor Sarah Vickerstaff