Social Policy and Social Change - BA (Hons)

Course structure

Duration: 3 years full-time (4 with a year abroad), 6 years part-time (7 with a year abroad)

Modules

The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.  

On most programmes, you study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also be able to take ‘elective’ modules from other programmes so you can customise your programme and explore other subjects that interest you.

• Year abroad

Teaching and assessment

We use a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, case study analysis, group projects and presentations, and individual and group tutorials. Many module convenors also offer additional ‘clinic’ hours to help with the preparation of coursework and for exams.

Assessment is by a mixture of coursework and examinations; to view details for individual modules click the 'read more' link within each module listed in the course structure.

Contact hours

For a student studying full time, each academic year of the programme will comprise 1200 learning hours which include both direct contact hours and private study hours.  The precise breakdown of hours will be subject dependent and will vary according to modules.  Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.

Methods of assessment will vary according to subject specialism and individual modules.  Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.

Programme aims

The programme aims to:

• produce thoughtful, flexible and well-trained social scientists with an up-to-date knowledge of social welfare provision in industrial societies 
• enable you to link theoretical knowledge with empirical enquiry and to identify and understand different ideological positions on welfare provision
• give you the skills and abilities to enable you to become an informed citizen, capable of participating in the policy process and equipped for a dynamic labour market.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

You gain knowledge and understanding of:

• the origins and development of UK welfare institutions
• the current sources of welfare in the UK, including health and social services, social security, housing and education
• the operation and financing of the policy process and the political economy of welfare
• welfare provided by the private and voluntary sectors and the mixed economy of care
• key concepts used in social policy, such as need, equity, inequality, poverty, exclusion, identity, difference and diversity
• local, regional, national and supra-national dimensions of social policy
• the main sources of data relating to social welfare and the methods used to collect and analyse data
• inter-disciplinary approaches to issues in social policy
• the key concepts and theories of welfare and the ability to apply these in a comparative approach.

Intellectual skills

You develop intellectual abilities in:

• problem-solving, the skills to seek solutions to social problems and individual needs
• research, including the skills to identify a research question and collect and manipulate data to answer that question
• evaluation and analysis, including the skills to assess the outcomes of policy intervention
• recognising and showing sensitivity to the values and interests of others and to the dimensions of difference.

Subject-specific skills

You gain subject-specific skills in:

• identifying and using concepts and theories in social policy to analyse social issues
• seeking out and using statistical data relevant to social issues
• the investigation of an empirical issue
• how to distinguish between technical, normative, moral and political questions.

Transferable skills

You gain transferable skills that enable you to:

• study and learn independently, using library and internet sources
• learn and be reflective, adaptive and collaborative in your approach
• make short presentations to fellow students and staff
• communicate ideas and arguments to others, both in written and spoken form
• prepare essays and reference the material quoted according to conventions
• use IT to conduct on-line searches, communicate by email and in written documents and access data sources
• develop skills in time management and work to deadlines
• work collaboratively, negotiate, listen and deliver results.

Careers

Graduate destinations

Our Social Policy graduates are highly sought after and have gone on to enjoy careers in areas as diverse as:

• civil service
• banking and financial services
• teaching and research  
• corporate relations
• human resources.

Many of our graduates choose to go on to further study at Master’s and PhD level.

Help finding a job

The School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research has its own employability team who work with businesses to maximise opportunities for our students. We also hold an Employability Month every February and run networking events throughout the year to help you develop your skills and contacts.

The School has excellent links with local outside agencies, such as the probation and youth justice services, the police and social services.

The University has a friendly Careers and Employability Service which can give you advice on how to:

• apply for jobs
• write a good CV
• perform well in interviews.

Career-enhancing skills

As well as your subject-specific knowledge, you also develop the key transferable skills graduate employers look for. These include:

• excellent communication skills
• organisational and research skills
• the ability to analyse problems
• teamworking
• an understanding of, and sensitivity to, the values and interests of others.

You can also gain additional skills by signing up for our Kent Extra activities, such as learning a new language or volunteering.

If you choose to take the year abroad option, you further increase your skills by gaining experience of living and studying in a different culture and developing an international perspective.