EPN-V2

SSA4100 Social Policy Course description

Course name in Norwegian
Sosialpolitikk
Study programme
Master Programme in Applied Social Sciences - Study Option International Social Welfare and Health Policy
Master Programme in Applied Social Sciences - Programme Option Child Care, part-time
Master Programme in Applied Social Sciences - Programme Option Child Care
Master in Programme Applied Social Sciences
Master Programme in Applied Social Sciences
Elective modules, Master Programme in Applied Social Sciences
Master Programme in Applied Social Sciences - Programme Option Social Work, part-time
Master Programme in Applied Social Sciences - Programme Option Social Work
Weight
10.0 ECTS
Year of study
2019/2020
Curriculum
FALL 2019
Schedule
Course history

Introduction

The course provides an in-depth insight into how the different support systems -the employment market, family, civil society, and the welfare and social assistance services are linked in Norway and in other European countries. This provides an insight into how class, gender, and ethnicity has influenced the development of welfare measures. Key normative reasons for welfare measures, such as justice, equality and solidarity are highlighted. Challenges to the welfare state, such as demographical changes, immigration, globalisation, privatisation and exposure to competition, are discussed in light of existing research. Welfare policy for children is discussed as a separate topic.

Required preliminary courses

None.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, the students are expected to have achieved the following knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge

The student has

  • knowledge about what characterises the Norwegian welfare state and the Nordic model in relation to the welfare states in other European countries, such as the United Kingdom, Germany and countries in southern Europe.
  • knowledge about the factors that have created different characteristics of the welfare systems, highlighting class, gender and ethnicity
  • knowledge about the labour market, and the politics of the labour market and the Norwegian workfare policy
  • insight into the family's role as a support system, changes in family patterns, and different family policy measures
  • insight into the factors that create poverty and social exclusion for different demographic groups, including children
  • knowledge of how economic, demographic, political and ideological changes influence welfare policy
  • insight into what globalisation might mean for the development of welfare and welfare measures in Norway and other countries

Skills

The student is capable of

  • analysing similarities and differences between welfare measures in Norway and other countries
  • analysing welfare measures in light of existing socio-political principles and ideologies
  • problematising analytical categories and measurement instruments in welfare research
  • applying key theories and concepts in his/her own written work
  • making use of data from different sources in such contexts, such as Statistics Norway, OECD, Eurostat and Missoc
  • obtaining relevant literature from electronic journals

Competence

The student is capable of

  • discussing positive and negative aspects of different types of socio-political measures and dilemmas in welfare policy
  • assessing how current social changes and changes in attitudes and values, influence welfare policy, and the frameworks and content of work in the health and social services

Teaching and learning methods

The teaching switches between lectures, given by the lecturers and possible guest lecturers, discussions, and group work. The student will have the opportunity to attend one supervision session in relation to the semester assignment. The student will also have the opportunity to take part in group-work where they will find comparative data from electronic databases and discuss relevant literature.

Course requirements

None.

Assessment

Students must be registered in the third year and have completed at least 100 credits from the first and second years of the programme by 1 October, before they can write their bachelor’s thesis.

Permitted exam materials and equipment

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:Knowledge The student is capable of:

  • explaining how projects are managed and how progress is ensured
  • explaining the different stages of a development project and their importance
  • explaining the structure of final documentation
  • explaining the chosen technical architecture and discussing its advantages and disadvantages
  • create project and work plans
  • set up development and test environments
  • develop and test large computer programs in groups
  • install the production version of the system
  • set up final documentation for the project containing both process, product and user documentation
  • collaborate on a larger data project that ends in an end product containing both computer programs and documentation

Skills The student is capable of:

  • developing project and work plans
  • setting up development and test environments
  • developing and testing large-scale computer programs in groups
  • installing a production version of the system
  • preparing final documentation of the project, containing both process, product and user documentation

General competence The student is capable of:

  • cooperating on an extensive computer technology project that culminates in an end product comprising both computer programs and documentation

Grading scale

Project supervision. Project work in groups. The groups normally comprise 3 to 4 students. The students shall carry out a project corresponding to the scope of the course, preferably for an external client. Detailed information and deadlines for the different phases of the project work will be provided on the course’s web page and in the teaching plan that is announced at the start of the semester. A selection of workshops and seminars.

Examiners

  • A poster describing key elements of the bachelor project.