VERB2100 Individual and Society Course description

The course introduces sociology, social anthropology, social psychology, political science and organisational theory. The mutual influence between individuals and society will be a key aspect of the course, as well as what this means to the professional role. The course is taught over seven weeks.

Passed the first year of the programme

On successful completion of the course, the student has the following learning outcomes classified as knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• can describe the role of those who carry out health and welfare services in a democracy
• can describe the differences between the public and private sectors
• can explain the structure and function of the public administration at the local and national levels
• can describe the interaction/relationship between the individual and the system from a system theory perspective
• can explain different ways of understanding social inequality
• can describe how social inequality and social problems such as neglect, violence, abuse, bullying, substance abuse and socioeconomic issues affect health, living conditions and quality of life
• can explain how stigmatisation can impact people's lives and social relationships
• can describe how diversity and culture impact social relationships
• can explain social identity and group processes
• can explain different processes that underlie social influence on individuals and their group identification
• can explain how the public administration works

Skills

The student

• can apply basic concepts and perspectives from sociology, social anthropology, organisational theory and political science to understand the context within which service recipients and service providers operate

General competence

The student

• can discuss how organisations function
• can discuss political and administrative decision-making processes, the most common organisational and administrative models for welfare services, and the social educator's role as a health and social policy actor
• can reflect on how social conditions can affect people's opportunities and self-understanding, and can take this into account in his/her professional practice
• can reflect on how social barriers can impair people's functioning, and can take this into account in his/her professional practice

The teaching and learning methods include self-study, lectures, group discussion and sharing experience.

None

Individual written home examination over two weeks, up to 3,200 words.

All material allowed.

Grade scale A-F

Each answer paper is assessed by one internal and one external examiner.

10 credits overlap with VERN1310/VERND1310/VERNL1310 sociology, social anthropology, social psychology, political science and organisational theory