VERN1210 Philosophy of Science and Welfare Policy Course description

In this course, the students will be given an insight into the history of philosophy and science. It is important that they acquire an understanding of the importance of science to general academic knowledge. Examples will be provided of the relevance of philosophy of science to the subject areas covered by the social education programme. The course also covers different methods for obtaining and processing data, as well as discipline criticism and research ethics.

Furthermore, the course provides an overview of the development and professionalization of the welfare state, as well as the links between social development, living conditions and users’ perceived health and social problems.

Passed VERN1110/VERND1110 before starting the course is recommended.

Admission to the programme

After completing Philosophy of Science (1) and Welfare Policy (2), the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge

The student:

• has knowledge of different perceptions of reality and their consequences for methodology and the development of academic knowledge (1)
• has knowledge of the importance of science to general academic knowledge (1)
• has knowledge of philosophy of science as a basis for the subject areas covered by the social education programme (1)
• is capable of explaining experiments as a scientific method (1)
• has knowledge of prevailing health and social policy and current decision-making processes (2)
• has knowledge of how health and social policy priorities impact different user groups (2)
• has knowledge of the legislation that regulate services and benefits to people with functional impairments (2)
• has knowledge of individual plans (2)
• has knowledge of key concepts such as: disability, user participation, discrimination, inclusion, normalisation, habilitation and rehabilitation (2)

Skills

The student is capable of:

• reading research reports and analysing research results (1)
• explaining how they themselves can influence health and social policy (2)
• describing important care policy goals and the basis for work with people with functional impairments (2)
• giving examples of different measures used to ensure that people with functional impairments can have a say in their own lives (2)
• giving examples of how users’ right of self-determination is safeguarded (2)

Competence

The student:

• has insight into scientific thinking (1)
• has insight into evidence-based work methods in professional practice (1)
• is capable of discussing political goals, policy instruments and welfare schemes that regulate services for people with functional impairments (2)

The course comprises lectures, self-study and group work. The students will also be divided into seminar groups. Work in seminar groups total approximately eight hours, and participation is compulsory. Here, students will work on issues from the syllabus, present them and receive guidance on further reading. The lecturer will attend these seminars.

The following required coursework must be approved before the student can receive a final assessment:

• Participating in seminar groups and presentations of texts (1)
• Participating in group work (2)
• Conducting an interview in a group )2)
• Presenting an interview survey in a group (2)

Individual project exam for the duration of the course with a scope of up to 2,000 words. Resit/rescheduled exam: Individual home exam. The exam question will be announced two weeks before the deadline for submission.

All

A grade scale with grades from A to E for pass and F for fail is used.

Two internal examiners