EPN-V2

SIW4400 Understanding Citizens' Encounters with the Welfare State: Structures, Institutions and Actors Emneplan

Engelsk emnenavn
Understanding Citizens' Encounters with the Welfare State: Structures, Institutions and Actors
Studieprogram
Master Programme in Applied Social Sciences - Study Option International Social Welfare and Health Policy
Masterstudium i sosialfag - studieretning barnevern, deltid
Masterstudium i sosialfag - studieretning barnevern
Masterprogram i sosialfag
Enkeltemner knyttet til masterprogram i sosialfag
Masterstudium i sosialfag - studieretning sosialt arbeid, deltid
Masterstudium i sosialfag - studieretning sosialt arbeid
Omfang
10.0 stp.
Studieår
2023/2024
Programplan
Emnehistorikk

Innledning

This course provides an overview of useful theoretical perspectives when analyzing citizens' encounters with the welfare state. The course will provide useful analytical concepts and frameworks for your Master's thesis. 

The course covers theories on individual agency, social networks, structural and functionalist explanatory models, social reproduction and social change, social construction and interactional processes. The theories will be applied on current issues in welfare society and in social policies. 

The course invites active discussions on how to apply select theories to analyze and interpret  phenomena within social welfare and health policy research.

Language of instruction is English.

Forkunnskapskrav

None.

Læringsutbytte

This course is designed to inform and enrich the material learned in the research methods courses. It combines a descriptive and a normative approach to reflection on social science.

Among topics covered, are the role of values in research, objectivity, realism, social constructivism, social ontology, feminist philosophy of science, evidence-based policy, and causality.

Innhold

The exam is graded by an internal and an external examiner.

A random selection consisting of at least 25% of the exam papers will be graded by both an internal and external examiner. This will inform the grading of the remaining exam papers.

Arbeids- og undervisningsformer

None.

Arbeidskrav og obligatoriske aktiviteter

A student who has completed his or her qualification has the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student has

  • thorough knowledge of main social science philosophy topics relevant to social welfare and health policy studies
  • knowledge of theories and concepts enabling systematic reflection on social science

Skills

The student can

  • analyse, discuss and evaluate social science from the viewpoint of philosophy of science

General Competence

The student has

  • thorough understanding of the relation between actual research and theories about research
  • a well developed understanding of the foundations of research results and design

Vurdering og eksamen

The teaching consists of lectures, seminars and tutorials related to the coursework requirements. Students are expected to play an active role.

Hjelpemidler ved eksamen

Students must submit four essays on the philosophy of social science (500 Words each).

The four essays are separately awarded a Pass or Fail. A Pass in all of them qualifies for sitting the school exam.

Students whose coursework requirement is not approved at first attempt may resubmit the work requirement once. Papers that are not approved after two submissions will disqualify students from sitting the final school examination.

Vurderingsuttrykk

The assessment consists of a six hour school exam.

Sensorordning

Students may use a spelling dictionary, as well as a bilingual dictionary during the written school exam.

Emneansvarlig

A grade scale A-F.