SSA4100 Social Policy Course description

The course provides an in-depth insight into the different support systems -the employment market, the family, the voluntary sector 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.

None.

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

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.

None.

In this course, the students will gain an understanding of some of the most important principles of the Internet of Things (IoT). IoT enables the development of unique, innovative products and services. The students will become familiar with architecture and intelligent algorithms that govern IoT and pervasive computing. The goal of the course is to give the students an overall understanding of IoT: from a technical point of view - and in relation to the consequences for society (for example privacy preservation, security) - when billions (or trillions) of units communicate with each other in ‘the cloud’.

No requirements over and above the admission requirements.

This course focuses on people’s everyday life, living conditions and social challenges that impact their quality of life. The students will learn about social work relating to different phases of and transitions in life. The course sheds light on how the challenges and problems of everyday life can be prevented, remedied and coped with. It also takes on a critical perspective on norms and the concept of normality. Students will learn about how social workers can identify and support individuals’ coping strategies, motivate change and provide help and support in demanding life situations.

None.

After completing the course, the student should have the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student has:

• knowledge of social science theories on how to understand human development from childhood to old age 
• knowledge of how social challenges interact and affect the individual’s quality of life in different phases of and transitions in life 
• knowledge of how social structures and social conditions impact the conditions for upbringing and living conditions in general
• knowledge of protection and risk factors as a basis for implementing preventive measures against marginalisation and exclusion in different arenas 

Skills

The student can

• identify, prevent and remedy social challenges relating to different phases of life
• identify and assess resources in the life situations of different groups of people and help to strengthen people’s coping strategies in demanding life situations

General competence

The student:

• can disseminate knowledge of the link between different everyday social problems in different phases of life 
• has insight into how marginalisation and discrimination affect people’s social life and health