Foundations of Social Policy

Subject SOCI90002 (2016)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2016.

Credit Points: 25
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject is not offered in 2016.

Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 4 hours of seminars per week in Weeks 1 – 6 of Semester 1. Plus full day workshops scheduled throughout Semester 1.
Total Time Commitment:

Total of 340 hours

Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge:

Sociology or Public Policy at Undergraduate level

Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Contact

Prof. Paul Smyth

smythp@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

The subject engages with contemporary theories of social inclusion and capital with an emphasis on networks and their role in community strengthening, community building and regional economic development. The subject also engages in the role these strategies have in larger projects of social policy reform such as the Third Way, the Partnership movement and "joined-up" government. The subject will engage in specific social policy issues (health, housing, welfare, employment etc) as a means to investigate the use of social capital and network analysis techniques.

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this subject students should:

  • understand the theories of social inclusion and social capital formation as they apply to social policy issues in income support, employment, health, education, culture, housing and community care;
  • understand social and economic development as an integrated process from the perspective of both the social policy literature and the development literature;
  • understand the analytical implications of different social policy frameworks such as social inclusion and social capital;
  • understand the theories and strategies of 'joined up' government and the role of networks in social governance;
  • have a sound understanding of the use of comparative perspectives.
Assessment:

An essay of 2000 words (20%) due in week 3, take home paper of 3000 words based on weekly seminar material (30%) due in week 6, and a 5000 word project (50%) due in mid-May.

Hurdle Requirement: As this is an Intensively-taught subject, there is a 100% seminar attendance requirement. Regular participation in class is required. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

Prescribed Texts:

A key text will be available.

Recommended Texts:
  • Mark Considine, Enterprising states: The public management of welfare to work, Cambridge University Press, 2001.
  • R,E Goodin (ed) The theory of institutional design, Cambridge University Press, 1996.
  • Jan Kooiman (ed) Modern Governance: New Government-Society Interactions, Sage, 1993.
  • Robert Putnam, Making Democracy work, Princeton University Press, 1993.
  • Steven Smith and Michael Lipsky, Non-profits for Hire: The welfare state in the age of contracting, Camb. Mass., Harvard University Press, 1993 K. Walsh Public services and Market Mechanisms: Competition, Contracting and the new public management, Houndsmills, Macmillan, 1995
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

On completion of this subject students should:

  • have developed research skills, through the competent use of library and other information sources, and the definition of areas of inquiry and methods of research;
  • have developed an understanding of the social, ethical and cultural contexts of research;
  • have developed critical thinking and analysis skills, through recommended READING, essay writing, and seminar discussion, and by determining the strength of an argument;
  • have developed skills in written and oral communication, time management and planning, and group work, through completion of course requirements;
  • have developed the capacity to think in theoretical terms, through class requirements and engagement with theories and methods of the social sciences;
  • have developed the capacity to think creatively, through course work and course discussion, and by critical analysis of competing arguments.
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: 100 Point Master of Development Studies (Gender && Development)
100 Point Master of Development Studies - Gender and Development Specialisation
150 Point Master of Development Studies (Gender && Development)
150 Point Master of Development Studies - Gender and Development Specialisation
200 Point Master of Development Studies (Gender && Development)
200 Point Master of Development Studies - Gender and Development Specialisation
Governance, Policy and Communication
Graduate Certificate in Arts (Advanced) - Sociology
Graduate Diploma of Arts (Advanced) - Sociology
PC-ARTS Sociology
PD-ARTS Sociology
Sustainable Cities, Sustainable Regions
Tailored Specialisation

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