Social and Public Policy

From the start of the programme you’ll study core modules that introduce you to the social contexts and social problems that challenge policy makers, understanding society and social research. As the course develops you will focus more specifically on the welfare state, the process of social policy formation, and the kinds of evidence on which new policies and programmes are founded, and against which their effectiveness is evaluated.

You’ll gain a thorough understanding of research methods, the theoretical assumptions which underpin them and how these affect the way the findings are interpreted. You’ll also focus on specific examples such as welfare reform or employment activation policies.

With this foundation, you’ll choose from optional modules to specialise in topics that suit you. You could study contemporary social thought to contextualise your work, or look at issues such as labour mobility, care, healthcare, disability or ‘race’ and ethnicity. You could study further data analysis and research methods to prepare for future research.

At the end of the programme, you’ll submit your dissertation – an independent piece of research on a related topic of your choice, which allows you to demonstrate and apply the knowledge and skills you’ve acquired during the year.

Course structure

These are typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

Modules Year 1

Compulsory modules

• Dissertation (Social Policy) 60 credits
• Researching Culture and Society 30 credits
• Social Policy Analysis 15 credits
• Policy and Programme Evaluation 15 credits
• Understanding Society and Culture 30 credits

Optional modules

• China's Development 15 credits
• Environmental Assessment 15 credits
• European Human Rights 15 credits
• Human Resource Management: An International Perspective 15 credits
• Managing Change 15 credits
• Understanding and Managing Effective Groups and Teams 15 credits
• Social Media Marketing 15 credits
• Management of Finance for Health 15 credits
• Policing Post-Conflict Cities 15 credits
• Development Management Techniques 15 credits
• 'Race', Identity and Culture in the Black Atlantic 15 credits
• Disability and Development 15 credits
• Contested Bodies 15 credits
• Que(e)rying Sexualities 15 credits
• Social Policy Debates 15 credits
• Quantitative Research Methods 15 credits
• Qualitative Research Methods 15 credits
• Power, Critique & Global Transformations 15 credits
• Standards and Tools for Business, Environment and Corporate Social Responsibility 15 credits
• Climate Change Mitigation