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The Politics of Social Policy and Welfare
About
This module offers a deep dive into the political forces that shape social policies, helping you understand why some issues are prioritised, others are overlooked, and why certain solutions are chosen over others.
Why study this module?
In an era of global uncertainty and challenges to peace, welfare and democracy, understanding the political landscape is crucial. This course will equip you with the analytical tools needed to navigate the complex world of social policy, ensuring you can critically assess how and why decisions are made.
What will you gain?
By studying this module, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the political dynamics that influence social policies across different countries and regimes.
You will learn to examine the interplay of power, needs, and rights in shaping social welfare, preparing you to make informed political analysis.
Relevance to industry/job market
This module is highly relevant to careers in public policy, social policy, social work, non-profits, international development, humanitarian and government sectors. Employers value professionals who can critically engage with policy-making processes and understand the political context of social issues, making this course an asset in a wide range of roles.
Who is this course for?
If you are passionate about understanding the deeper political forces that drive social change (or inertia), or if you are interested in a career that influences social policy, this module is for you. It is ideal for students and professionals who want to bridge the gap between policy analysis and political science, and who aspire to work in fields where they can impact social justice and welfare.
Term dates
Course start date: 26th September 2024
This course is taught over Semester one (12 weeks).
Attendance
Students are required to attend 3 hours per week (2 hours lecture and 1 hour seminar/class discussion).
Location
This course is delivered on the Belfast campus.
Assessment
The assessment is 100% coursework, is based on three components:
- Book review (1000 words) [25%]
- A case-based, in-class test [25%]
- Book presentation (15 minutes) [50%]
Career Options
After completing this module, you will be well-prepared for a variety of career paths in fields such as public policy, social policy, social work, government agencies, non-profit organisations, international development, humanitarian and research institutions. Potential job roles include policy analyst, social policy advisor, welfare officer, public affairs consultant, advocacy officer, advocacy manager, and roles within international NGOs focused on social justice and welfare.
Throughout the module, you will develop a range of transferable skills that are highly valued across different industries.
These include:
- Critical analysis and evaluation
- policy appraisal
- communication and argumentation in both written and verbal formats
Academic Profile
Dr Volkan Yilmaz is a Lecturer in Social Policy at Ulster University, Belfast, within the School of Applied Social and Policy Sciences.
He serves as one of the editors for the Journal of Social Policy and co-coordinates the Sociology of Social Policy and Social Welfare Research Network (RN26) of the European Sociological Association. He participates in the WHO Advisory Group on the Governance of the Private Sector for Universal Health Coverage. Additionally, he serves as a member of the Centre for Public Administration at Ulster University.
His research interests encompass a wide range of topics, including:
- the politics of social policies
- public policy
- global social policy
- health policy
- humanitarian assistance
- the relationship between human rights and social policy (with a special focus on disability, gender equality, sexual orientation and gender identity).
He is a qualitative researcher with a mixed methods orientation. He employs a diverse range of data collection techniques to explore social policy issues.
His data collection methods include surveys, public spending data, and observational data from social media and forums.
Additionally, he conducts focus groups and in-depth interviews to delve into participants’ attitudes and experiences, providing rich, contextual insights.
For data analysis, he utilises contextual analysis to understand the broader socio-political environment, the Narrative Policy Framework to interpret policy narratives, and political discourse analysis to examine the language and power dynamics in policy discussions.
Contact
If you have any queries about the course, please email v.yilmaz@ulster.ac.uk
Modules
This is a 20 credit module short course - see the about section for details of content.
Entry Requirements
Applicants must have a second class honours degree or better in Social Sciences, Humanities, Law or a cognate discipline from a university of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, or from a recognised national awarding body, or from an institution of another country which has been recognised as being of an equivalent standard;
In exceptional circumstances, where an individual has substantial and significant experiential learning, a portfolio of written evidence demonstrating the meeting of graduate qualities (including subject-specific outcomes, as determined by the Course Committee) may be considered as an alternative entrance route. Evidence used to demonstrate graduate qualities may not be used for exemption against modules within the programme.
Eligibility
Places are limited and open to applicants who:
- are over 18 years of age;
- are eligible to work in Northern Ireland;
- are ‘settled’ in Northern Ireland, and has been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least three years; or
- are a person who has indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK.
- meet the course specific entry requirements. See course pages for requirements.
- meet the Ulster University general entry requirements