SOWK101-14S2 (C) Semester Two 2014

Introduction to Social Welfare Policy and Human Services

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 14 July 2014
End Date: Sunday, 16 November 2014
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 27 July 2014
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 12 October 2014

Description

An introduction to the provision of welfare in New Zealand, providing students with the opportunity to examine socio-cultural, economic and political factors that have influenced current welfare policies, practice and services. The first part of the course addresses basic organising concepts of welfare, using historical and contemporary case studies. In the second part, students will be introduced to tools and frameworks that will enable them to develop research skills and critical thinking. Using current case studies of service delivery presented by guest practitioners, contemporary research practices, social worlds/issues and welfare services/responses are analysed.

Skilful work within human services requires practitioners to understand the impact of the environment on well-being, and to have the 'tools' to make changes in that environment. Human service workers need a sound grasp of how welfare provision affects everyday lives.

This course provides an introduction to the provision of welfare in New Zealand, providing students with the opportunity to examine socio-cultural, economic, and political factors that have influenced current welfare policies, practice, and services.


Objectives:

1.   To introduce and define key concepts associated with welfare and social policy,
     using historical and contemporary case studies.
2.   To introduce 'tools' and frameworks that will enable you to develop research skills
     and critical thinking in this and other fields.
3.   To analyse contemporary research practices, social issues, and welfare services

Learning Outcomes

1.   Familiarity with basic themes and concepts related to welfare provision
2.   Gain an overview of the development of welfare services in New Zealand within
     the political, economic and social/cultural context.
3.   Familiarity with the tools required for the analysis of welfare services and programmes
4.   Ability to consider key fields of practice from a policy and a service organisation perspective

Restrictions

Equivalent Courses

Course Coordinator / Lecturer

Andrew Frost

Tutor

Karyn Stewart

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Online Post 04 Aug 2014 10% Word limit 300
Essay 22 Aug 2014 30% Word Limit 2000
Policy Analysis 10 Oct 2014 20% Word Limit 1500
End of course EXAM 40%

Textbooks / Resources

Required Texts

Cheyne, C., O’Brien, M., and Belgrave, M; Social Policy in Aotearoa New Zealand: A critical introduction ; 4th; Auckland: Oxford University Press, 2008.

Recommended Reading

Lunt, N., O’Brien, M. and Stephens, R; New Zealand, New Welfare ; South Melbourne, Vic: Cengage Learning, 2008.

Notes

Teaching & learning resources:

•   A variety of written texts
•   Scholarly articles and news items
•   Case analysis
•   Case studies of service delivery
•   Guest presenters, including people in the field
•   Audio and video material

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $670.00

International fee $2,850.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences .

All SOWK101 Occurrences

  • SOWK101-14S2 (C) Semester Two 2014