SOWK101-15S1 (C) Semester One 2015

Introduction to Social Welfare Policy and Human Services

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 23 February 2015
End Date: Sunday, 28 June 2015
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 8 March 2015
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 24 May 2015

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.

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.  The first part of the course addresses important organizing concepts of welfare, using historical and contemporary case studies to illustrate their application in practice.  In the second part, students will be introduced to policy tools and frameworks, enabling them to develop research skills and policy analysis.  Alongside the lectures, guest speakers from the service field will present studies of social policy in action.

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


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

  • Familiarity with basic themes and concepts related to welfare provision
  • Gain an overview of the development of welfare services in New Zealand within the political, economic and social/cultural context.
  • Familiarity with the tools required for the analysis of welfare services and programmes
  • 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 17 Mar 2015 10% Word limit 300
Essay 28 Apr 2015 30% Word Limit 2,000
Policy Analysis 29 May 2015 20% Word Limit 1500
End of course EXAM 40% Date to be advised

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 $697.00

International fee $2,913.00

* 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

  • SOWK101-15S1 (C) Semester One 2015