SOWK203-26S1 (C) Semester One 2026

Social Policy, Social Justice and Activism

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 16 February 2026
End Date: Sunday, 21 June 2026
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 1 March 2026
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 10 May 2026

Description

This course examines key principles guiding policy on the provision of social services. Trends and debates around the shifting relationship between welfare systems and the state are explored along with factors influencing the delivery of human services in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Students will learn to critically assess the implications of social service delivery for providers and consumers of welfare services, and issues around the impact of inequalities in society.

This course examines key principles guiding social policy and social justice. Trends and debates around the shifting relationship between social service systems and the state are explored along with factors influencing the delivery of social services in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Students will learn to critically assess the implications of social policy for providers and consumers of social services, and issues around the impact of inequalities in society. This will include looking at social justice principles and the historical and current use of activism to shift policy.

Learning Outcomes

  • Sound grasp of social policy theories and how they inform current debates
  • Refined capacity to analyse and explain the complex interplay of factors that influence policy development including social justice and activist movements
  • Advanced understanding of policy process and implementation in Aotearoa/New Zealand
  • Facility to critically assess the impact of social policy on service provision
  • Developing the skills to participate in policy development

Prerequisites

Any 15 points at 100 level from HSRV or SOWK, or
any 60 points at 100 level from the Schedule V of the BA, or
from the Schedule C to the BSW(Hons).

Restrictions

Equivalent Courses

Timetable 2026

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Thursday 10:00 - 12:00 Psychology - Sociology 252 Lecture Theatre
16 Feb - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May

Course Coordinator

Olivia LaMontagne

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Online Applications Forum Posts 22 May 2026 20% Weeks 2-11 (2% each)
Social Justice Blog 09 Mar 2026 20% (800 words max)
Social Justice issue activism plan 24 Apr 2026 30% (Template provided)
Vlog submission 29 May 2026 30% (5-minute submission video)

Textbooks / Resources

No Textbooks are required, all content will be available on AKO Learn.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $948.00

International fee $4,263.00

* 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 School of Health Sciences .

All SOWK203 Occurrences

  • SOWK203-26S1 (C) Semester One 2026
  • SOWK203-26S1 (D) Semester One 2026 (Distance)
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