Course Topics
SOCIAL POLICY Part 1 – Fundamentals: Social problems, their stratification in society and during the life course. Rationale for public intervention and for the welfare state. Historical developments of the welfare state in Western Europe. The interplay of family, market and the state in welfare provision. Different national trajectories and welfare regimes. Recent trends and major challenges. Part 2 – Introduction to the main social policy areas: Care and long-term care; Education; Family; Health, Housing; Labour market; Pension system; Poverty & Income Maintenance; Social assistance; Social Exclusion. Part 3 – Cross-cutting themes: Gender and generations in contemporary welfare systems; Not-for-profit sector; Globalization and welfare systems; Social and political sustainability of the welfare state.

Teaching format
Frontal lectures, short exercises and case studies, discussion in class.

Educational objectives
SOCIAL POLICY The module provides students with foundational knowledge of social policy and the welfare state, their historical development, main institutional arrangements, and transformations. Particular attention is given to different welfare models and to the respective roles of the state, market, family, and other actors in the provision of welfare. The module introduces students to key areas of social policy and to contemporary social, economic, and demographic challenges affecting welfare systems. A particular educational objective is to enable students to understand social policies not only as specific programmes and interventions but also as institutional arrangements that shape social rights, patterns of inequality, opportunities for social participation, and responses to social needs. Through comparative perspectives, students develop the ability to recognise differences between welfare systems and to critically reflect on how social policies address changing social problems and needs. Expected learning outcomes Upon successful completion of the module, students will be able to: • explain key concepts, principles, and historical developments of social policy and the welfare state; • identify and compare major welfare state models and different arrangements for the provision of welfare; • describe and analyse the roles of the state, market, family, and other actors in welfare provision; • identify key areas of social policy and explain their main objectives, instruments, and institutional characteristics; • recognise and discuss major contemporary challenges and transformations affecting welfare states and social policies; • apply basic concepts and analytical perspectives of social policy to the analysis of social problems and policy responses in different contexts; • use relevant social policy concepts and terminology appropriately when discussing and analysing social policy issues.

Additional educational objectives and learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: Basic knowledge and understanding of social work as a profession and discipline, its mandates, theories, and scientific as well as ethical foundations. Basic understanding of fundamental social policy fields and issues; knowledge of welfare arrangements, traditions, and models; main current developments and challenges. Applying knowledge and understanding: Application of the acquired knowledge when dealing with social issues and policy challenges, as well as concerning the practice of social work. Making judgments: Development of professional analysis and reflection skills, as well as the ability to critically assess how social (policy) issues are dealt with and managed in social work. Communication skills: Development of language and skills for professional and academic communication and argumentation. Learning skills: Systematic acquisition of the fundamentals in social work and social policy; and their utilization in reflexivity and discussion. Ability to address new themes in these fields, using reference resources.

Assessment
SOCIAL POLICY Two different assessment routes are offered for the module Social Policy: 1. Standard assessment (all students), in two steps: 1.1. Individual project work (50% of the final marks): 3-4 pages mini-essay, with critical reflections, to be delivered not later than 7 days before the exam. The theme can be selected by the students from a list of subjects prepared by the instructor (with a couple of short related readings). The list will be available in the Reserve Collection at the start of the course; 1.2. Final written test (50% of the final marks): 30-40 minutes test that includes closed-ended multiple choice questions and a few short open-ended questions. 2. Attending students (who has attended 50% of the lectures at least), may choose the following 3 steps assessment procedure: 2.1. Individual project work (50% of the final marks), as specified for the standard assessment; 2.2. Final written test (25% of the final marks): 30-40 minutes test as specified for the standard assessment; 2.3. Active participation in class (25% of the final marks). It includes the discussion of a few preparatory readings and case studies. Important notes both the assessment routes: A positive evaluation of both the individual project and the final written test is needed in order to pass the exam, irrespective of the overall weighted average marks attained. Please also note that – given the mentioned educational objectives and the simple tasks required in the development of the final project work – the use of generative artificial intelligence tools is not allowed. The lecturer reserves the right to complement the assessment procedure with an oral discussion in order to assess the real contribution of the student to the materials submitted for assessment.

Evaluation criteria
SOCIAL POLICY In general, what is evaluated is the acquisition of the module contents as well as their understanding and reflexive application in relation to current questions and problems. Evaluation criteria are as follows: 1. In the individual project’s mini essay, attention is paid to: 1.1 proper reference to specialist literature and the module contents, and to the ability to summarise the texts considered in the project and other contents (40% of the evaluation); 1.2. the ability to offer a critical discussion of the texts considered – and of possible other reference literature - and to link the latter to other contents of the module (40% of the evaluation). 1.3. the ability to write with a logical structure and clear argumentation (20% of the evaluation). 2. In the written test (closed-ended and open-ended questions) attention is paid to knowledge of the module key themes and concepts, on the accuracy and the ability to evaluate alternative understanding of concepts, as shown in the ability to correctly answer the test questions (100% of the evaluation). 3. Attendance is a prerequisite for participation in class. In active participation, attention is paid to: 3.1. contribution to the critical discussion in class of a few preparatory readings (25% of the evaluation); 3.2. contribution to the crititcal discussion in class of a few case studies (25% of the evaluation); 3.3. contribution to the critical discussion in class on the module topics and key concepts, in general (25% of the evaluation); 3.4. the ability to make connections between themes and concepts discussed in the module (25% of the evaluation). 4. An oral discussion, may complement the assessment of the project’s mini essay. The evaluation would be driven by the criteria discussed at point 1 and would be focused on assessing the authorship and originality of the miny essay submitted.