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Contemporary Issues in Social and Public Policy - SPY00033C

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  • Department: Social Policy and Social Work
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: C
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
    • See module specification for other years: 2024-25

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2023-24

Module aims

Societies currently face a multitude of grand challenges including social inequalities and divisions, insecure labour markets, the rise of violence, evolving drug markets, political dissatisfaction, poverty and destitution and the broader crisis of our political and economic system. Social and public policies have a key role in responding to these challenges, though the question of where responsibility lies - and which policy tools are appropriate and effective in tackling social problems - is more complex. Drawing upon key and current debates in social and public policy, this interdisciplinary module aims to develop your understanding of contemporary societal challenges and what can be done to ameliorate them. You will be introduced to contemporary and major debates in social and public policy, engaging with key questions and exploring the broader social and political context in which they emerge. The module content will equip you with the analytical tools necessary to interrogate social and public policy challenges, and to identify, discuss and critically assess solutions.

The module aims are:

  • To introduce key dimensions of contemporary social and public policy debates.

  • To familiarise students with a range of current social and public policy challenges within their broader social, cultural, political, and economic context.

  • To explore the role of the state, the market and people as policy actors and the ways in which ideas and interests shape social and public issues and policy responses.

  • To identify solutions to ameliorate some of the contemporary social and public policy challenges.

  • To equip students with the foundational conceptual and analytical skills necessary to apply knowledge to real world problems and to critically evaluate contemporary issues in social and public policy.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

  • Identify and evaluate key dimensions of contemporary social and public policy debates and locate these debates in their social, cultural, political, and economic context.

  • Demonstrate awareness of the operation of key policy actors, and the ways in which ideas and interests shape issues in social and public policy.

  • Offer informed critique using a range of interdisciplinary perspectives and evidence sources relevant to the field of social and public policy.

  • Apply knowledge and theory drawn from the social sciences to address real world challenges in social and public policy.

  • Apply conceptual and analytical thinking skills to critically evaluate contemporary issues in social and public policy.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 40
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled) 60

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Module feedback

Feedback will be given in accordance with the University Policy on feedback in the Guide to Assessment as well as in line with the School policy.

Indicative reading

  • Bambra, C (2016) Health Divides: Where you live can kill you. Bristol: Policy Press.

  • Billingham, L & Irwin-Rogers, K (2022) Against Youth Violence: A social harm perspective. Bristol: Policy Press.

  • Dean, H (2019) Social Policy. Cambridge: Polity.

  • Fraser, N (2022) Cannibal Capitalism, How Our System Is Devouring Democracy, Care, and the Planet—and What We Can Do About It. London: Verso.

  • Patrick, R Power, M Garthwaite, K Kaufman, J Page, G & Pybus, K (2021) A Year Like No Other. Bristol: Policy Press.

  • Powell, M (2019) Understanding the mixed economy of welfare. Bristol: Policy Press.

  • Power, M (2013) Drugs 2:0: The web revolution that’s changing how the world gets high. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.

  • Telford, L & Wistow, J (2022) Levelling Up the UK Economy: The need for transformative change. London: Palgrave Pivot.

  • Williams, F (2021) Social Policy, A critical and intersectional analysis. Cambridge: Polity.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.