SOCIOL 317 : Changing Welfare State Policies

Arts

2020 Semester One (1203) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Examines the differing origins and possible futures of welfare states. Using a range of theoretical viewpoints, the course considers the historical shift from a Keynesian welfare state to a neo-liberal state and questions whether recent ‘Third Way’ policies provide a solution to future welfare needs. The course is comparative, but will concentrate mostly on Aotearoa New Zealand.

Course Overview

Have you ever wondered why policies do not reflect the needs of  your family or your community?  Have you considered why some policies are reformed significantly when there is a change of government after an election, while others remain the same (even when you might consider them to be 'bad' policies)?   Do you ever wonder if policy is better overseas and if other countries do a better job of meeting their citizens' needs?

This course examines change in policies across time, considering both why welfare states developed in the first place (if somewhat differently across different types of countries) and how they have had to adapt to changing economic, political and social contexts.  We consider, to some degree, the effectiveness (or not) of current policies.  Finally, we consider how we might change current policies, by considering whether they focus on the right understanding of the 'problem', whether they reflect the values and needs of all New Zealanders and by comparing with how other countries deal with similar policy problems.  

At the end of the course you should have gained knowledge and understanding about: 
  •     Where the New Zealand welfare state is situated in comparison with other countries; 
  •     The historical development of the welfare state in New Zealand and internationally;
  •     The ways that differences in the values driving welfare states maintain or challenge gendered and racialised    assumptions, impact upon citizens and citizenship and reflect different political perspectives and institutional histories.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in International Relations and Business or Sociology, or SOCSCIPH 200

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Critically reflect on and synthesise concepts and ideas from a wide range of academic and other relevant sources (Capability 1.1, 1.3, 2.1 and 2.2)
  2. Construct and present appropriate arguments about policy issues (Capability 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
  3. Develop comparative policy analysis skills across different policy areas, time periods and across different countries (Capability 1.3 and 6.2)
  4. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the gendered and racialised basis of and ongoing impacts of welfare state policies (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 6.1 and 6.3)
  5. Identify possible alternatives to welfare state policies that could better reflect the gendered and racialised realities of citizens in Aotearoa New Zealand (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 6.1 and 6.2)
  6. Demonstrate knowledge and course content through multiple mediums (reading responses, policy briefing essay, discussion in class, exam) (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 5.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Reading responses 20% Individual Coursework
Policy briefing 30% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 50% Individual Examination
Plussage will not be applied, requiring students to perform the best they can in each assignment.

There are no minimum pass mark requirements for any specific assignment but it is extremely difficult to pass the course overall if all assignments AND the exam are not completed - this includes the regular reading response assignments. 

Please contact Louise Humpage immediately if you face any barriers in attending class regularly, thus hindering your ability to meet the course requirements.

Next offered

Semester 1. 2020.

Learning Resources

There will be a course reader available through Canvas

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 2 hours of lectures, a 1 hour tutorial, 2 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 5 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation per week.  

Note that the two hour teaching block will consist of one hour lecture and one hour tutorial/interactive teaching then the separate hour is a lecture.  This is purposely organised to encourage students to attend the tutorial hour to submit reading responses and to gain the benefit of discussion and assignment preparation that goes on there.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Tutorial hours (ie the second hour of the two-hour teaching block) will NOT be recorded so students should attend to gain benefit from this interactive hour.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

All written assignments will be run through Turnitin to check for plagiarism.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page (https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894), which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 20/12/2019 03:12 p.m.