Personal lives and social policy
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How has social policy influenced ideas and values about parenthood? How far can we legitimise locking children in secure accommodation in order to ‘care’ for them? How have ‘welfare to work’ initiatives changed the meaning of ‘work’ in social policy? How does social policy construct the lives of refugees and asylum seekers? This course uses four key themes – Sexualities, Care, Work, and Citizenship – to explore how individuals shape and are shaped by policy making and welfare practices and how social policy is organised, represented and experienced - opening up challenging questions about the policymaking process both in the past and in contemporary society.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course in Psychology and Social Sciences.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | DD305 |
| Credits | 60 |
| OU Level | 3 |
| SCQF level | 10 |
| FHEQ level | 6 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 6 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| No residential school |
Register for the course
This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees and financial support may vary by country.
What you will study
The course offers an imaginative and innovative perspective on the role played by social policy in society today through its core concepts of the personal, social policy and their mutual constitution – investigating marginalised issues, such as disability and sexuality, as well as ‘taken for granted’ topics, like women’s caring roles, highlighting their meanings in welfare practices and discourses.
Its approach is to explore the course themes across theoretical frameworks – post-structuralism, feminism, Marxism, psychoanalysis and the post-colonial – in order to critically evaluate particular concerns and debates. Students are also encouraged to reflect on their own experiences of welfare (as well as analysing representations by other individuals and groups) through assignments which employ a variety of formats such as explorations of autobiographical accounts, as well as more conventional essays. A clear emphasis on the evaluation of research evidence runs throughout and there are opportunities to consolidate and develop skills in analysing visual, numerical and printed data from a range of historical and contemporary sources. To gain greater insights and develop hands-on research skills, students are supported in undertaking a small piece of independent research consisting of two semi-structured interviews after reflecting on an initial interviewing experience.
DD305 adopts an interdisciplinary approach that is designed to be of interest and relevance to students planning Level 3 study in social policy. In addition, it is likely to be of interest to students in other social science disciplines including sociology and psychology, as well as those in the Faculty of Education and Language Studies. It has also been designed to encourage and facilitate entry to masters level study.
Vocational relevance
This course has relevance to a wide range of employment since it offers students the opportunity to develop transferable skills, such as report writing and interviewing, and will help you plan and design your own work. It would be most valuable for people who work, or want to work, in social welfare, health care or public service settings such as the criminal justice system and various voluntary organisations. The skills developed through the course are also relevant to administration and management in the commercial and service sectors.
Entry
This is a Level 3 course. Level 3 courses build on study skills and subject knowledge acquired from previous studies at Levels 1 and 2. They are intended only for students who have recent experience of higher education in a related subject.
This course that aims to provide a clear progression from our key introductory Level 1 course Introducing the social sciences (DD101) and the Level 2 course Welfare, crime and society (DD208).
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
The written study material is available in comb-bound format. Written transcripts are available for the audio-visual material. The printed study materials are available in the DAISY Digital Talking Book format. You will need to spend considerable amounts of time using a personal computer and the internet during some sections of the course. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publication Meeting Your Needs.
You can also find information about accessible study materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Study materials
What's included
Course books, other printed materials, CDs, DVDs, website.
You will need
A portable audio cassette recorder and microphone or other recording equipment for recording interviews.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave. Some of your course software will be provided on disk.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new Windows computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual. Please note that you cannot use an Apple Mac or Linux computer unless it is running Windows using Boot Camp or similar dual-boot system.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material, mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. We may also be able to offer group tutorials or day schools that you are encouraged, but not obliged, to attend. Where your tutorials are held will depend on the distribution of students taking the course.
Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You will be expected to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper.
Professional recognition
This course may help you to gain recognition from a professional body.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in October 2012. We expect it to be available once a year.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course in Psychology and Social Sciences.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | DD305 |
| Credits | 60 |
| OU Level | 3 |
| SCQF level | 10 |
| FHEQ level | 6 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 6 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| No residential school |
Study explained
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.
Student Reviews
I chose this course apprehensively as a Level 3 top-up for my degree. I found it difficult at first to ...
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This course was quite demanding with lots of reading so be prepared! I took this course as part of the ...
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Your questions
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Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90+44(0) 845 366 60 35
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