Moas båge

Historical and international perspectives on the welfare state

Course

Welfare Policy and Social Care

7.5 credits

Autumn / Spring

100%

Campus

This undergraduate course examines important concepts in social policy and social care, concentrating on the focus, goals and legitimacy of Swedish welfare policy. It considers these from international and comparative perspectives, as well as examining the development of the Swedish welfare state and the challenges it now faces.

This course is only open for exchange students.

Want to know why you should study at Södertörn University? Find out here.

Develop a skill set to help prevent social vulnerability A degree in Social Work offers a wide range of opportunities on the labour market. For example, you can work in municipal social services, healthcare, schools, child psychiatry and the prison system. Your expertise will also be useful in other workplaces, such as housing companies, labour market organisations and the voluntary sector. A degree that focuses on social issues offers you the opportunity make a difference to society.
Considering social policy, from individuals to the global perspective On this course, you will study Swedish welfare policy and its importance for the social care of elderly people and people with disabilities, as well as considering how social care is organised from historical and international perspectives. There is a particular emphasis on social care as it relates to class, ethnicity and gender. Norms and normality in social work are another focus area, which is related to the social care of people with disabilities. The course also offers opportunities to reflect on how the design of welfare policy affects social vulnerability, and how globalisation may affect the challenges and opportunities of the welfare state. Teaching is conducted through lectures and seminars, including a guest lecture. There is a written examination at the end of the course. The class is divided into three seminar groups, each comprising four work groups.
Work with people and make a difference for individuals and for society As a subject, Social Work involves studying social vulnerability, including its causes and consequences for individuals, groups and societies. The subject also focuses on studies of social work in practice, with interventions at individual, organisational and societal levels. At Södertörn University, Social Work is interdisciplinary, which means it includes other subjects. You will also study sociology, political science, public law, psychology and epidemiology as part of Social Work. There is a focus on urban issues, corresponding to the focus of the degree programme, Social Work, Urban Profile. Other themes include children and young adults, schools and civil society. You will investigate studies of measures that aim to lessen, eradicate and prevent social vulnerability.