Sociology: Social Problems and Social Policy

Social Problems and Social Policy offers students an insight into the ways in which social problems are defined and tackled within welfare states.

Social Problems and Social Policy combines a broad foundation of sociological theory and research methods training with a more specific focus on the construction of social problems and attempts by policymakers to solve these. The different components of the programme combine to enhance your skills in applying social theory to deconstruct contemporary social issues from a range of critical perspectives.

The distinctive qualities of the programme are in its combining of constructionist perspectives with applied, case-oriented approaches to evaluate policy effectiveness. In linking these two approaches, the course enables you to develop critically incisive yet practical and applied insights into a range of contemporary problems and policy approaches. More specialised courses include those focusing on pertinent themes of active citizenship or vulnerable groups, alongside a more comparative approach to European welfare states, industrial relations and labour market policies.