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Foundations of Social Policy (SOCI90011)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
Contact information
March
Dr Aaron Hart: harta2@unimelb.edu.au
Professor Lyn Craig: lyn.craig@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
| Availability | March - On Campus |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
The subject introduces students to social policy and provides a foundation for future inquiry. Students explore historical and contemporary welfare frameworks, concepts of social equity and theories of care. The subject captures different welfare approaches from the global north and south, and actively engages students in the steps of policy making and reform. Students also consider innovative responses to complex disadvantage and exclusion that are more inclusive, deliberative and devolved. These models include social impact bonds, place-based approaches and co-design/co-production. Through a combination of theoretical analysis and practical application, the subject prepares students to contribute to social policy development and implementation.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Formulate a policy topic by determining an appropriate scope and contextualising it with the broader social policy landscape.
- Analyse policy advocacy documents, identifying and evaluating policy recommendations
- Analyse a policy topic, identifying competing definitions, policy actors, limitations and other strategic social policy content
- Develop a policy submission from a perspective of a relevant stakeholder, informed by social policy theories and relevant frameworks.
Generic skills
On completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Apply research skills and critical methods to a field of inquiry
- Develop persuasive arguments
- Communicate oral and written arguments and ideas effectively and articulately.
Last updated: 19 November 2025