6 ECTS credits
166 h study time
Offer 2 with catalog number 1002486BER for all students in the 1st semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.
This course has two general objectives: (1) To provide an introduction to the sociology of social policy and the welfare state and (2) to frame specific provisions and policy measures in the Belgian and Flemish field of welfare and social protection within the broader picture of developments and problems of the welfare state.
The welfare state and related perspectives and debates will be analysed in a sociological manner. Students will be introduced to crucial concepts and principles. In doing so they will acquire insight into the major theoretical and ideological perspectives on the welfare state, as well as the critiques to the traditional 20th century welfare state model. The historical development of the post-war welfare state model will be discussed, including its development, high days, crisis and restructuring. Moreover the welfare state shall be approached as a social scientific research object, paying attention to decision-making, provisions and outcomes. The students get introduced to the variations in welfare state regimes and will get acquainted with the actors and institutions of the Belgian consultation model. In addition, the students will be presented an overview of the Belgian and Flemish landscape of welfare state and social provisions. Finally, one or more cases of specific welfare state provisions/domains will be considered in more detail. These case studies consist of the analysis of a specific sector or target population of the welfare state, but shall be related to the earlier discussed theoretical perspectives and evolutions in the welfare state. In that way, general principles, policy tendencies and challenges will be related to concrete provisions and policy measures.
Lectures are combined by interactive discussion sessions on the basis of reading assignments, or discussion topics that were prepared by the students. Regarding the case studies, also a guest lecture or an excursion is possible. Besides, a writing assignment will be given to the students. For that assignment coaching is foreseen during contact moments.
The learning content is integrally described in a syllabus.
Slides for each class are available on Canvas, to be amended with personal notes.
A reader with relevant chapters and articles will be made available in pdf Canvas.
The slides and notes can be amended with background information from the reader (not mandatory).
The students have knowledge about the basic terminology in the field of welfare state sociology.
The students understand how current challenges and problems of the welfare state are related to the historical development of the welfare state and other social processes.
The students are able to apply general insights and principles to the challenges and problems related to specific social protection and welfare state provisions.
The students are able to critically assess a specific welfare state or social provision or policy measure.
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 70% of the final mark.
Other Exam determines 30% of the final mark.
Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Participation during the lectures;
Assignment: paper;
Oral examination.
Further details on the evaluation procedure will be explained in the course outline. This course outline is posted on the learning platform, Canvas.
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Adult Education: Profile Social Studies (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Adult Education: Abridged Profile Social Studies (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Philosophy and Moral Sciences: default (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Political Science and Sociology: - afstudeerrichting sociologie, minor politieke wetenschappen (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Political Science and Sociology: - afstudeerrichting sociologie, minor communicatiewetenschappen (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Political Science and Sociology: - afstudeerrichting sociologie, minor criminologische wetenschappen (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Political Science and Sociology: - afstudeerrichting sociologie, minor geschiedenis (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Political Science and Sociology: - afstudeerrichting sociologie, minor sociale geografie (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Political Science and Sociology: - afstudeerrichting sociologie, minor organisatie en beleid (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Political Science and Sociology: - afstudeerrichting sociologie, minor antropologie (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Political Science and Sociology: - afstudeerrichting sociologie, minor samenleving en cultuur (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Political Science and Sociology: - afstudeerrichting sociologie, minor management en beleid van de gezondheidszorg (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Political Science and Sociology: - afstudeerrichting sociologie, minor management, zorg en beleid in de gerontologie (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Political Science and Sociology: - afstudeerrichting sociologie, minor onderwijs (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Criminology: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Bridging Programme Master of Science in Sociology: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Preparatory Programme Master of Science in Sociology: Default track (only offered in Dutch)