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Social Policy – (B.Sc.)
London School of Economics and Political Science
Department of Social Policy| Application Deadline: | January 15 | ||
| Annual Tuition Fee: | ≈ € 3,847 - ≈ € 16,632 (non-EEA) | ||
| Location: | London / United Kingdom / View location on map ▾ Hide location on map ▴ | ||
| Duration: | 36 months | Start Date: | October |
| Educational Form: |
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| Education Variants: |
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| Credits (ECTS): | 180 | ||
| Languages: | English | ||
Location of London School of Economics and Political Science
Social policy is a diverse subject which examines the making and implementing of policy across a broad range of fields, including health care, education, housing, criminal justice, international development, social security and personal social services (such as child protection and care for the elderly and people with disabilities). It also covers issues that affect society in more general ways, including race and diversity, social exclusion, families, crime and deviance and urban regeneration. As part of the programme you will study social policy from an international and comparative perspective, looking at the influence of globalisation as well as national and local context.
The skills you will develop by studying social policy are attractive to a range of employers, though they do not prepare you for a specific career. Many students go on to take our higher level MSc programmes including Social Policy and Planning, Health Policy, NGOs and Development and Criminal Justice Policy. Others have entered professional fields such as law, accountancy and personnel management or gone into the civil service, local government, health policy and planning, education, the voluntary sector as well as the international community, journalism, politics and pressure group activities.
Features of LSE courses
Social policy is a vibrant subject at LSE, taught by many leading experts in the field. People in the Department are broadly interested in what we should do to ensure the wellbeing of ourselves and others. How far do we have a responsibility as individuals to provide for ourselves? What should governments, employers, voluntary organisations and families do? Who gets what in our society and in other societies, why and what issues does it raise?
You will study policies and measures at many different levels: local, national and international, and in many different kinds of organisation: central government agencies; international organisations; local authorities and health authorities; non-profit bodies like housing associations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and charities; private businesses which have contracts to supply services; and informal networks of mutual aid such as those based on families and neighbourhoods.
We examine the making of legislation, such as Acts of Parliament, European Union Directives and international instruments, and the taking of public expenditure decisions, for example, in UK central government and local authorities. Another concern is how members of different groups within society - such as those defined by gender, social class and ethnicity - are affected by policies and measures.
There is a strong critical and evaluative component in the degree, and you will examine ethical considerations and the effectiveness of social provision.
The programme includes a comparative dimension, which includes, but moves beyond, the traditional focus on Europe and other industrialised societies to consider developing and transitional contexts.
Contents
First year:
* Foundations of Social Policy
* LSE100 (Lent Term only)
Two of the following:
* Sociology and Social Policy
* Population, Economy and Society
* Social Economics and Policy
* Crime and Society
Plus:
* One outside option
Second year:
* Principles of Social Policy
* Research Methods for Social Policy
* One social policy option
* LSE100 (Michaelmas Term only)
* Either one social policy option or one outside option
Third year:
* Comparative and International Social Policy
* A Long Essay on an approved topic
* One social policy option
* Either one social policy option or one outside option
First year
The core course, Foundations of Social Policy, gives you a framework for understanding how and why societies have developed a variety of institutional arrangements to provide for their social welfare needs, focusing on key developments in Britain since the nineteenth century, but within a comparative perspective. Your second and third first year courses may be chosen from the following: Sociology and Social Policy, which will give you an introduction to sociology and applies sociological perspectives to social policy fields and issues; Social Economics and Policy, which provides an introduction to economics and its application to social policy; Population, Economy and Society, which will give you an introduction to demography and the consequences of demographic change for social policy; Crime and Society, which provides an introduction to criminology and to key issues relating to crime and social policy.
You may choose your fourth course from the wide range of options available in other departments, but students are encouraged to choose courses that introduce them to one of several social science approaches that have relevance to the study of social policy.
Second and third years
There are two compulsory courses in the second year. Principles of Social Policy examines the ends and means of social policies with reference to statutory and non statutory forms of provision within a comparative framework. Research Methods for Social Policy will give you a comprehensive introduction to methods of social research with a statistical emphasis. You choose your final two courses from the options available throughout LSE - at least one must be a social policy course.
The third year core course, Comparative and International Social Policy, examines the distinct challenges of welfare provision faced by countries from across Europe and the developing world. You will also complete a long essay on a relevant topic, giving you the opportunity to explore an area which interests you in some depth.
You choose your final two courses from the options available throughout LSE - at least one must be a social policy course.
Options
This list shows the range of social policy options available in the second and third years. Some will be taught every year, some in alternate years, depending on demand.
† If not already taken
* Sociology and Social Policy †
* Population, Economy and Society †
* Social Economics and Policy †
* Crime and Society †
* Education Policy
* European Social Policy
* Psychology of Crime and Criminal Justice
* Criminological Perspectives
* Poverty, Social Exclusion and Social Change
* Demographic Description and Analysis
* Criminal Justice Policy
IELTS
You are normally required to take an English Proficiency Test.
Most European Universities recognise the IELTS test.
Take testRequirements
Course requirement: GCSE Mathematics, grade C or above
Usual standard offer: A level: grades A B BInternational Baccalaureate: Diploma with 37 points including 6 6 6 at Higher level
Other qualifications are considered.
English language requirements
Although it is not necessary to have the required grade in an acceptable English Language qualification when you make your application to LSE, if you are made an offer of a place and English is not your mother tongue, it is likely that you would be asked to obtain an acceptable English Language qualification as a condition of your offer.
The following qualifications are acceptable to LSE:
* GCSE English Language with a grade B or better.
* International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) English as a First Language with a grade B or better including the Speaking and Listening coursework component (Edexcel) or grade 2 in the optional speaking test (CIE).
* International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) academic test with a score of 7.0 in all four components.
* Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 627 in the paper test including 5.5 in writing and 50 in TSE, or 107 in the internet based test with a minimum of 25 out of 30 in each of the four skills.
* Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) with grade B or better.
* Cambridge Advanced Certificate of English (CACE) with a grade A.
* Cambridge English Language (1119) conducted overseas by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate: B4 or better.
* O level (1120 Brunei, 1125 Mauritius A, 1127 Singapore) grade B or better.
* Singapore Integrated Programme (IP) Secondary 4 English Language grade B or better.
* Pearson Test of English (General) with a distinction at level 5 in both the written and the oral test.
Exceptions
If students offer the IGCSE in English as a First Language or O level (other than those specified above) and have been educated in the medium of English during their five most recent years of study (prior to 1 September 2011), then we will accept the qualification as sufficient evidence of English Language proficiency.
Please note that test scores must be achieved from one sitting of the relevant qualification. We will not accept individual component scores from multiple tests
Additional Requirements
| Minimal degree required: | High School diploma |
| Minimal amount of work experience | Not specified |
Language Proficiency
| IELTS Band: | 7.0 |
| Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): | Grade A (Score: 80) |
| TOEFL Paper-based: | 627 |
| TOEFL Internet-based: | 107 |
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