Online
Supplementary courses
10 CATS points
Regular fees: 300 GBP
This course offers an introduction to social policy and the comparative study of welfare states. What is the ‘welfare state' and what functions does it serve? Why and how do welfare states vary across countries and over time? What are the biggest challenges that welfare states face in the 21st century?
This course discusses the origins, development and functions of welfares states in high-income countries. Taking an international comparative approach, the course discusses theories, empirical research and policy challenges in a range of different countries. What is ‘the welfare state' and what purpose does it serve? How can we measure and explain welfare state change? What are the key similarities and differences between welfare states in different countries? How are welfare states affected by changing family structures, labour markets, population ageing, and migration? The course will provide a comprehensive discussion of these and other questions thus enabling students to critically engage with public and scholarly debates in this field.
For information on how the courses work, and a link to our course demonstration site, please click here.
Programme details
Part I The Welfare State
1. The Study of Social Policy and the Welfare State
2. The Development of Welfare States
3. Worlds of Welfare: Typologies of Welfare States
4. Analysing Welfare State Change: From Retrenchment to Recalibration
5. New Social Risks
Part II New Challenges for the Welfare State
6. Globalisation and the Welfare State
7. Changing Family Structures and Family Policy
8. Changing Labour Markets
9. Population Ageing
10. Migration and the Welfare State
Recommended reading
To participate in the course you will need to have regular access to the Internet and you will need to buy the following book:
Pierson, C. and Castles, F. G. (eds.), 2013 (3rd edn) The Welfare State Reader, Cambridge, Polity
Certification
This course is accredited and you are expected to take the course for credit. To be awarded credit you must complete written contributions satisfactorily. Successful students will receive credit, awarded by the Board of Studies of Oxford University Department for Continuing Education. The award will take the form of 10 units of transferable credit at FHEQ level 4 of the Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS). A transcript detailing the credit will be issued to successful students. Assignments are not graded but are marked either pass or fail