MA in Social Policy and Social Justice (Online)

Program Overview

The MSocSc in Social Policy and Social Justice is a one-year full-time or two to three-year part-time online program equipping students with advanced knowledge and skills in social policy and social justice, fostering empathy, courage, and hope for positive social change. The program provides a flexible and blended learning approach, offering core modules in equality, diversity, social research, and social policy, complemented by elective modules exploring specialized topics such as sustainability, migration, and childhood and youth. Graduates gain the knowledge and competencies to advance social inclusion, contribute to policy design, and inspire others, opening up meaningful career pathways in government, non-profit sectors, and beyond.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The MSocSc Social Policy and Social Justice is a one-year full-time or two to three-year part-time online program designed for individuals passionate about social change and committed to working towards a more just and inclusive future. The program encourages creative thinking about complex social issues, examining key social policy concepts, welfare state ideologies, and critical perspectives on justice, citizenship, and solidarity. It explores issues related to race and ethnicity, religion, age, genders and sexualities, and class, and develops students' capacities to work with marginalized social groups to promote social justice, human rights, and social inclusion. The program also provides specialist knowledge on themes such as sustainability and climate justice, disability and mental health, migration and mobilities, childhood and youth, and creativity and well-being. Students will develop valuable social research skills, with support from academic advisors, for planning and conducting ethical, robust, and thoughtful research that promotes social justice and advances social policy analysis. The program welcomes applicants who remain empathetic, courageous, and hopeful in an increasingly polarized society.

Outline:

The program is structured into two parts:

Part I:

• Core Modules:
• SS6809 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Awareness (10 credits)
• SS6811 Social Research: Methodology and Ethics (10 credits)
• SS6812 Social Policy and Social Justice (10 credits)
• Elective Modules:
• Choose three modules from the following:
• SS6814 Disability, Mental Health and Social Justice (10 credits)
• SS6815 Sustainability, Climate Justice and Eco-Social Policies (10 credits)
• SS6816 Migration, Mobilities and Social Policy (10 credits)
• SS6817 Childhood, Youth and Society (10 credits)
• SS6818 Culture, Creativity, Well-being and Social Justice (10 credits)

Part II:

• SS6813 Dissertation in Social Policy and Social Justice (30 credits)

Assessment:

The program utilizes a variety of assessment methods, including:

• Continuous assessment portfolios: Showcase diverse skills in articulating social policy and social justice-oriented arguments and analyses in various forms, such as short reflection exercises, policy reports, critical reading exercises, and essays.
• Formative (ungraded) assessments: Promote student development and peer engagement through participation in group discussions, peer review exercises, presentations, and collaborative projects.

Teaching:

The MSocSc Social Policy and Social Justice is delivered online, offering flexibility for students with employment and care responsibilities. The program utilizes a blended learning approach, including:

• Short lectures: Provide foundational knowledge and introduce key concepts.
• Assigned readings: Encourage in-depth exploration of relevant topics.
• Activities: Engage students in active learning and application of concepts.
• Small group sessions: Facilitate interactive discussions and collaborative learning.
• Online discussions: Foster peer-to-peer learning and exchange of ideas.

Careers:

Graduates of the MSocSc Social Policy and Social Justice program will gain a critical understanding of social policy and social justice issues, including advanced knowledge in specialized topics. They will develop advanced analytical, writing, communication, planning, collaboration, negotiation, and leadership skills, which will inform a purpose-driven, empathetic, and creative approach to problem-solving. These human-centric skills are highly sought after in the contemporary and future workplace. The program opens up exciting, meaningful, and impactful career pathways. Graduates typically find employment in:

• Government: Local and national levels.
• Non-profit sectors: Policy organizations, research institutions, human rights organizations, NGOs, and advocacy groups.

Other:

The program emphasizes the importance of:

• Empathy: Fostering understanding and connection with marginalized social groups.
• Courage: Challenging existing power structures and advocating for social justice.
• Hope: Maintaining a positive outlook and belief in the possibility of positive social change.
The program is designed to equip students with the competencies to:
• Foster social inclusion: Promote equality and equity for all members of society.
• Motivate and inspire others: Through reflection and social action.
• Analyze and design social policies: Contribute to positive social change.
The program is unique in its:
• Flexibility: Allowing students to complete the program over a one to three-year period at a pace that suits them.
• Curriculum: Developed by a diverse group of academics who are experts in the field of social policy and whose internationally recognized research informs the course content, alongside contributions from community-based practitioners and service users.
• Combination of modules: Addressing critical contemporary societal challenges.
• Creative assessment practices: Fostering capabilities to contribute to positive social action, professional social justice-oriented policy-making and practice, and high-quality social research.