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for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.
| Unit name |
Social Policy and the Environment |
| Unit code |
SPOL22032 |
| Credit points |
20 |
| Level of study |
I/5
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
|
| Unit director |
Dr. Sweeting |
| Open unit status |
Open |
| Pre-requisites |
None
|
| Co-requisites |
None
|
| School/department |
School for Policy Studies |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Description including Unit Aims
This unit examines the links between the environmental issues, social policy, and the policy making process. It explores the ways that the environment is increasingly being seen as a social policy issue relevant to human need and welfare, and examines connections between the environment and poverty. It also explores topics such as the particular characteristics of environmental issues that face policy-makers in making environmental policy, such as the way that environmental issues cross boundaries and generation, and the nature of environmental goods that impact on behaviour relating to them. Sessions include environmental justice, risk, rational choice, environmental citizenship, transport, and waste.
The unit aims are:
- to explore the significance of the environment to social policy and policy-making;
- to analyse concepts relevant to the environment and social policy, including environmental citizenship and environmental justice;
- to examine of the nature of environmental issues that are relevant to policy-making, including collective action problems and public goods
By the end of the unit, students will:
- understand the importance of the environment to social policy;
- be able to give an account of how social policy concepts can be applied to the environment;
- recognise the particular characteristics of the environmental policy-making
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the unit, students will:
- understand the importance of the environment to social policy;
- be able to give an account of how social policy concepts can be applied to the environment;
- recognise the particular characteristics of the environmental policy-making
Teaching Information
Lectures & Seminars.
Assessment Information
Coursework plus 3000 word essay, assessed against published marking criteria for that level (Social Policy Programme handbook)
Reading and References
- Fitzpatrick, T. (ed) (2011) Understanding the environment and social policy. Bristol: The Policy Press
- Cahill, Michael (2001) The environment and social policy. London: Routledge,
- Roberts, J. (2009) Environmental policy. 2nd ed. London: Routledge
- Carter, N. (2007) The politics of the environment. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
- Snell, C. and Haq, G. (2014) The short guide to environmental policy. Bristol: The Policy Press.
