Social Policy is an interdisciplinary and applied academic subject concerning human needs, social justice and individual and collective wellbeing. It studies how governments, families, companies and organisations in different social sectors distribute and redistribute resources and opportunities to people from different socio-economic backgrounds.
See the Social Policy Association’s introduction to Social Policy below (subtitles appear behind play bar).
The videos below provide more information about the study of social policy.
Social policy can be theorised, evaluated, and prescribed from a number of different perspectives, each with its own ideology. This video describes some of these approaches.
The Quality Assurance Agency subject benchmark statement describes the nature of social policy as a subject, and sets out what social policy graduates can be expected to know, do and understand at the end of their studies.
Social Policy draws on a wide range of disciplines with research being undertaken across the UK and internationally. Much of this research has a significant impact on the policy and practice of institutions but also on the lives and outcomes of individuals and communities.
Click here for a range of examples of Social Policy Research projects.