Sociology for Social Work

Overview

General: This module builds on learning achieved in Semester 1 and applies knowledge from the social sciences to social work practice.

Specific: This module will introduce students to the discipline of sociology and help them explore their relevance to social work practice. Key themes include (i) poverty, social security, housing, political conflict in Northern Ireland (ii) family life, gender, crime, globalisation, (iii) psychological perspectives on human development and behaviour through the lifecycle. These perspectives will be used to explore the complex nature of social work with individuals, families communities.
A particular feature of the module will be teaching on the relationships between social work and the conflict in Northern Ireland.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the module students should have:
•
Developed a critical understanding of the contested nature of the social sciences.
Gain a knowledge and understanding of key concepts from the social sciences
Developed the ability to apply these key concepts to social work practice scenarios.

Skills

By the end of the module students will have skills in self directed learning, using critical analysis to explore the relationship between theory and practice and presenting arguments in small group teaching/seminars.

Assessment

None