Social Politics Internship

Center:

Salamanca

Program(s):

Salamanca - Study in Salamanca [1]

Discipline(s):

Political Science

Sociology

Course code:

PO/SO 395

Terms offered:

Fall

Credits:

Language of instruction:

Spanish

Instructor:

IES Abroad Salamanca Faculty

Description:

This course is intended to give students a global vision of social policies with special reference to Spain and Europe through current issues in which social policies present themselves in social realities.

Learning outcomes:

By the end of the course, students are able to:

Acquire a global overview of the discipline.
Acquire a critical vision of social policies.
Have knowledge of the basics and theories of social policies. Develop resources to analyze social realities.
Understand the object of social policies, as well as their mechanisms of operation and means of foresight.
Have knowledge of the most vulnerable people groups and how social policies are applied during changing processes.
Have knowledge of social policies in Spain and in the European frame in order to better comprehend social foresight.

Method of presentation:

Lectures at the University of Salamanca: The instructor will facilitate space for reflection and analysis through a participatory and interactive classroom format. Technological media will be used in the classroom in order to facilitate a better comprehension of the course contents. (20 Contact Hours)

Internship with an organization or institution directly involved in the development and execution of social policies: Students will be placed in local, national or international institutions/organizations which have pre-arranged an agreement with IES Abroad. Internships allow the students to experience, analyze, and evaluate different social realities as well as confront social policies on a local level to understand needs for intervention. Each student will be assigned a supervisor within his or her placement to act as a guide as students adapt to the culture of the organization. Supervisors will meet with students before the internship begins to impart information regarding the organization and
will update the instructor of the students’ progress periodically throughout the internship. Students will intern for 90 hours total.

Required work and form of assessment:

Journal: Students will keep a journal of their individual internship experience, which demonstrates their understanding of theories and practices discussed in class. Students will present their reflections orally at the conclusion of the course. (30%)
Classroom Assignments and Activities (15%)
Participation: Participation and enthusiasm on the student’s part will also be taken into account in the
final grade. (15%)
Internship: Supervisors will assess the students’ willingness and ability to apply their expanding knowledge base to their internship. (25%)
Presentation: (15%)

content:

1: Introduction
-The State of Well-being model (week 1)
-Spanish Constitution of 1978 (week 1)
-European governmental structure (week 2)
-Globalization and its social repercussions (week 2)
2: Development of Social Policies
-Territorial organization of the Spanish State (week 3)
-Origin and development of social policies (week 4)
-Sustainability of public policies (week 5)
-European social policies (week 5)
3: Social Political Matters in a Legislative Frame
-Social and human rights (week 6)
-People groups in vulnerable situations (weeks 7 and 8)
4: Public System of Social Services
-Nature and articulation of Social Services (week 9)
-Characteristics and profile of resources (week 10)
-Social networks and their operation (week 10)
5: Participation of the Individual in Social Political Development
-Socio-economic issues of the Third Sector (week 11)
-Organizations and companies with social initiatives (week 12)
-Volunteer work (week 12)

Required readings:

Estefania, J. La nueva economía. La globalización. Debate: Madrid, 1990.
Fernandez Garcia, T. Ares, A. Servicios Sociales. Alianza: Madrid, 2002.
Pico, J. Teorías sobre el Estado del Bienestar. Siglo XXI: Madrid, 1998.
Stiglitz, J. El malestar de la globalización. Debate: Madrid, 2002.
Tzveten, T. El miedo a los bárbaros. Galaxia Gutemberg: Barcelona, 2008.

(Students will be given documents pertaining to the laws and regulations of social policies in force in
Spain once the course has begun.)