Course objectives

The topics are part of the minimum content of the education of social workers in the field of social policy. The aim of the course is to clarify theories of social policy in their aspects. The concept of instruction is based on a description of the fulfilling of general socio-political objectives on various stages of the European civilization. Individual theories of the welfare state and social policy measures in the context of development of the society, the European Union and the Czech Republic are presented here. Students develop basic knowledge of the theory of social policy, in particular the processes of implementation, the objectives and functions of social policy in the Czech Republic, they obtain knowledge of the functioning of the various areas of social policy and their consistency with other realms of public policy and administration. After passing the course, students obtain a comprehensive view on the status and development of the theory of social policy. The aim is to create a theoretical and practical basis for further study of applied disciplines of the studied subject. An integral part of the subject are complementary seminars. Study Outcomes: Professional Knowledge: Students acquire and demonstrate knowledge of the basic concepts, principles, functions and knowledge of social policy. Professional Skills: The student demonstrates the ability to find detailed information about social terminology, principles and knowledge in the relevant literature. They are able to integrate the acquired knowledge to the needs of the practice in the field. General Qualification: Students can apply key information, i.e. the concepts, principles and knowledge in interpreting their own position of a social worker and of their employer organizations in the social services system and in the society, in the interpretation of the situation of their clients and in the interpretation of the conditions of meeting the needs of people and the conditions of implementation of citizen social rights. At the same time, the methods of the course will encourage the development of critical thinking, creativity and the students' ability to make decisions independently and responsibly.