German and Social Policy, MA (Hons)

Course summary

The German-speaking world has a fascinating social and political history. German and Social Policy makes an excellent joint honours choice by combining the study of:

• a modern language in its cultural, social and political context

• the distribution of welfare and wellbeing within societies, and the policies which influence that distribution

• option courses from a wide range of disciplines

GermanAcross all four years of our programme, including a year abroad, your studies will give you the chance to gain professional skills in all aspects of German, including:

• reading and listening

• writing and translating

• speaking and presenting

As well as language learning, you will also explore German-language literature, film and theatre. You will study these in the context of historical and political developments, from the eighteenth century to contemporary times.On joining us, beginners take our German 1A course. Students with substantial prior experience of learning the language typically take German 1B.By your final year, you will have developed the linguistic, critical and analytical skills to the standard of completing a dissertation or long essay. Social PolicyYou will focus on social and economic change, what causes it, and its consequences for society. Reflecting on how policies are developed, you will learn about the policy-making process in the UK. You will also study the influence of international bodies such as the EU and OECD.We deal with a wide array of policy areas, for example:

• health and welfare

• education and labour markets

• family and childhood

International comparative analyses are one of our main strengths, and we place a strong emphasis on providing our students with empirical research skills. Why EdinburghAs a world-leading festival and capital city, Edinburgh is a fantastic place to study a modern language in its cultural context and alongside social policy. We are unique in Scotland in offering students a full academic year abroad within the four-year honours programme, regardless of whether you spend the year studying or working. Our four-year programme is flexible. In Years 1 and 2, as well as your core subjects, you will choose option courses from a wide range of disciplines. You will then specialise as you progress through your honours years. When you graduate, you will have the combination of broad cultural education and specialist knowledge valued by employers worldwide.

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