Advanced Welfare, Inequality and Mobility

Course content

This is a compulsory course for the course package "Welfare inequality and Mobility"

This specialization provides knowledge of the Danish welfare model and policy, including knowledge of this model's distinctive features in comparison with other models, and the challenges of increased globalization and individualization. Emphasis is placed on the distribution of welfare in relation to, inter alia, income, education, labor market attachment, health and consumption. Specialization provides knowledge about welfare at the individual level, across generations (eg social and economic mobility) and at the macro level (eg social cohesion). Specialization focuses on welfare distribution in relation to, inter alia, class, gender, age and ethnicity, as it deals with the consequences of failure welfare in different parts of the population. Specialization discusses relations between welfare and labour market models in Denmark and in other countries. Specialization focuses on analyzing conditions and living conditions of both the so-called standard population and for vulnerable groups such as the poor, long-term unemployed and socially marginalized families and individuals. The teaching focuses on understanding how social factors affect communities and individuals' welfare , and how individual circumstances and choices can affect the situation of each person or group is in. The specialization offers insights into how specific welfare policies affect people's living conditions, and how the ' system' meets public/users in various forms of welfare provision

Education

Mandatory MA course 1. Semester

 

The course is open to:

  • Exchange and Guest students from abroad, at both bachelor and master level
  • Credit students from Danish Universities, at master level

 

Specialisation line/course package:
Welfare, Inequality and Mobility

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

  • the core sociological research literature within the thematic field of Welfare, Inequality and Mobility
  • the Danish welfare system, including the labour market, welfare institutions, educational systems, mobility patterns and other central areas within the welfare area.

 

Skill:

  • thoroughly compare and contrast key theoretical perspectives that are central to the wider MA specialization in Welfare, Inequality and Mobility
  • identify significant historical and contemporary developments in the field
  • identify and distinguish between different types of welfare models
  • make comparative analyses with reference to different societies, including labour markets, social stratification, welfare state models, types of social benefit systems, institutions etc.. 

 

Competences:

  • applying central concepts from the literature
  • making theoretical and comparative embedded inquiries into issues within the thematic field of Welfare, Inequality and Mobility.

Teaching will be organised as lectures combined with different types of studentpresentation. Students are expected to work on minor assigments during the course. A high level of studentinvolvement is expected.

A Readear plus material posted via Absalon. The curriculum will contain around 1400 pages.

Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
ECTS
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Home assignment
Oral examination
Type of assessment details
Written Home Assignment with oral defence examination.

Individual or group.

The students are required to formulate their own exam questions based on pre-defined guidelines provided by the teacher. The teacher is required to provide at least two exemplary exam questions that adhere to the guidelines.

Max. 20 pages + 10 pages pr extra groupmember.
Aid
Only certain aids allowed (see description below)

For oral exams with a synopsis and home assignments with an oral exam, the student may bring a printed copy of their synopsis or submission to the exam. During the initial presentation, the student is allowed to use a presentation script or presentation slides. The examiner can approve additional material.

 

The Department of Sociology prohibits the use of generative AI software and large language models (AI/LLMs), such as ChatGPT, for generating novel and creative content in written exams. However, students may use AI/LLMs to enhance the presentation of their own original work, such as text editing, argument validation, or improving statistical programming code. Students must disclose in an appendix if and how AI/LLMs were used; this appendix will not count toward the page limit of the exam. This policy is in place to ensure that students’ written exams accurately reflect their own knowledge and understanding of the material. All students are required to include an AI declaration in their exam submissions regardless of whether they have used generative AI software or not. This declaration should be placed as the last page of the exam submission. Please note that the AI statement is not included in the calculation of the overall length of your assignment. The template for the AI statement can be found in the Digital Exam system and on the Study Pages on KUnet under “Written exam”. Exams that do not declare if and how AI/LLMs were used will be administratively rejected and counted as one exam attempt.

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Exam period

Exam information:

The examination date can be found in the exam schedule   here

The exact time and place will be available in Digital Exam from the middle of the semester. 

Re-exam

Reexam info:

The reexamination date/period can be found in the reexam schedule   here

 

Same as the ordinary exam.

Criteria for exam assessment

Please see learning outcome

  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 56
  • Preparation
  • 321
  • Exam
  • 35
  • English
  • 412

Kursusinformation

Language
English
Course number
ASOK15103U
ECTS
15 ECTS
Programme level
Full Degree Master
Duration

1 semester

Placement
Autumn
Capacity
Approx. 46 students
Studyboard
Department of Sociology, Study Council
Contracting department
  • Department of Sociology
Contracting faculty
  • Faculty of Social Sciences
Course Coordinators
  • Carsten Strøby Jensen   (3-67776e44777367326f7932686f)
  • Jesper Fels Birkelund   (6-766c803e3d404a6b767f77787338757f386e75)
Saved on the 09-05-2025

Are you BA- or KA-student?

Are you bachelor- or kandidat-student, then find the course in the course catalog for students:

Courseinformation of students