What can I accomplish with an MA in social policy?

An MA in Social Policy is for individuals who want to improve society for the better. As part of it, you will learn about different social problems such as substance use, crime, poverty, and inequality.

The 21^st century ushered in a new era of innovation, communication, creativity, critical thinking, technological advances, and globalisation. However, it also saw discord, environmental deterioration, and inequality, among other issues.

There is an increasing recognition that not all societies are just and treat citizens equally, or even operate in a way that is beneficial to its citizens. To this end, it is the government and institutional agencies’ responsibilities to create policies that benefit all citizens in an equal fashion and promote the betterment of society. One way of doing that is by paying attention to its social policies.

What is social policy?

Social policy is about understanding and improving social conditions by practical policies. It considers demographics, economics, technology, and even culture; it’s informed by ethics and politics to create the right activities and guidelines for the welfare of citizens.

Social policy is important as it forms the core through which the government and institutional agencies stay informed on social issues, create a positive influence on people, and distribute resources equally and effectively. It informs for policies on welfare, equality, pensions, and social protection.

How does it differ from public policy?

Social policy is different from public policy in that public policy is government actions for non-social issues that affect citizens such as taxation and energy loss.

Social policy exclusively tackles social problems such as disparity in access to healthcare, homelessness, and migration.

What would a career in social policy look like?

Social policy is very different from social work. In the latter, people usually work directly with people (especially those considered susceptible to vulnerability) to tackle issues like mental health care or family crises to improve standards of living.

Those who work in the field of social policy usually do a lot of research and use the results to create, analyse, and improve current social policies. They can work in the public, private, or not-for-profit sector, and even on a voluntary basis.

The line of work is especially beneficial for those who work in certain areas like business, health, research consultancies, or social services and want to continue in such industries. Those that work in social policy are adept in handling sensitive and complex social problems that people face around the world.

Why should I do an MA in Social Policy?

An MA in Social Policy is for individuals who want to improve society for the better. As part of it, you will learn about different social problems such as substance use, crime, poverty, and inequality. It will help you delve deep into root causes to create solutions and policies that address them, thus helping address specific issues that plague society.

The University of Central Lancashire offers a part-time, online MA in Social Policy that can be accessed from anywhere in the world. As part of this flexible MA, students learn from experienced academics to gain the necessary skills to tackle contemporary issues and thrive in this field.

By the time you finish this course you will be able to identify, examine, and critically analyse research and data of social policy issues; conduct and report your own social policy research; and most importantly, identify the causes and routes of social issues and target them directly with appropriate solutions.

If you’re interested in bettering your community and improving human welfare, learn more about UCLan’s MA in Social Policy: