About the Department of Social Policy & Social Work
The Department of Social Policy & Social Work was established in 1966 and has grown to become one of the largest in the world of its type. It is one of the leading UK centres for teaching and research in social policy, social work, applied social science and professional development for public management. We pride ourselves on the calibre of our academic staff, the majority of whom have been assessed as either ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. We currently have 73 (67 FTE) academic staff and a further 24 (19 FTE) staff in managerial, professional and administrative roles.
We are a collegiate and research-intensive Department that also takes teaching and administration very seriously. We have a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes with real-world relevance, and are strongly committed to supporting our students throughout their degrees. We offer a stimulating teaching and research environment in an open, informal and friendly setting. The Department is pleased to welcome students and researchers from all over the world, as well as the UK.
Our reputation
The Department has been fully supported by the University in its aspirations to maintain and develop its research excellence and global reputation, playing an important role in the University as one of nine departments in the Faculty of Social Science. The social sciences at York have a world class standing and bring together one of the greatest concentrations of social science researchers in the UK, one of a handful of social science groupings which has secured two Queen’s Anniversary Prize Awards, one of which was awarded to the Social Policy Research Unit (SPRU) in recognition of the pioneering and high impact work it has led since its formation in 1973. There are excellent connections between Social Policy & Social Work and other Social Science departments such as, Education, Economics, Health Sciences, Law, Management, Politics and Sociology as well as with the sciences and Humanities.
In 2019 the Department moved into the world top ten and UK top five QS rankings, positioned 4th in the UK and 9th in the world. Published annually since 2011, the QS World University rankings by subject highlight the world’s top universities in a range of popular subject areas, covering 48 subjects in 2019. Universities are scored according to academic reputation, employer reputation and research impact.
Our Research
We have a large and thriving research community covering a diverse range of subjects that affect all aspects of society, both in the UK and abroad. We have identified seven key themes which underpin our Research Strategy:
- Applied criminal justice
- Applied health and social care
- Applied mental health social research
- Children, young people and families
- Comparative and global social policy
- Housing
- Welfare, employment and conditionality.
Our research increases knowledge and understanding of the world we live in and changes the way things work. We analyse complex human situations to find solutions to problems. We evaluate current systems and engage our expertise and the latest methods to improve them. We bring in knowledge from all around the globe to improve life here in the UK, often for the most vulnerable members of society. If you come to York you will join a world class research community with the highest ranking in the country for getting our research out to the people who need it and improving our society.
In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) we were placed 3rd overall for Social Work and Social Policy and equal first for research impact, with 54 per cent of our research activity rated as world leading. Research income generated by the Department is in excess of £2 million per annum.
Our Teaching
Our aim is to ensure our degree programmes are contemporary and at the cutting edge of public debate. Our external rating as one of the top Social Policy and Social Work departments in the country reflects our success in achieving that aim.
Building on the success of our research assessments and international standing of both the Department and University, we offer the opportunity to study within a centre of research excellence.
We are currently responsible for over 800 students, of whom around half are postgraduates. We currently offer six undergraduate degrees within the Department:
- BA (Hons) Applied Social Science
- BA (Hons) Social Policy, Children & Young People
- BA (Hons) Social Policy, Crime & Criminal Justice
- BA (Hons) Social Policy
- BA (Hons) Social Work
- MSocW (Hons) Social Work
In addition, we contribute to two jointly taught programmes:
- BA (Hons) Criminology (with the Department of Sociology)
- BA (Hons) Social and Political Sciences (with the departments of Politics and Sociology)
We currently offer 14 taught post-graduate degrees:
- MA Comparative and International Social Policy
- MA in Comparative and International Social Work
- MPA Comparative Applied Social and Public Policy, Evaluation and Research
- MA Global Crime and Justice
- MA Global Social Policy
- MA Public Policy and Management
- MPA Master of Public Administration
- MPA Master of Public Administration - International Development
- MA Social Policy
- MA Social and Public Policy
- MA Social Work
- MA Social Work Practice (Think Ahead)
- MRes Social Policy
- MRes Social Work
In addition, we contribute to the following jointly taught programmes:
- MA in Social Research (delivered through the Research Centre for Social Sciences)
Research degrees:
- MPhil and PhD in Social Policy & Social Work
The delivery of our programmes is underpinned by a number of key partnerships, including the Yorkshire Urban and Rural Teaching Partnership and the White Rose Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership.
Environment
The Department of Social Policy & Social Work and the University are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community. We strive to provide a supportive and family friendly work environment and to offer equal opportunities to all staff members. We are currently working towards an application for an Athena SWAN bronze award.
The Department fully supports and implements the University’s flexible working and parental leave policies.
We provide support for all staff in applications for promotion, role reviews, awards, prizes and rewarding excellence nominations. Staff are encouraged to attend training events and take up opportunities for professional development including those offered by the award-winning People and Organisational Development. The Department strives to address diversity inequalities to ensure that there is a culture that supports equality and encourages better representation throughout the Department.
