SD1S33 - Social Justice and Social Exclusion 01 Sep 2024 - 31 Aug 2030 | Version 0

Associated Module Information

Module Code: SD1S33
Module Title: Social Justice and Social Exclusion
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Leadership and Public Services
Faculty Sub Group: Leadership and Public Services
Module Leader: Wendy Booth
Module Team: Palash Kamruzzaman
First Intended Intake: SEP 2024 Final Year of Intake: 2029
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 4
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100505 - sociology
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 0
Valid From 01 Sep 2024
Valid To 31 Aug 2030

Module Aims

The aim of the module is to examine a range of definitions of the substantial meanings of social justice and social exclusion in relation to various theories of social and political theory/philosophy and sociology, and to relate these theories to local and global contexts; taking into consideration sustainable development and the SDGs. 

The objectives of the module are to: 

  • Examine theories related to social justice and social inclusion, from Rawls to Hayak 

  • Debate needs based approaches and notions of responsibility 

  • Relate key social justice issues to social policy 

  • Explore global contexts and social injustices 

  • Consider today’s wicked problems and whether they can be solved 

  • Identify the SDGs and examine these in the context of the north south divide 

Content Summary

This module explores debates around contemporary social issues and the way competing theories of social justice and social exclusion have impacted political debates around moral legitimacy. Through this analysis, students will develop their understanding of controversies within and between social/political philosophy/theory and sociology. Most notably, that there are numerous disputes over the meaning and response to various conceptions of the worth of human beings and related moral precepts as expressed in political and social values and national and international institutional practices. Students will engage in debates related to social injustices and inequalities, and attempt to derive solutions to today’s wicked problems. Sustainability and the SDGs are considered throughout the module, allowing students to conceptualise global problems, the north south divide, and political decision making.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Seminars 40
Independent Study 88
Directed Study (Including online independent learning) 72
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 To be able to explain, discuss and distinguish theories of social justice and theories of social exclusion
LO2 To be able to apply and demonstrate learning outcome1 to the development of writing skills and to the review of arguments and counter-arguments

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Essay 1 A standard essay 0 2000 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Essay 1 ✔ ✔

Reading List

Capeheart, L., and Milovanovic, D. (2020).?Social justice: Theories, issues, and movements (Revised and expanded edition). Rutgers University Press. 

Cohen, G. (1995), Self-ownership, Freedom and Equality, Cambridge University Press 

Goodin, R. (1988), Reasons for Welfare: The political theory of the welfare state Princeton University Press 

Hayek, F. A. (1982), Law, Legislation and Liberty, Routledge 

Kamruzzaman, P. Williams, K. Wardak, A. Kabir, M. E. and Ayobi, Y. (2022). Exploring dignity in the context of displacement–evidence from Rohingyas in Bangladesh and IDPs in Afghanistan. Third World Quarterly, 43(8), 1854-1874. 

Miller, D. (2001), Principles of Social Justice Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. 

Nagel, T. (1991), Equality and Partiality, Oxford University Press 

Nozick, R. (1974), Anarchy, State and Utopia, Basil Blackwell 

Oliver, M. (1990). The politics of disablement: critical texts in social work and the welfare state Macmillan 

Rawls, J. (1971). A Theory of Justice, Oxford University Press 

Scanlon, T.M. (1998).What we owe to each other Harvard University Press, Massachusetts 

S. R. Smith (2022). The Ontology of Well-Being in Social Policy and Welfare Practice Berlin: Springer 

Zajda, J. and Majhanovich, S. (Eds.). (2022). Discourses of globalisation, ideology, education and policy reforms (Vol. 26). Springer Nature. 

Indicative journals: Critical Social Policy, Disability and Society, Ethics and Social Welfare, Philosophy and Public Affairs, Women’s Studies