SPOL 316Special Topic: Intersectionality, Social Policy and Change

This course draws on a variety of critical approaches and theories to examine key concepts and issues related to social policy. Course content includes an exploration of ideas such as intersectionality, power, knowledge, race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, capitalism, and neoliberalism. Students will understand the interconnectivity between intersectionality and social policy.

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Academic year
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Trimester One of three teaching periods that make up the academic year—usually March to June, July to October, and November to February.
CRN A unique number given to a single version of a course. It differentiates between courses with the same course code that are taught in different trimesters or streams, or in different modes (for example, in person or online).

Course details

Dates
7 Jul 2025 to 9 Nov 2025
Starts
Trimester 2
Fees
NZ$1,090.60 for
International fees
NZ$5,560.00
Lecture start times
  • Friday 1.10pm
Campus
Kelburn
Estimated workload
Approximately 200 hours or 11.8 hours per week for 17 weeks
Points
20

Entry restrictions

Prerequisites
Corequisites
None
Restrictions
None

Taught by

School of Social and Cultural StudiesFaculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Key dates

Find important dates—including mid-trimester teaching breaks—on the University's key dates calendar.

You'll be told about assessment dates once the course has begun.

Key dates

About this course

This course is delivered in person only.

Course learning objectives

Students who pass this course will be able to:

  1. Compare and contrast different ways diverse forms of knowledge operate within social policy

  2. Critique diverse critical theories within social policy debates

  3. Build critical skills for policy analysis

How this course is taught

This course is delivered in-person only, and students are required to attend on campus. This course will be taught face-to-face through a weekly 1 hour 50 minute lecture and seven optional in-person tutorials.
•              Lectures and tutorials are in person only and are not recorded
•              Some assessment can be submitted online
•              There are weekly in-class reading reflections requiring attendance

 

Assessment

  • Weekly in-class reflections (100 words; students choose 10 out of 12) Mark: 10%
  • Essay 1 (2,800 words) Mark: 45%
  • Essay 2 (2,800 words) Mark: 45%

Assessment dates and extensions

Once you've signed up to this course, you can use to see due dates for assessments and information about extensions.

Mandatory requirements

There are no mandatory requirements for this course.

Lecture times and rooms

What you’ll need to get

You do not need to get any texts or equipment for this course.

Who to contact

Debbie Evans portrait

Ms Debbie Evans

Course Administrator

Past versions of this course

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Student feedback

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Selected offering

SPOL 316

7 Jul–9 Nov 2025

Trimester 2 · CRN 35075

2025 course optionsOptions (1)