SHZ 329 - Social Policy

This course aims to enable students to evaluate the fundamental concepts, historical development, objectives, and instruments of social policy from the perspectives of social work and social security. The course examines the social, economic, and political transformations that have shaped the emergence and development of social policy, with particular emphasis on the Industrial Revolution, social movements, and the development of the welfare state. The roles and functions of key social policy actors, including the state, local governments, trade unions, and civil society organizations, are examined, while the relationship between social policy and social work is addressed at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. The course also aims to explore major areas of social policy, including population and demographic change, employment and unemployment, income distribution, poverty, social exclusion, migration, disadvantaged groups, and social security. Furthermore, the course seeks to enhance students’ ability to evaluate social policy and social security practices in Türkiye in relation to international developments and to approach contemporary social issues from the perspectives of social justice, human rights, and social welfare.

The course addresses social policy within the framework of the ecosystem approach and from a broad social policy perspective. It examines the historical development of social policy and the emergence and transformation of the welfare state, with particular attention to how social policies affect individuals at the micro level, families, groups, and civil society organizations at the mezzo level, and the broader social structure at the macro level. Within this framework, different approaches to social policy and welfare states are discussed, and social policy and social security practices in Türkiye are comparatively examined in relation to different welfare systems, particularly those of Western European countries. The course also covers the key actors, target groups, instruments, and financing mechanisms of social policy, as well as policies concerning population and demographic change, employment and unemployment, income distribution, poverty, social exclusion, migration, and disadvantaged groups. Finally, contemporary social policy practices in Türkiye are evaluated in relation to the country’s social structure and changing social needs, with particular emphasis on their relationship with social work, emerging social risks, and new directions in social policy in the twenty-first century.

·     Aysan, M. F. (2020). Geleceğin Türkiye’sinde sosyal politikalar. İLKE İlim Kültür Eğitim Vakfı.

·     Bedir, E., Alper, Y., Tokol, A., Özaydın, M. M., Metin, B., & Kocabaş, F. (2012). Sosyal politika. Anadolu Üniversitesi Yayınları.

·     Bölükbaşı, H. T., & Öktem, K. G. (2026). Measuring the Turkish welfare state: A multidimensional approach. Social Policy & Administration, 60(3), 468–480. https://doi.org/10.1111/spol.70010

·     Buğra, A., & Keyder, Ç. (Eds.). (2006). Sosyal politika yazıları. İletişim Yayınları.

·     Can, Z. G. (2025). The poverty effectiveness of social security benefits in Türkiye. Social Sciences, 14(7), 421. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14070421

·     Ersöz, H. Y. (2016). Sosyal politika. İstanbul Üniversitesi Açık ve Uzaktan Eğitim Fakültesi.

·     Gedik, M. (2023). Avrupa’da yaşayan Türk göçmenler. Göç Araştırmaları Vakfı, KAV Perspektif Yayınları.

·     Gencer, T. E., & Cılga, İ. (2017). Sosyal hizmeti yeniden düşünmek: Sosyal çalışmalar üzerine eleştirel tartışmalar. Nika Yayınevi.

·     Koray, M. (2005). Sosyal politika. İmge Kitabevi.

·     Nordheim, O., & van der Wel, K. A. (2025). Are there diminishing returns to social spending? Social policy, health and health inequalities in European countries: A comparative longitudinal survey data analysis. Social Science & Medicine, 380, 117721. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.117721

·     Ören, K. (2017). Sosyal politika. Rağbet Yayınları.

·     Talas, C. (1990). Toplumsal politikaya giriş. İmge Kitabevi.

·     Thompson, N. (2016). Kuram ve uygulamada sosyal hizmeti anlamak (3. bs.; B. Yıldırım, Çev.). Dipnot Yayınları.

·     Tokol, A., & Alper, Y. (2013). Sosyal politika (4. bs.). Dora Yayıncılık.

·     Yolcuoğlu, İ. G., & Özırmak, F. T. (2025). Sosyal koruma sisteminin sosyal yardımlarla etkili yönetimi: Sorunlar ve stratejiler. Sosyal Politika ve Sosyal Hizmet Çalışmaları Dergisi, 6(1), 65–80. https://doi.org/10.61861/spshcd.1712971

·     Yörük, E. (2022). The politics of the welfare state in Turkey: How social movements and elite competition created a welfare state. University of Michigan Press

·     Allen, W. L., Fernández-Reino, M., & Ruiz, I. (2025). Immigration and the welfare state. Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 41(1), 64–86. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxrep/graf014

·     Fargues, É. (2025). Introduction: The dynamics of migration policy implementation: The frontline and beyond. Social Policy & Administration, 59(4), 603–607. https://doi.org/10.1111/spol.13160

·     Gedik, M. (2020). Sosyal hizmetlerde hak temelli yaklaşım. Çekmece İZÜ Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 8(16), 28–57.

·     Gedik, M. (2021). AHSEN-sosyal hizmet modeli: İslâmî sosyal hizmet yaklaşımı. Efe Akademi Yayınları.

·     Hendow, M., Bilger, V., Hofmann, M., et al. (2026). Migration policies addressing irregularity: A typology of responses. Comparative Migration Studies, 14, 44. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40878-026-00557-0

·     Hernes, V., & Łukasiewicz, K. (2026). Restrictive, liberal, selective or universal? A cross-national analysis of European countries’ policy response to forced migrants from Ukraine. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 52(2), 343–366. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2025.2565907

·     Kweon, Y. (2025). Graying prospects: Popular support for pension spending in young and old societies. Social Science Quarterly, 106(6), e70092. https://doi.org/10.1111/ssqu.70092

·     Lutz, P., & Bachelet, M. (2026). Europe’s immigration divide: Multidimensional responsibility-sharing as a solution? Journal of European Public Policy. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/13501763.2026.2636284

·     Oh, S. E., & Choi, Y. J. (2025). Can social policy alleviate loneliness among older adults? A comparative analysis of OECD countries. Journal of Aging & Social Policy, 37(4), 547–564. https://doi.org/10.1080/08959420.2024.2384334

·     Zaun, N. (2025). Externally driven integration in EU migration policy: Enabling integration through indifference, undermining it through conflictive politicisation. Journal of European Public Policy. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/13501763.2025.2565214

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Examinations: Assignment preparation / written examination / tests (true-false tests, multiple-choice tests, short-answer tests, and matching questions). The methods and procedures to be used for assessment and evaluation will be discussed with the students and determined in WEEK 1.

Midterm Examination.     : 40%
Final Examination.          : 60%

• Within the scope of our “SHZ 329 / Social Policy” course, a “Word Document (ASSIGNMENT)” that may account for 40% of the overall course grade will be planned in place of the “Midterm Examination.”

• Within the scope of our “SHZ 329 / Social Policy” course, a “PowerPoint Presentation (ASSIGNMENT)” that may account for 60% of the overall course grade has been planned in place of the “Final Examination.”

Rules and Reminders

Reminders Regarding Course Attendance:

• A minimum attendance/participation rate of 70% is required for this course.

• If a student’s attendance rate falls below 70% by the Midterm Examination (Week 8), a 10% deduction (-10%) will be applied to the determined course grade.

• If a student’s attendance rate falls below 50% by the Midterm Examination (Week 8), a 20% deduction (-20%) will be applied to the determined course grade.

• By the Final Examination (Week 16), if the student’s overall attendance rate for the two periods falls below 70% without providing a valid excuse or official documentation, the student’s assignment may be considered invalid. In such a case, being a member of a group will not be considered sufficient grounds for exemption from this requirement.

Reminders Regarding Assignments:

• In the case of group assignments, students within the same group may receive different grades. Grades will be determined by taking into consideration each student’s individual contribution to the group assignment and performance during the presentation, including their mastery of the subject.

• Within the scope of this course, individual and/or group assignments for the “Midterm Examination” will be submitted as written assignments in Word document format, while assignments for the “Final Examination” will be submitted and presented in PowerPoint format. All assignments will be submitted digitally. If a printed copy is required, this will be discussed with the students and determined accordingly.

• Individual and/or group assignments submitted in place of the Midterm Examination grade must be submitted as a digital Word document by the specified date and time.

• The IZU Thesis Writing Guidelines must be taken into consideration. Second-year students are also expected to take into account the knowledge and skills acquired in the Computer Literacy course.

• All submitted assignments will be checked using the TURNITIN plagiarism/similarity detection system. Assignments with a similarity rate below 20% will be considered for evaluation. For assignments with a similarity rate above 20%, grade deductions will be applied in accordance with the rates specified in the grading criteria, taking into account the similarity rate. Further information regarding plagiarism/similarity assessment can be found in the referenced instructional video.

Points to Consider Regarding Assignments:

• The “Assignment Topics” for this course will be shared with students in class during WEEK 2 of the semester. The formation of assignment groups will be determined by the students. Each student will decide which group they wish to establish or join. Assignment-related information will also be available through the KBS (Campus Information System) and will be implemented as specified in the “Course Information Form.”

• The final submission date for the course assignment will be determined during the course. Assignments must be submitted digitally in “WORD (docx)” format.

• Assignments will count as the Midterm Examination and should therefore be treated with particular importance. In “Week 9, Groups 1 and 2” and in the following weeks, the remaining designated groups will deliver their PowerPoint presentations. Each group will be allocated a 45-minute presentation period.

• Every student participating in a group assignment is required to take part in the presentation.

• Assignments will be prepared as group activities, with groups consisting of two students and a maximum of three students.

• Assignment submission dates and related information will be announced in the “ASSIGNMENTS” section of the “Material Sharing System” on the IZU Campus Information System. Assignments must be submitted by e-mail on time in accordance with the specified information. Assignments that are not submitted by the deadline will be considered invalid.

Rules to Be Followed When Preparing Assignments:

• Assignments related to this course must be prepared in accordance with the IZU Academic Writing Guidelines.

• Excluding the cover page, assignments must be a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 15 pages in length. In accordance with the IZU Academic Writing Guidelines:

o Assignments must be written in Times New Roman.

o Main section and subsection headings must be written in the same font size as the main text, 12-point, and in bold.

o The main text must be written in 12-point font.

o Assignment titles must be written in CAPITAL LETTERS, in bold, and in 14-point font.

o Headings must be aligned with the left margin of the text and must not be indented.

o Two-line spacing must be left between headings and the text, while 1.5-line spacing must be used within the main text.

o The assignment text must be formatted with a 2.5 cm left margin and 2 cm margins at the top, bottom, and right sides of the page.

o Pages must be numbered. Page numbers must be placed at the bottom center of each page.

o A “Table of Contents” must be included.

o Images, graphs, and tables quoted or reproduced in relation to the assignment topic must be appropriately identified in the relevant section and may also be presented in greater detail in the “Appendices” section.

o In-text citations and references must follow the “APA Style.”

o The reference list must include at least 10 printed/academic sources (books, articles, journals, etc.) and at least 5–10 digital/web-based electronic sources.

o References must be listed alphabetically and formatted in accordance with the required referencing system.

Page Order for Assignments Prepared as Word (doc/docx) Documents:

o Cover Page (reverse side blank)

o Table of Contents (reverse side blank)

o Abstract

o Introduction

o Main Text of the Research Topic Organized Under Main Headings and Subheadings

o Conclusion/Discussion (at least one page)

o References

o Appendices