SP414 Half Unit
Ethnicity, Race and Social Policy
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Prof Coretta Phillips
Availability
This course is available on the MSc in Criminal Justice Policy, MSc in Gender, Policy and Inequalities, MSc in International Migration and Public Policy, MSc in International Migration and Public Policy (LSE and Sciences Po), MSc in International Social and Public Policy, MSc in International Social and Public Policy (Development), MSc in International Social and Public Policy (Education), MSc in International Social and Public Policy (LSE and Fudan), MSc in International Social and Public Policy (Migration), MSc in International Social and Public Policy (Non-Governmental Organisations) and MSc in International Social and Public Policy (Research). This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process.
All Social Policy Courses are ‘Controlled Access’. Please see the link below for further details on the allocation process.
https://info.lse.ac.uk/current-students/services/course-choice/controlled-access-courses
Amongst non-SP students, preference will be given first to students on MSc International Migration and Public Policy and MSc Gender, Policy and Inequalities.
Course content
This course looks at: History of the Modern Idea of Race; Disciplinary Frameworks; Citizenship and Migration; Theorising Multiculturalism; Ethnic Settlement; Education; Employment and Poverty; Discrimination and the Role of the State I: Positive and Affirmative Action; Criminalisation and Incarceration; Discrimination and the Role of the State II: Legislative Frameworks, Diversity Management, and Representative Democracy.
Teaching
15 hours of seminars and 15 hours of lectures in the Autumn Term.
This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Autumn Term.
All teaching will be in accordance with the LSE Academic Code which specifies a minimum of two hours taught contact time per week when the course is running in the Autumn Term (AT) and/or Winter Term (WT). Social Policy courses are predominantly taught through a combination of in-person lectures and In person classes/seminars. Further information will be provided by the Course Convenor in the first lecture of the course.
Indicative reading
- Williams, F. (2021) Social Policy: A Critical and Intersectional Analysis. Oxford: Polity.
- Rattansi, A. (2020) Racism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Byrne, B., Alexander, C., Khan, O., Nazroo, J. and Shankley, W. (eds.) (2020). Ethnicity, Race and Inequality in the UK: State of the Nation. Bristol: Policy Press.
- Tajmazinani, A. A. (2021) Social Policy in the Islamic World. Basinsgtoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
- Solomos, J. (ed.) 2023) Race and Ethnicity in Pandemic Times. London: Routledge.
- Bhattacharyya, G., Elliott-Cooper, A., Balani, S., Nişancıoğlu, K., Koram, K.., Gebrial, D., El-Enany, N. and de Noronha, L.(2021) Empire's Endgame: Racism and the British State. London: Pluto Press.
- Back, L. and Solomos, J. (eds.) (2022) Theories of Race and Racism: A Reader. London: Routledge.
- Solomos, J. (ed.) (2023) Race, Ethnicity and Social Theory. London: Routledge.
- Murji, K. (2017) Racism, Policy and Politics. Bristol: Policy Press.
- Sangeeta, C., Atkin, K., Craig, G. and Flynn, R. ( (2019) Understanding 'Race' and Ethnicity: Theory, History, Policy, Practice. Second Edition. Bristol: Policy Press.
Assessment
Exam (70%), duration: 120 Minutes, reading time: 5 minutes in the Spring exam period
Continuous assessment (10%)
Essay (20%, 2000 words) in Autumn Term Week 7
- Class Participation (10%)
- Essay (20%)
- Digi-Exam (70%)
Key facts
Department: Social Policy
Course Study Period: Autumn Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 7
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 34
Average class size 2024/25: 17
Controlled access 2024/25: NoCourse selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Team working
- Problem solving
- Application of information skills
- Communication
- Application of numeracy skills