Master programme: Welfare Policies and Management

The programme prepares for advanced analytical and managerial work within public or private organizations involved in the production of welfare services. A degree from the programme also prepares for PhD studies and an academic career. The Master of Science Programme in Welfare Policies and Management runs for four consecutive terms.

See the programme’s syllabus (pdf, new window)

Programme structure

First semester

The programme starts with an introductory course in which different social science perspectives and theories on welfare states/regimes - emphasising regionalisation, globalisation and institutional changes - are covered. The comparative approach gives insights into the different ways welfare states have organized their policies. The course presents major cultural, economic, political and socio-psychological theories and concepts to enable the student to make informed, comparative analyses of how globalisation is connected to the management of welfare. This is followed by a course on the principles of organization, and theories of leadership, in the production of welfare services. The term ends with a course on theories and methods of evaluation.

Welfare Regimes in Transition. Comparative perspectives on policies, management and reform (15 credits, WPMP01):

Syllabus WPMP01 (pdf, new window)
Literature WPMP01 (pdf, new window)

Organization, Leadership and Welfare Management (7.5 credits, WPMP03):

Syllabus WPMP03 (pdf, new window)
Literature WPMP03 (pdf, new window)

Evaluation and Welfare Management (7.5 credits, WPMP02):

Syllabus WPMP02 (pdf, new window)
Literature WPMP02 (pdf, new window)

Second semester

The second term starts with a mandatory course in Economics. The core of the course is a relatively non-technical synthesis of the conception of the public sector within economics, emphasizing the elementary analysis of taxation, spending and decision­ making. Applictions will include the basic structure and recent reforms of social insurance systems and pension systems. During the second part of the term, the student has the possibility of doing an internship relevant to the programme, or taking an elective course, in any academic discipline, at Lund University or at another recognized higher education institution.

Economics: An introduction to Public Economics (15 credits, WPMA11):

Syllabus WPMA11 (pdf, new window)
Literature WPMA11 (pdf, new window)

Internship (15 credits, WPMP21) or elective courses (15 credits):

Syllabus (internship) WPMP21 (pdf, new window)

Third semester

During the second year a specialisation takes place. The student first takes a mandatory course in his or her major discipline, offered by the Department of Political Science, the Department of Sociology and the School of Social Work respectively. The student then takes a course in advanced research methods, both qualitative and quantitative. The aim of the course is to give a comprehensive understanding of the diverse research methods used in the social sciences, and prepare the student for the upcoming thesis work during the last term of the programme.

Course in your major subject; Political Science, Social Work, or Sociology (15 credits)

Research methods (15 credits)

Fourth semester

During the fourth term the student complete the programme by writing a Master's (Two Years) thesis, which provides the student with the opportunity to demonstrate his or her understanding of scientific methodology.

Master’s thesis in your major subject (30 credits)

More information

Read more about the programme on lunduniversity.lu.se