ASS06001 Welfare Sociology

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2026Year School/Graduate School School of Integrated Arts and Sciences Department of Integrated Arts and Sciences

Lecture Code ASS06001 Subject Classification Specialized Education

Subject Name 福祉社会学

Subject Name
（Katakana）フクシシャカイガク

Subject Name in
English Welfare Sociology

Instructor CHEN SHENG

Instructor
(Katakana) チン　ショウ

Campus Higashi-Hiroshima Semester/Term 2nd-Year, Second Semester, 4Term

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (4T) Tues1-4：IAS K203

Lesson Style Lecture Lesson Style
(More Details) Face-to-face

The course will primarily consist of lectures, but will also incorporate active learning activities, such as on-demand learning and group discussions.

Credits 2.0 Class Hours/Week 4 Language of Instruction J : Japanese

Course Level 2 : Undergraduate Low-Intermediate

Course Area（Area） 24 : Social Sciences

Course Area（Discipline） 05 : Sociology

Eligible Students

Keywords

Special Subject for Teacher Education 　 Special Subject 　

Class Status
within Educational
Program
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced
Evaluation
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students) Integrated Arts and Sciences
（Knowledge and Understanding）
・Knowledge and understanding of the importance and characteristics of each discipline and basic theoretical framework.
（Abilities and Skills）
・The ability and skills to collect and analyze necessary literature or data among various sources of information on individual academic disciplines.

Class Objectives
/Class Outline This course examines welfare from a sociological perspective, beginning with fundamental questions about what welfare is and what people need. Students will learn about the purposes and organization of the welfare state, as well as its historical emergence, expansion, and restructuring. The course then explores key issues such as gender, social class, globalization, poverty, and social exclusion. Drawing on critical perspectives and research methods in welfare sociology, students will reconsider the actors, relationships, and structures involved in welfare and develop the ability to examine the nature of welfare in contemporary society from multiple perspectives.

Class Schedule lesson01 Introduction (1) – What Is Welfare?
lesson02 Introduction (2) – What Are Needs?
lesson03 What Is the Welfare State? (1) – Purposes of the Welfare State
lesson04 What Is the Welfare State? (2) – Organization of the Welfare State
lesson05 History of the Welfare State (1) – Emergence: From the Poor Laws to the Postwar Welfare State
lesson06 History of the Welfare State (2) – Expansion: Growth in Social Expenditure and the Establishment of Social Rights
lesson07 History of the Welfare State (3) – Retrenchment (Crisis and Restructuring): Criticism from the Right and Challenges from the New Social Movements
lesson08 Key Issues of the Welfare State (1) – Gender, Care, and Reproduction
lesson09 Key Issues of the Welfare State (2) – Social Class and Citizenship
lesson10 Key Issues of the Welfare State (3) – Globalization and Transnational Labor
lesson11 Key Issues of the Welfare State (4) – Poverty, Social Exclusion, and Social Inclusion
lesson12 Critical Perspectives in Welfare Sociology (1) – Traditional and Critical Theories, and Contradictions of the Welfare State
lesson13 Critical Perspectives in Welfare Sociology (2) – Redistribution, Recognition, and Representation
lesson14 Research Methodologies in Welfare Sociology – Quantitative Research, Qualitative Research, and Tojisha-kenkyu (Research by People with Lived Experience)
lesson15 Rethinking the Framework of Welfare Sociology – Actors, Relationships, and Structures; "Who" and "How"; and the Politics of Welfare

None

On the final day of the course, students will be asked to write and submit a short report during class time after the lecture. This report will count toward the final grade.

Text/Reference
Books,etc. No textbook is required. The course will be based primarily on handouts prepared by the instructor. Students interested in further reading may consult the following references.

References:
Takegawa, Shogo, Mie Morikawa, Takashi Iguchi, and Hideaki Kikuchi (eds.) (2020). Yoku Wakaru Fukushi Shakaigaku [Understanding Welfare Sociology]. Minerva Shobo. ISBN: 978-4-623-08973-4.
Akutsu, Yoichi (2012). Fukushi Kokka [The Welfare State]. Horitsu Bunka Sha. ISBN: 978-4-589-03474-8.

PC or AV used in
Class,etc.

(More Details)

Learning techniques to be incorporated

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review Before each class, students are encouraged to pay attention to social issues related to the topic and reflect on their own views. After each class, students should review the course materials to reinforce their understanding.

Requirements

Grading Method Students will be assessed comprehensively based on their class participation (including comments, questions, engagement in class activities, and participation in group discussions) and the content of a short report submitted during the final class.

Practical Experience

Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it

Message

Other

Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes.
Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

Academic Year	2026Year	School/Graduate School	School of Integrated Arts and Sciences Department of Integrated Arts and Sciences
Lecture Code	ASS06001	Subject Classification	Specialized Education
Subject Name	福祉社会学
Subject Name （Katakana）	フクシシャカイガク
Subject Name in English	Welfare Sociology
Instructor	CHEN SHENG
Instructor (Katakana)	チン　ショウ
Campus	Higashi-Hiroshima	Semester/Term	2nd-Year, Second Semester, 4Term
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(4T) Tues1-4：IAS K203
Lesson Style	Lecture	Lesson Style (More Details)	Face-to-face
The course will primarily consist of lectures, but will also incorporate active learning activities, such as on-demand learning and group discussions.
Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week	4	Language of Instruction	J : Japanese
Course Level	2 : Undergraduate Low-Intermediate
Course Area（Area）	24 : Social Sciences
Course Area（Discipline）	05 : Sociology
Eligible Students
Keywords
Special Subject for Teacher Education		Special Subject
Class Status within Educational Program (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced Evaluation (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)	Integrated Arts and Sciences （Knowledge and Understanding）・Knowledge and understanding of the importance and characteristics of each discipline and basic theoretical framework. （Abilities and Skills）・The ability and skills to collect and analyze necessary literature or data among various sources of information on individual academic disciplines.
Class Objectives /Class Outline	This course examines welfare from a sociological perspective, beginning with fundamental questions about what welfare is and what people need. Students will learn about the purposes and organization of the welfare state, as well as its historical emergence, expansion, and restructuring. The course then explores key issues such as gender, social class, globalization, poverty, and social exclusion. Drawing on critical perspectives and research methods in welfare sociology, students will reconsider the actors, relationships, and structures involved in welfare and develop the ability to examine the nature of welfare in contemporary society from multiple perspectives.
Class Schedule	lesson01 Introduction (1) – What Is Welfare? lesson02 Introduction (2) – What Are Needs? lesson03 What Is the Welfare State? (1) – Purposes of the Welfare State lesson04 What Is the Welfare State? (2) – Organization of the Welfare State lesson05 History of the Welfare State (1) – Emergence: From the Poor Laws to the Postwar Welfare State lesson06 History of the Welfare State (2) – Expansion: Growth in Social Expenditure and the Establishment of Social Rights lesson07 History of the Welfare State (3) – Retrenchment (Crisis and Restructuring): Criticism from the Right and Challenges from the New Social Movements lesson08 Key Issues of the Welfare State (1) – Gender, Care, and Reproduction lesson09 Key Issues of the Welfare State (2) – Social Class and Citizenship lesson10 Key Issues of the Welfare State (3) – Globalization and Transnational Labor lesson11 Key Issues of the Welfare State (4) – Poverty, Social Exclusion, and Social Inclusion lesson12 Critical Perspectives in Welfare Sociology (1) – Traditional and Critical Theories, and Contradictions of the Welfare State lesson13 Critical Perspectives in Welfare Sociology (2) – Redistribution, Recognition, and Representation lesson14 Research Methodologies in Welfare Sociology – Quantitative Research, Qualitative Research, and Tojisha-kenkyu (Research by People with Lived Experience) lesson15 Rethinking the Framework of Welfare Sociology – Actors, Relationships, and Structures; "Who" and "How"; and the Politics of Welfare None On the final day of the course, students will be asked to write and submit a short report during class time after the lecture. This report will count toward the final grade.
Text/Reference Books,etc.	No textbook is required. The course will be based primarily on handouts prepared by the instructor. Students interested in further reading may consult the following references. References: Takegawa, Shogo, Mie Morikawa, Takashi Iguchi, and Hideaki Kikuchi (eds.) (2020). Yoku Wakaru Fukushi Shakaigaku [Understanding Welfare Sociology]. Minerva Shobo. ISBN: 978-4-623-08973-4. Akutsu, Yoichi (2012). Fukushi Kokka [The Welfare State]. Horitsu Bunka Sha. ISBN: 978-4-589-03474-8.
PC or AV used in Class,etc.
(More Details)
Learning techniques to be incorporated
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	Before each class, students are encouraged to pay attention to social issues related to the topic and reflect on their own views. After each class, students should review the course materials to reinforce their understanding.
Requirements
Grading Method	Students will be assessed comprehensively based on their class participation (including comments, questions, engagement in class activities, and participation in group discussions) and the content of a short report submitted during the final class.
Practical Experience
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it
Message
Other
Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes. Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

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