Quality of Life Studies and Public Policy (FutureLearn)

Identify the characteristics of quality of life and of public policies
You’ll differentiate between the subjective/micro and objective/macro domains of the concept, and will determine what your take on the concept is.
You’ll then explore what public policies are - courses of action that guide a range of related actions within a given field - and will understand what the role of actors (global, regional intergovernmental and governmental) are within the public policy circle.

Decipher the meaning of social citizenship and social participation
You’ll then get to grips with the sociologist T.H.Marshall’s idea of social citizenship - or the social responsibilities that the state has to its citizens - as well as social participation - or a person’s involvement in activities that provide interaction with others in society or the community.
You’ll then recognise their relationship with quality of life, and will analyse the connection between quality of life and ultimately, satisfaction with wider democracy.

Learn from an expert in political science at the Universidad de Palermo
You’ll be guided throughout the course by professor Graciela Tonon, a doctor in political science, an author and a social worker who has been teaching quality of life studies at universities all across the globe for the past two decades.

What topics will you cover?

• Concept and characteristics of quality of life
• Concept and characteristics of public policies
• Concept of social citizenship and social participation
• Quality of life of social actors and their satisfaction with democracy
• Role of the actors in the public policy circle