Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) Social Exclusion and Inclusion Syllabus - Mumbai University 2026

About this course

Understanding social exclusion is essential for addressing the challenges faced by individuals and groups marginalized from socio-cultural, economic, and political systems both in India and globally. Exclusion often stems from social constructs like caste, religion, gender, race, or ethnicity, which perpetuate systemic barriers and deny access to resources and opportunities. Social workers play a critical role in identifying excluded groups, analyzing their vulnerabilities, and understanding their struggles for inclusion and integration. This course provides insights into democratic values, constitutional frameworks, and inclusive policies and programs that promote social justice and equity. By examining strategies adopted by people- centered organizations and engaging with rights-based approaches through advocacy and networking, learners will gain a deeper understanding of the efforts required to address exclusion and foster inclusive development. These insights will equip students with the knowledge and skills to work towards the active participation and integration of marginalized communities.

Course objectives

• To provide an overview of the concepts, types, and factors influencing social exclusion and inclusion in changing social contexts at national and international levels.
• To study the magnitude and extent of socially excluded communities in India and at the international level.
• To develop a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and struggles encountered by socially excluded groups in their search of inclusion and integration within diverse socio-cultural and political frameworks.
• To offer comprehensive knowledge on national and international inclusive policy frameworks, emphasizing principles of justice, dignity, and equality, as mechanisms for addressing exclusion and fostering inclusive development.
• To develop an understanding of strategies for creating access and opportunities for excluded groups, enabling their active participation and integration.

Learning outcomes

• CO 177 Discuss the concepts of social inclusion and exclusion, along with the types and factors contributing to exclusion, in the context of dynamic social realities.
• CO 178 Analyze national and international inclusive policy frameworks and identify disparities and discrimination based on social constructs such as caste, class, religion, gender and race in India and abroad.
• CO 179 Apply professional values and ethics in addressing social exclusion, ensuring adherence to principles of social work practice in their engagements with diverse communities.
• CO 180 Develop plan of interventions with strategies for creating access and opportunities to the excluded groups for their inclusive development.

Unit I: Understanding Social Exclusion and Inclusion

• Emergence of the Concepts of Social Exclusion and Inclusion
• Defining Social Exclusion and Inclusion
• Types of Social Exclusion
• Based on Class, Caste, Religion, Gender, Race, Ethnicity, Colour, Abilism
• Dimensions of Exclusion
• Socio-cultural, Economic, and Political Systems
• Interdisciplinary Approaches for Studying Social Exclusion and Inclusion
• Debates on Social Exclusion and Inclusion in India and Globally

Essential readings

• Sen, A. (2000) ‘Social Exclusion: Concepts, Application and Scrutiny.’ Social Development Papers No. 1, Manila: Asian Development Bank
• Hills, J. le Grand, J. and Peached, D (eds.) (2002) Understanding Social Exclusion. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Sukhadeo Thorat and Narender Kumar (2008) B.R Ambedkar: Perspective on Social and Inclusive Policies, New Delhi: Oxford University Press
• Jordan, B. (1997) A Theory of Poverty and Social Exclusion. Cambridge: Polity Press.

Unit II: Socially Excluded Communities in India and Around the World

• Socially Excluded Communities: Profile, identity, livelihood issues
• Overview on the socially excluded communities in India and their struggle for inclusion & integration
• Excluded communities: Dalit- caste based issues, Tribal-indigenous peopled/NT, OBC, Minorities (gender, regional, religious, linguistic); Refugees
• Overview on excluded communities at international level and their struggle for inclusion & integration Refuges, Asylum seekers, forced migrants, immigrants and national and global Excluded communities

Essential readings

• Saxena, Ashish (2013) Marginality, Excision and Social Justice Jaipur: Rawat Publication
• Varma, H.S. (2005) The OBCs and the Dynamics of Social Exclusion in India New Delhi: Serial Publications.
• Vijaykumar, (2012) ‘Challenges Ahead for Inclusive Growth in India’ International Journal of Rural Development and Management Studies (IJRDMS)

Unit III: Policies and programmes for Inclusive Development

• Constitution of India: Democratic perspectives on inclusive development, Preamble, constitutional provisions for SC, ST, OBC, NT/DT and minority, Reservation Policy Social legislations Atrocity Act, Special minority status, Commissions (SC, ST,OBC, Minority, NT/DT),
• Policies and programmes for inclusion of excluded communities
• International policy, framework and mechanisms for Inclusion and integration UNDP, SDG, HDI, European Union: EU policies and programmes for refugees, immigrants & migrants, Legislative measures, Reservation Policy

Essential readings

• Deshpande, A (2012) ‘Exclusion and Inclusive growth, Delhi School of Economics: UNDP Report. UNDP.
• Human Development Report (2016)
• Gapminder Tools: Hans Roselling’ https://www.gapminder.org › world

Unit IV: Action for Social Inclusion

• Peoples court/ Lok Adalat
• Role of people- centred rights-based organizations to address issues of social exclusion
• Advocacy & networking for social inclusion
• Affirmative Action
• Dalit & Tribal Social Work

Essential readings

• Bodhi, S.R. (2014). Towards a Theory of Dalit Social Work, Indian Journal of Dalit and Tribal Social Work, 2 (1), 28 -39