SW 7321 - Social Welfare Policy: Scope and Methods

In the first part of this course, students will critically examine the foundations of American social welfare policy development and implementation. Political, economic, and socio-cultural factors will be identified and assessed for their potential to contribute to an evidence-based understanding of how social policy may be researched. Dimensions of analysis that will receive particular emphasis include social welfare history, methods of policy analysis, comparative social welfare policy development, and questions of diversity in American policy making. In the second part of the course, faculty will share their expertise in specific policy areas (e.g., disability, aging, child welfare, social security/public assistance) to help develop student research interests and abilities.