SW 2300 - Social Welfare as an Institution

This introductory course provides undergraduate students with a framework for understanding the social welfare system in the United States. The course identifies the following as major social problems facing contemporary American society: poverty, racism and discrimination, child abuse, domestic violence, chronic illness, mental illness, substance abuse, crime and delinquency, unemployment and homelessness, and provision for the aged. Focus is on understanding how public and private social-service agencies attempt to address these social problems. Students are asked to explore their own values and beliefs about the provision of social services to disadvantaged populations. The course is intended to help students explore their interests and aptitudes for careers in social work.