1
SWK 403
Fall 2016
College of Education, Humanities and
Behavioral Sciences
Department of Social Work, Psychology
and Counseling
Undergraduate Social Work Program
Alabama A&M University
Normal, AL 35762
Social Welfare Policies
Course Syllabus
Spring 2013
Course Number SWK 403
Course Title Social Welfare Policies
Call Number/Section 71142
Class Times 8-9:50 T and R
Class Location Room 5, Parker Building
Prerequisites SWK 200, SWK 201, PSC 201, ECO 200, SOC 210
Textbook DiNitto, D. & Johnson, D. (2012). Essentials of Social Welfare Politics
and Public Policy
Instructor Rachel Robinson
Office 304 Bibb Graves
Office Hours Monday 11-1, Tuesday 10-2, Thursday 10-2
E-mail address
Telephone number 256-372-8156
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed to utilize research to interpret legislation and policies as a means of improving,
changing and developing required services in recognition of problems and issues inherent in the social
system; provide knowledge and skills regarding social policy, research, social legislation, policy
formulation and analysis for enhancing delivery of social services; and rurality for ensuring sequential,
measurable learning.
The course will utilize historical perspectives to provide a comprehensive overview of the social, political,
and economic forces that shape social welfare policy today. Content will address the political aspects of
policymaking and cover major social welfare programs such as income maintenance, nutrition, child
welfare, daycare, housing, education and health care. A framework for social welfare policy analysis will
be presented and provide students with hands-on experience as policy analysts. On line resources will
complement the text.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of social welfare policy from a historical, contemporary and global
perspective.
2. Evaluate specific social service programs which reflect policy decisions at the national and global
levels.
3. Identify and explain the impacts of sexism, racism, discrimination, and oppression on the
allocation of resources for human needs.
4. Use social welfare policy terminology in oral and written communication.
5. Describe the major aspects of programs and policies aimed at preventing or alleviating poverty.
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SWK 403
Fall 2016
6. Analyze the relationship between ethnicity, social problems, needs, services, and power within
policy making process.
7. Specify the strengths and weaknesses of the American system of social welfare.
8. Demonstrate the ability to utilize two social welfare policy analysis models to understand social
welfare policies and how to subsequently design viable policy alternatives in meeting human
needs.
CLASS FORMAT
Class Policies
1. Cell phones or cell phone use is not allowed in the classroom. Receiving/making/accepting calls
or being called will not be allowed.
2. Students are considered tardy if more than ten minutes late
3. Students will participate in topic related discussions as part of the class.
4. Plagiarism, cheating, and helping other cheat is not acceptable. If caught cheating, a student shall
be referred to the Departmental Professional Standards Committee with a recommendation to be
terminated from school for at least a semester.
5. There are no make ups in midterm and final examinations.
6. Make ups in other tests and exercises shall only be permitted upon satisfactory proof that there
was an emergency. Otherwise students should arrange to take such tests earlier.
7. Make up tests are likely to be different from test taken in class. If you feel you do not want to take
a different test then be there to take tests in class.
NOTE:
Constant breaking of classroom policies shall result in:
a. Loss of professionalism points
b. Being referred to the Program Coordinator, Department Chair, and or the Department Professional
Standards Committee
COURSE OUTCOMES
1. Students will obtain a comprehensive overview of societal values and ethics related to the social,
political, and economic forces that shape social welfare policy and a user-friendly framework for
policy analysis.
2. Students will be able to identify major institutions that implement social welfare policy and
obtain a clear understanding of how these different institutions make up the American social
welfare system.
3. Students will utilize web sites containing chapter-specific resources information to enhance
learning and to strengthen student research and writing skills.
4. Includes information on the relationship between technology and policy and advocacy, and social
policy research on the Internet.
5. Students will understand the relationship between tax policy and social welfare policy.
6. Students will evaluate the effects of welfare reform legislation.
7. Students will understand the major changes in managed care, the effects of the tobacco settlement
on health care, and the effect of the CHIPS (Child Health Initiative) program.
8. students will be able to define key concepts, such as “Privatization,” “Devolution”, and “faith-
based social service.”
9. To evaluate several definitions of social welfare policy.
10. To discuss the history of the development of social welfare policy in the United States.
11. To discuss the relationships among social problems, social welfare policy and social work.
12. Define a number of key concepts in the study and design of social welfare policy such as
universal, residual, public assistance, social insurance, cash, in-kind, and blaming the victim.
13. Discuss issues related to the policy areas of income maintenance, health, mental health, and social
services for the elderly and children in Northern Alabama.
SWK 403
Fall 2016
College of Education, Humanities and
Behavioral Sciences
Department of Social Work, Psychology
and Counseling
Undergraduate Social Work Program
Alabama A&M University
Normal, AL 35762
Social Welfare Policies
Course Syllabus
Spring 2013
Course Number SWK 403
Course Title Social Welfare Policies
Call Number/Section 71142
Class Times 8-9:50 T and R
Class Location Room 5, Parker Building
Prerequisites SWK 200, SWK 201, PSC 201, ECO 200, SOC 210
Textbook DiNitto, D. & Johnson, D. (2012). Essentials of Social Welfare Politics
and Public Policy
Instructor Rachel Robinson
Office 304 Bibb Graves
Office Hours Monday 11-1, Tuesday 10-2, Thursday 10-2
E-mail address
Telephone number 256-372-8156
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed to utilize research to interpret legislation and policies as a means of improving,
changing and developing required services in recognition of problems and issues inherent in the social
system; provide knowledge and skills regarding social policy, research, social legislation, policy
formulation and analysis for enhancing delivery of social services; and rurality for ensuring sequential,
measurable learning.
The course will utilize historical perspectives to provide a comprehensive overview of the social, political,
and economic forces that shape social welfare policy today. Content will address the political aspects of
policymaking and cover major social welfare programs such as income maintenance, nutrition, child
welfare, daycare, housing, education and health care. A framework for social welfare policy analysis will
be presented and provide students with hands-on experience as policy analysts. On line resources will
complement the text.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of social welfare policy from a historical, contemporary and global
perspective.
2. Evaluate specific social service programs which reflect policy decisions at the national and global
levels.
3. Identify and explain the impacts of sexism, racism, discrimination, and oppression on the
allocation of resources for human needs.
4. Use social welfare policy terminology in oral and written communication.
5. Describe the major aspects of programs and policies aimed at preventing or alleviating poverty.
, 2
SWK 403
Fall 2016
6. Analyze the relationship between ethnicity, social problems, needs, services, and power within
policy making process.
7. Specify the strengths and weaknesses of the American system of social welfare.
8. Demonstrate the ability to utilize two social welfare policy analysis models to understand social
welfare policies and how to subsequently design viable policy alternatives in meeting human
needs.
CLASS FORMAT
Class Policies
1. Cell phones or cell phone use is not allowed in the classroom. Receiving/making/accepting calls
or being called will not be allowed.
2. Students are considered tardy if more than ten minutes late
3. Students will participate in topic related discussions as part of the class.
4. Plagiarism, cheating, and helping other cheat is not acceptable. If caught cheating, a student shall
be referred to the Departmental Professional Standards Committee with a recommendation to be
terminated from school for at least a semester.
5. There are no make ups in midterm and final examinations.
6. Make ups in other tests and exercises shall only be permitted upon satisfactory proof that there
was an emergency. Otherwise students should arrange to take such tests earlier.
7. Make up tests are likely to be different from test taken in class. If you feel you do not want to take
a different test then be there to take tests in class.
NOTE:
Constant breaking of classroom policies shall result in:
a. Loss of professionalism points
b. Being referred to the Program Coordinator, Department Chair, and or the Department Professional
Standards Committee
COURSE OUTCOMES
1. Students will obtain a comprehensive overview of societal values and ethics related to the social,
political, and economic forces that shape social welfare policy and a user-friendly framework for
policy analysis.
2. Students will be able to identify major institutions that implement social welfare policy and
obtain a clear understanding of how these different institutions make up the American social
welfare system.
3. Students will utilize web sites containing chapter-specific resources information to enhance
learning and to strengthen student research and writing skills.
4. Includes information on the relationship between technology and policy and advocacy, and social
policy research on the Internet.
5. Students will understand the relationship between tax policy and social welfare policy.
6. Students will evaluate the effects of welfare reform legislation.
7. Students will understand the major changes in managed care, the effects of the tobacco settlement
on health care, and the effect of the CHIPS (Child Health Initiative) program.
8. students will be able to define key concepts, such as “Privatization,” “Devolution”, and “faith-
based social service.”
9. To evaluate several definitions of social welfare policy.
10. To discuss the history of the development of social welfare policy in the United States.
11. To discuss the relationships among social problems, social welfare policy and social work.
12. Define a number of key concepts in the study and design of social welfare policy such as
universal, residual, public assistance, social insurance, cash, in-kind, and blaming the victim.
13. Discuss issues related to the policy areas of income maintenance, health, mental health, and social
services for the elderly and children in Northern Alabama.
