In all nations, social policy is a very large public investment. Course 1 will explore the size, structure, and outcomes of U.S. social policy and compare this policy to those of similar developed countries. The course will also probe the values this policy represents and the values debate regarding about how big our welfare state should be— in other words, how much of our education, housing, health, income support, and social services the government should supply and how much individuals should supply for themselves.
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This course addresses issues of power, oppression, and white supremacy.
The course is part of a sequence in social policy that has an HONORS TRACK. This track will prepare the learner for masters-level work in policy, which involves reading the literature, writing concise summaries and probing critiques. Over the sequence the learner will develop a policy analysis that will create a foundation for professional policy analyst assignments.
What You Will Learn
- Describe the development of the welfare state across developed nations distinguishing choices made in education, health or pensions
- Evaluate the structures of the US welfare state to explain US choices in education, health or pensions of those seeking aid.
- Differentiate the public and private welfare state to interpret structures of education, health or pensions to those seeking services
- Honors: Summarize and critique readings to professionally interpret them. Identify a topic to a professional memo.
Course 1 of 5 in the Social Policy for Social Services & Health Practitioners Specialization
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Social Policy and the Welfare State
In this module, you will develop an understanding of the domains, values, and expenditures of the U.S. welfare state.
WEEK 2
Social Policy Structure
In this module, you will explore the domains of the US welfare state and differentiate the floor, platform and safety net components
WEEK 3
Comparing U.S. Social Policy with Europe: Investment & Effects
This module will compare US and comparable western nations in a country's approach to education, health care and income stability. The module will address the relative place of the US in the structure of it welfare state.
WEEK 4
Does the Welfare State Enrich Us of Impoverish Us?
In this module, we will explain the size, structure and outcomes of US social policy when compared with comparable developed nations and to differentiate the conservative approaches to social welfare
