SCWK 3770 - Social Policy
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 41618,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Michelle Brown
Email: mmbrown01@ysu.edu
Course Description
3770. Social Policy. Review of the programs, structures and functions of social services including historical development and social, political and economic issues. Application of scientific method to analyze and develop social work policies designed to achieve social work goals and purpose. 3 s.h.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | Becoming an effective policy advocate: From policy practice to social justice, (8thed.) Belmont, CA: Thompson Brooks/Cole CONNECTING EPAS | Jansson, B.S. (2008). | |
| Required | American social welfare policy: A pluralist approach (8th ed.) New York: Pearson. | Karger, H. J. &Stoesz, D. (2009) |
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Day | Date | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu | 8/27 | : Karger and Stoesz: Chapters 1 & 3 (read); 6 (skim); 7 (skim) | Syllabus and Course Review | |
| Thu | 9/3 | Jansson, Chapters 1, 2, & 3 | Introduction to Social Policy Defining Social Welfare Policy: The Impact of Social Values, Political Ideology and Economic Concerns. Voluntary and for-profit social welfare. | Discussion Board/ prompt will be provided Assignment: Current Events Paper Due |
| Thu | 9/10 | NASW talks about advocacy Podcast/ videos | Policy Advocacy | |
| Thu | 9/17 | Karger and Stoesz: Chapters 8 & 10 | Policy Practice & Organizational Settings | Quiz #1 Discussion board |
| Thu | 9/24 | Karger and Stoesz: Chapters 8 & 10 Jansson, Chapters 4 & 6 | Policy Practice & Organizational Settings ContinuedCritical Issues from Formulation to Implementation: A Rational Theory of Social Policy: Models for Analysis. Mental Health as an example of policy analysis | |
| Thu | 10/1 | Karger and Stoesz: Chapters 2 & 13 | Overview of the Policy Making Process | |
| Thu | 10/8 | Jansson, Chapters 7, 9 & 14 | Overview of the Policy Making Process | Discussion board |
| Thu | 10/15 | : Karger and Stoesz; Chapters 4 & 5 | Poverty Causes and Perspectives; Major Social Policies and Their Impact on the Poor, from 1600-1996: A Review of the Elizabethan Poor Laws & the Social Security Act, the War on Poverty; Reaganomics; and the Clinton Administration. Stigma and discrimination in the United States. | Advocacy Letter Discussion Board |
| Thu | 10/22 | Karger and Stoesz, Chapter 18; Jansson, Chapter 5 | International and global perspectives. Crisis of the welfare state. Reinventing government. Reconceptualizing the welfare state. | |
| Thu | 10/29 | Karger and Stoesz, Chapter 10, & 11 / Jansson, Chapters 6 & 11 | Social Welfare Policy & Poverty | Quiz |
| Thu | 11/5 | Karger and Stoesz, Chapter 12 / Jansson, Chapters 8, 10 & 12 | American Health Care and Policy Advocacy: A Moral Imperative; Confronting the AIDS Issue: The Response of Social Welfare | Discussion Board #5 |
| Thu | 11/12 | Karger and Stoesz, Chapter 12 / Jansson, Chapters 8, 10 & 12 | American Health Care and Policy Advocacy (continued | |
| Thu | 11/19 | Karger and Stoesz, Chapters 13 & 14 / Jansson, Chapters 13 & 14 | Implementing Homelessness Policy in America; Housing Policy: History and Current Reform Efforts; Food Policy. | Discussion Board #6 |
| Thu | 11/26 | Holiday No Class | ||
| Thu | 12/3 | Karger and Stoesz, Chapters 15th& 16th | Criminal Justice & Child Welfare | |
| Thu | 12/10 | Legislative Policy Paper Due |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.