SCWK 3770 - Social Policy
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 03, CRN 41620,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Breea Burke
Email: bburke02@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 | American Social Welfare Policy: A Pluralist Approach (9th ed) | Karger, H.; Stoesz, D | 976-0-13-747224-6 |
| Required | Becoming An Effective Policy Advocate: From Policy Practice to Social Justice | Jansson, B. | 978-1-305-94335-3 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue | 8/25 | Syllabus & Course Review | ||
| Tue | 9/1 | Read for 9/1 Class: Karger & Stoesz Chapters 1 & 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 | Due 9/1 before 6:00:38pm: Discussion Board 1 - Reply |
| Tue | 9/8 | Read for 9/8 Class: Jansson Chapters 1, 2, & 3 | Policy Advocacy | Due 9/8 before 6:00:15pm: Discussion Board 2 - Reply |
| Tue | 9/15 | Read for 9/15 Class: Karger and Stoesz: Chapters 8 & 10 | Policy Practice & Organizational Settings | Due 9/15 at 11:59pm: Advocacy Letter #1 Due 9/15 before 6:00:11pm: Discussion Board #3 - Reply |
| Tue | 9/22 | Read for 9/22 Class: Jansson, Chapters 4 & 6 | Policy Practice & Organizational Settings Continued | Due 9/22 before 6:00:18pm: Discussion Board 4 - Reply |
| Tue | 9/29 | Read for 9/29 Class: Karger & Stoesz: Chapters 2 & 13 | Overview of the Policy Making Process Critical Issues from Formulation to Implementation: A Rational Theory of Social Policy: Models for Analysis. Mental Health as an example of policy analysis | Due 9/29 at 6pm: Quiz #1 |
| Tue | 10/6 | Read for 10/6 Class: Jansson, Chapters 7, 9 & 14 | Overview of the Policy Making Process | Due 10/6 before 6:00:44pm: Discussion Board #5 - Reply |
| Tue | 10/13 | Read for 10/13 Class: Karger & Stoesz Chapters 4 & 5 | Poverty Causes & 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. | Due 10/13 at 11:59pm: Current Events Paper |
| Tue | 10/20 | Read for 10/20 Class: Karger & Stoesz Chapter 18; Jansson Chapter 5 | International and global perspectives. Crisis of the welfare state. Reinventing government. Reconceptualizing the welfare state. | Due 10/20 before 6:00:30pm: Discussion Board #6 - Reply |
| Tue | 10/27 | Read for 10/27 Class: Karger & Stoesz Chapter 10 (review) & 11; Jansson Chapters 6 (review) & 11 | Social Welfare Policy & Poverty | Due 10/27 at 11:59pm: Legislative Policy Paper Part 1 |
| Tue | 11/3 | Read for 11/3 Class: 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 | |
| Tue | 11/10 | Catch up on any reading from previous class | American Health Care and Policy Advocacy (continued) | Due 11/10 at 7:15pm: Second Quiz |
| Tue | 11/17 | Read for 11/17 Class: Karger and Stoesz, Chapters 16 & 17/ Jansson, Chapters 13 & 14 (review) | Implementing Policy Homelessness in America; Housing Policy: History and Current Reform Efforts; Food Policy | Due 11/17 before 6:00:08pm: Discussion Board #7 - Reply Due 11/17 at 11:59pm: Legislative Policy Paper Part 2 |
| Tue | 11/24 | Read for 11/24 Class: Karger & Stoesz Chapters 14 & 15 | Criminal Justice & Child Welfare | Due 11/24 before 6:00:16pm: Discussion Board 8 - Reply |
| Tue | 12/1 | FINAL CLASS MEETING Review Course Material | Due 12/2 at 11:59pm: Legislative Policy Paper Part 3 |
|
| Tue | 12/8 | Finals Week- No scheduled class meeting |
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.