Social welfare policies for professionals and citizens. For areas such as health, education, and social services: focus on anyone who works with people or holds the right to choose.
Suggested by: Coursera (What is Coursera?)
No prior knowledge required
No unnecessary risks
In the United States, social policy accounts for two-thirds of government spending. Understanding how policies are constructed, what values underlie them, and what successes or failures they have, allows us all to be more effective in our work or civic roles. The specialization includes an honors track in which students will conduct a professional analysis of social policy.
Teachers, health care workers, police officers, and social workers deal with policy on a daily basis, but we must care about the impact and quality of these programs. Health and mental health programs, education, housing and income supports, pensions, criminal justice services, veterans programs, child protective services, and immigration services create a system of support that all Americans benefit from. They also reflect the ethics and values of Americans, and indicate how we view and care for the most vulnerable in society.
The expertise will explore the size, structure, and outcomes of social policy in the United States by comparing it to the approaches of other developed countries.
At the end of the course, the learner will be knowledgeable about working, utilizing, and voting in the United States welfare system.
All learners will engage in video lectures and use tests to verify their understanding of American social policy and their skills in navigating policy programs. Proficient learners will read articles related to the course and write a summary and critique of each reading. These writing assignments will prepare the Proficient Learner to present policy-related material in their professional work.
Throughout the series, outstanding learners will research a social policy problem, conduct a policy analysis, and write and present a professional policy paper based on their research. These research and writing skills will not only enhance their professional abilities in their work, but will also prepare outstanding learners for graduate study in social policy if they wish to continue their studies for an advanced degree.
