History of Social Welfare

Catalog description

This course explores the evolution of social welfare in the United States. Emphasis will be placed on the social, political, legal, economic, and philosophical forces that have forged American social welfare policy and helped shape the profession of social work. In exploring historical events, social justice and ethical lenses as well as issues of class, race, ethnicity, and gender, will provide frameworks through which to view current social welfare issues, including poverty, housing, health care, food insecurity, and others. The course will provide historical context to issues by exploring the development of policies such as The Social Security Act of 1935, The Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, The Civil Rights Act of 1965, The Personal Responsibility & Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, among others.  Crosslisted with SOCI 2410 .