Social Policy and Inequity

Catalog description

Social policy is concerned with promoting the welfare of citizens, including issues such as poverty, health, housing, education, and unemployment, among others. Many contemporary social policies are justified on the grounds of equity, as well as other ethical considerations. In this class, we will look at policies that address social inequity, with a particular focus on socially disadvantaged and vulnerable populations. Special emphasis will be placed on understanding different dimensions of social equity in social policy debates at the federal, state, and local levels. We will utilize common ethical frameworks, such as justice, equality, fairness, and care, alongside other analysis tools, to examine these policies.Topics vary from year to year or term. Students may repeat the course, but may not repeat the topic. This course can be taken as part of the Public Policy minor and immersion or may be taken as an elective.