Nov 23, 2024
OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2023-2024

SW 3602 - Social Welfare Policy


The second of a two-course sequence that covers the social welfare policy and practice content of the foundation curriculum for undergraduate social work education. Examines social policy stressing relationships between policy and social welfare organizations and agency funding; the practice of policy development and analysis; and the role of policy in social worker decision-making, advocacy, and practice. Expands on basic concepts, social work values, ethics, and principles.

Requisites: SW 1000 and 2601
Credit Hours: 3
Repeat/Retake Information: May be retaken two times excluding withdrawals, but only last course taken counts.
Lecture/Lab Hours: 3.0 lecture
Grades: Eligible Grades: A-F,WP,WF,WN,FN,AU,I
Learning Outcomes:
  • Analyze social welfare issues at the federal, state, and local levels; identify and critique policy development, planning, administrative, financial, and programmatic interventions at all levels that address social problems
  • Demonstrate generalist, strength-based policy skills through their written application to influence, formulate, and advocate for social welfare policies consistent with social work economic, political, and human service systems.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of major social welfare areas that form the foundation of social welfare (health care, mental health, substance abuse, criminal justice, child welfare, aging, housing, and food).
  • Explain how patterns of discrimination and injustice in the U.S. deferentially impact the way in which social welfare policies affect oppressed and disadvantaged populations.
  • Explain how values, ideologies, and empirical research influence the development of social welfare policy, and identify your own values, attitudes, and perspectives with respect to social welfare policy
  • Explain the role of social welfare policies on social work practice, individual and social well being, and on planning and implementation of service delivery.
  • Explain the social, biological, psychological, economic, environmental, political, and philosophical perspectives of social work.
  • Identify how social work ethics impact social work policy analysis and practice.


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