398. Experimental Courses
Social Welfare Policy
The modern social welfare state in the U.S. has its roots in the Roosevelt Administration's New Deal. Popular income security programs such as Social Security and Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC, also known as "welfare") began in 1935 as part of the federal government's social welfare policy. This course systematically examines the evolution of these public policies, and it analyzes the political history surrounding social welfare issues in the U.S. First, we will begin a historical overview of social welfare policy. Next, we will explore the policy debates surrounding income security programs and the consequences of poverty. Then, we will examine the controversies of policy reform and service delivery of health care in the U.S. Last, we will explore the dimensions of the U.S. educational system and alternative approaches.