3 credit hours

Social Work Policy and Services provides the content in the foundation curriculum. This course provides an introduction to the field of social welfare, primarily in the United States. Values and concepts that are important to an understanding of social welfare policy and services are presented. By examining historical and contemporary perspectives and concepts, the course traces the development of the profession and practice of social work. The course prepares students to describe and begin analyzing social welfare policies and services, and distributive justice in social, cultural, political, economic, and global contexts. As a prerequisite to advanced practice, it also introduces the student to policy and service analysis and the skills required for the critical analysis and change of current social welfare policies.