SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK

SOCIAL WORK - SW 2650-001
Instructor:
Zach Bullock, M.S.W, L.C.S.W
Email: Zach.Bullock@slcc.edu
Office: LAC-115B
Phone: 801-957-4546
Text:
Marx, Jerry, D. Social Welfare: The American Partnership
Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Course Description:
This is an introductory level course that will examine the United States' response to the
needs of the poor, disenfranchised, discriminated, and oppressed people of this country.
Students will explore values and attitudes as well as the political and economic forces
that have brought about particular social welfare policies and programs during our
history. At first we will explore the value systems that have influenced commonly held
views of poor and minority groups and how these views influenced our treatment and
care of social needs. How has history, morality, and values influenced this treatment?
Next, we will examine social welfare programs and institutions developed during critical
times of need in the United States. Finally, the course will review how political climates
have influenced policymaking decisions.
Methodology:

This class will be conducted in an open discussion format. Students will be assigned
weekly readings and will be expected to keep current with readings in order to
participate effectively in the class discussions. The instructor will create an open
environment friendly to disclosure of thoughts, ideas, and opinions. Class assignments
and tests will be geared toward the goal of critical thinking and analysis. Guest
speakers may be used to enhance course content. This is a history course.
Title IX Information
20 U.S.C.A. Section 1681 (a): TITLE IX
No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from
participation in, be denied benefit of, or be subjected to discrimination under any
education program or activity receiving federal funds.
Examples of violations (but not limited to):

conduct

Sexual advances, requests for sexual favors or sexually motived physical

Overt or subtle pressure for sexual activity

Sexually offensive verbalization including remarks, teasing, slurs, and

innuendo
Repeated inappropriate jokes or comments abut sex or gender specific traits
Conduct that is demeaning or derisive and occurs substantially because of ones gender
Sexual assault
Sexual violence
Gender based disparate treatment
Violations can occur in any college environment, such as (but not limited to):
Field trips

Student clubs

Athletics

on-campus events

Transportation

Classrooms

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your rights or responsibilities, or if you
would like to file a Title IX complaint please contact:
Students
Dr. Martin Clark, Dean of Students, 801.957.4776, STC 276A (Redwood)
Employees or community members
Ken Stonebrook, Title IX, Discrimination Manager, 801.957.5027, AAB 211G (Redwood)
Online Reporting Form
http://www.slcc.edu/eeo/title-ix/complaint.aspx
Salt Lake Community College has a strong prohibition against
RETALIATION! The college does not tolerate acts of retaliation against anyone for
engaging in filing a complaint or participating in an investigation.
Course Objectives:

Introduce students to social welfare policy and policy analysis.

An understanding of how policy is developed and how laws are made.

Awareness of the dilemmas faced in social welfare policy development.

Identify the effects of policy on social work practice.

Help students assess their own biases and prejudices in order to better serve all
populations. What is your own social policy identity?

Exploration of the difficulties involved in providing effective social welfare

services. Discussion of the political and organization process that influence policy

Learning Outcomes Statement:

The primary goal of SW 2650 is to provide the student an opportunity to examine the
United States response to the needs of the poor, disenfranchised, discriminated, and
oppressed people of his country. The learning outcomes of this course match the
college-wide learning outcomes established by the SLCC in the following ways.
SLCC Learning Outcome #1: Upon successful completion of any program, students
should acquire substantive knowledge in the discipline of their choice sufficient for
further study, and /or demonstrate competencies required by employers to be hired and
succeed in the workplace.
SW2650 Learning Outcomes: At the end of this course students should be able to:
Demonstrate substantive knowledge of the political and economic forces
influencing social welfare policies and programs and their effects on social work
practice.
Gain substantive knowledge in the value systems that have influenced the US
treatment and care of the poor, disenfranchised, discriminated and oppressed.
SLCC Learning Outcome #2: Upon successful completion of any program,
students should be able to communicate effectively.
SW2650 Learning Outcomes: At the end of this course students should be able to:
Communicate effectively both orally and in writing their understanding of the
development of social policy, the impact of social policy on society and the advantages
and disadvantages of social policies.

SLCC Learning Outcome #3: Upon successful completion of any program, students
should develop quantitative literacies necessary of their chosen field of study
SW2650 Learning Outcomes: At the end of this course students should be able to:
Use and interpret information interpret information represented in data,
graphs, tables and statistics to gain an overview of the effects of social policies and
programs.
SLCC Learning Outcome #4: Upon successful completion of any program, students
should be able to think critically.
SW2650 Learning Outcomes: At the end of this course students should be able to:
Demonstrate key aspects of critical thinking such as the analysis of
effectiveness of social policies in meeting social welfare need and the identification of
plausible values.
Demonstrate key aspects of critical thinking in attitudes and/or reasons fore
the development of social policies.

Demonstrate key aspects of critical thinking in examination of the effective of

programs in the past, the present and the future.
SLCC Learning Outcome #5: Upon successful completion of any program, students
should develop the knowledge and kills to be critically engaged, and/or to work with
others in a professional and constructive manner.
SW2650 Learning Outcomes: At the end of this course students should be able to:
Have the knowledge and skills to evaluate the effectiveness of social welfare
policies and programs in meeting social welfare needs thus, providing then with skills
and understanding to work professionally and constructively in a social work
practice.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities Students with medical,
psychological, learning or other disabilities desiring accommodations or services under
ADA, must contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC ). The DRC determines
eligibility for and authorizes the provision of these accommodations and services for the
college. Please contact the DRC at the Student Center, Suite 244, Redwood Campus,
4600 So. Redwood Rd, 84123. Phone: (801) 957-4659, TTY: 957-4646, Fax: 9574947 or by email: linda.bennett@slcc.edu
Course Requirements
Examinations: There will be two examinations. Exams are based on assigned
readings, lectures, class discussions, videos and other class activities.
Current Events Group Presentation: A group presentation will be made to the class.
The presentation will discuss a social policy and its effect upon the population.. The
group will chose a social issue and develop a presentation reflecting the pros and cons
of the issue, impact on society, costs to implement, etc. Creativity is rewarded with this
exercise. Everyone is to participate.

Editorial Paper: Students will prepare a 2-3 page paper about a social welfare policy
that they would want to alleviate.
Legislative Session: This very brief paper will describe your reaction to the legislative
session you attended.
Social Policy Paper: Students will identify and examine a past or current social
welfare policy. Students will include in their paper the following:
1.
2.

A description of and reason for the population targeted

Accurate and documented (cited) research of both the pros and cons of the
policy

3.

Students own position and recommendation on the policy

4.

Costs to implement the policy

5.

Bibliography

6.

Blank

7.

The paper shall be 5-7 pages in length, Paper shall be written on a scholarly level
with attention to spelling, grammar, appropriate citations and coherent writing. A
bibliography consisting of all references is required and should be attached on a
separate page that does not count as of page of the text. The format for the paper
is APA using a 12 point font.

Grading: Grades will be based upon the following criteria:

Group Current Events

Presentation

Legislature Paper

50 points

20 points

Exam # 1

25 points

Exam # 2

25 points

Editorial Paper (2-3 pages)

15 points

Social Policy Paper

100 points

Participation

30 points

Total: .265 points

249 - 265 = A

204 212 =C

240 248 = A-

196 203 = C-

264 239 = B+

190 -195 = D+

225 233 = B

179 189 = D

218 224 = B-

172 178 =D-

213 218 = C+

Below 172 = E

Late Work: All work is expected to be completed and turned in on or before the day it
is due. Late assignments/papers are accepted under only dire circumstances
and graded at 50% of the possible points.
Writing Expectations: It is expected that all papers, essays and reports will be
written on a scholarly level with attention to spelling, grammar, appropriate citations
and coherent writing. Each product should follow APA guidelines and be written in a 12point font, double-spaced with one inch margins on all sides.
Tentative Schedule of Readings and Assignments:
While I make every effort to keep on schedule, we sometimes have to be flexible.
Week 1: Jan 9 Chapter 1
Historical Foundation of American Social Policy
Week 2: Jan 18 Chapter 2
The European Middle Ages and Early Modern Period
Week 3: Jan 23 Chapter 3
Beginning of America; Colonialism and Pre-Civil War
Week 4: Jan 30 Chapter 4
American Social Policy, Westward Expansion, and the Civil War
Week 5: Feb 6 Chapter 5
American Social Policy and the Industrial Boom
Week 6: Feb 13 Chapter 6
Industrialization Social Policy during the Progressive
Exam #1
Week 7: Feb 22 Chapter 7
American Social Policy in the Great Depression and World War II
Week 8: Feb 27 Chapter 8
Social Policy in the 1960s and 1970s
Week 9: March 6 Chapter 9
The Conservative Transition in American Social
Week 10: March 20 Chapter 10
Current Programs in Health and Human Service and Social Advocacy

Group Presentations due

Small essay paper due
Week 11: March 27 Chapter 11:
A Conceptual Framework for Policy Development
Week 13 April 3 Chapter 12:
Preparing for Policy Development
Week 13: April 10 - Chapter 13:
Thoroughly Understanding the Social Problem
Week 14: April 17 Chapter 14
Researching Technically Feasible Recommendations
Exam #2
Week 15: April 24 Chapter 15
Developing Final Recommendations
Policy papers due
Week 16: April 28 - Chapter 16
Advocating Policy Recommendations
Week 17: May 1 to May 4 TBD
Finals