BSW410 Social Policy: Practice Wisdom for the Common Good (3 cr.)

Prerequisite(s): HHSM302   or COM202; HHSM303  or COM204; APSY300  or PY111 or equivalent; APSY305  or PY211 or equivalent; BPH405  or ST132 or equivalent
Through a human rights lens, this course introduces notable social welfare policies and programs’ impact on human dignity and well-being in our society. Students learn about the synergistic relationship between policy development and generalist social work practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Students also learn common approaches to formulate, analyze, and evaluate policy options in collaboration with constituents and colleagues within and across professional disciplines.

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:

1. Analyze the tensions and ethical dilemmas inherent in professional practice around policies or programs that perpetuate, disregard, or deny the historic effects of discrimination, oppression, and trauma.
2. Examine how policies or proposed policy changes have contributed to or perpetuated the effects of discrimination, oppression, and trauma in underserved or underrepresented populations.
3. Select culturally responsive advocacy strategies that maximize capacities for self-determination and self-advocacy and promote institutional accountability to policy-affected clients and constituencies.
4. Identify complementary pathways from social work practice research to specific policy changes, and from specific policies to practice adaptations.
5. Address the successes and failures of existing and emerging social policies in protecting human rights and promoting the dignity and worth of all individuals.
6. Apply professional writing skills for different audiences and purposes, including drafting, editing, and the accurate use of discipline specific citation style.