Course Syllabus

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IN-SWK-505 Syllabus Social Policy Analysis and Practice (3 cr.)

Course Information:

Semester Year: Fall 2026

Section Number: 28145

Course Delivery Method: Online - Asynchronous

Class Meeting Dates (as applicable to delivery method):  August 24 - December 20

Course Description

This course examines the processes that influence the development of social policy and social services. Included are the legislative and political processes, models of policy analysis, service delivery and policy implementation. Effects of these on people are considered from global, political, economic, environmental, and social policy perspectives.

This course is developed around the general proposition that social workers utilize knowledge and skills to carry out roles and functions critical for practice. Such knowledge and skills include the application of social policy analysis, the legislative process, the role and impact of politics and political choice on the quality of life of people, and the effect of economic-social policy decision and judicial actions on social services. In addition, the course examines the variability of the common and uncommon attributes of service delivery systems.

Course Competencies

Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) 2022 EPAS Competencies addressed by this course:

    • Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice 
    • Social workers use social justice, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive lenses to assess how social welfare policies affect the delivery of and access to social services. 
    • Social workers apply critical thinking to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice. (CSWE, 2022 EPAS, pp. 10-11) 

    Secondary 

    • Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior 
    • Competency 3: Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice 

Course Objectives

  • 505-01: Examine approaches to policy analysis and frameworks to assess the social, political, economic and administrative feasibility of various policy proposals.  
  • 505-02: Examine the history and evolution of policies that impact social work practice.  
  • 505-03: Analyze the impact of the major policies that establish and regulate social service delivery systems.  
  • 505-04: Assess how social welfare and economic policies impact the delivery of and access to social services.  
  • 505-05: Assess the nature of power and control in the political and legislative process, and the management and control of information by lobbying forces.  
  • 505-06: Assess the impact of social and economic policies on the advancement or hindrance of social and environmental justice and human rights.   
  • 505-07: Evaluate relationships of social work values and ethics to service delivery, policy goals and the political process.  
  • 505-08: Design strategies to increase social and economic equity through policy implementation.  
  • 505-09: Evaluate the changing nature of individual, group, community and societal policy inter-dependency from a comparative global perspective.  

Course Outline

Grading Scale

Grading scale

Grade minimums are as follows: (Note: Grades below C are unsatisfactory in the MSW Program.)

Grading scale
A 93% Excellent, Exceptional Quality
A- 90% Superior Quality
B+ 87% Very Good, Slightly Higher Quality
B 83% Good, High Quality (expected of most MSW students)
B- 80% Satisfactory Quality
C+ 77% Marginal, Modestly Acceptable Quality
C 73% Marginal, Minimally Acceptable Quality
C- 70% Unsatisfactory Quality

 

Course Summary:

Course Summary
Date Details Due