Course Syllabus
IN-SWK-505 Syllabus Social Policy Analysis and Practice (3 cr.)
Course Information:
Semester Year: Fall 2026
Section Number: SWK 505-29982
Course Delivery Method: Hybrid (Online through Canvas and in person)
Class Meeting Dates: Every Wednesday from 6:00 pm to 7:20 pm beginning August 26. There will be no class during Thanksgiving week.
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 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.
Required Course Materials
- Karger, H. J., & Stoesz, D. (2022). American social welfare policy: A pluralist approach (Ninth edition). Pearson Education. This text is found on your left navigation bar under IUeTexts (Unizin Engage)
Assessment and Grading
Specific instructions for each assignment are posted in Canvas. Your instructor will also discuss details or answer any questions related to the assignment via Canvas Conversations (email) and/or during office hours or class time.
All assignments (i.e., papers) should be double-spaced with one-inch margins on all sides. They should be carefully edited and proofread. They should use no smaller than a 12-point font, and they should conform to current APA style. The assignment dates listed below are subject to change.
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Thu Aug 27, 2026 |
Discussion Topic M1 Group Discussion |
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Sun Aug 30, 2026 |
Assignment M1 Individual Application |
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Thu Sep 3, 2026 |
Assignment M2 PlayPosit |
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Assignment M2 Quick Check |
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Mon Sep 7, 2026 |
Assignment M2 Individual Application |
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Thu Sep 10, 2026 |
Assignment M3 |
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Assignment M3 Quick Check |
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Sun Sep 13, 2026 |
Assignment M3 Individual Application |
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Tue Sep 15, 2026 |
Assignment M4 Quick Check |
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Thu Sep 24, 2026 |
Assignment M5 PlayPosit |
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Assignment M5 Quick Check |
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Sun Sep 27, 2026 |
Assignment M5 |
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Tue Sep 29, 2026 |
Assignment M6 Quick Check |
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Thu Oct 1, 2026 |
Assignment M6 Individual Application |
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Sun Oct 4, 2026 |
Assignment M4 Individual Application |
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Tue Oct 6, 2026 |
Assignment M7 Quick Check |
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Fri Oct 16, 2026 |
Assignment Midterm |
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Sun Oct 18, 2026 |
Assignment M7 Individual Application |
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Tue Oct 20, 2026 |
Assignment M9 |
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Sun Nov 1, 2026 |
Assignment M10 Quick Check |
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Tue Nov 3, 2026 |
Assignment M11 Quick Check |
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Fri Nov 6, 2026 |
Discussion Topic M11 Discussion |
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Sun Nov 8, 2026 |
Assignment M10 Individual Application |
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Quiz M10 Self-Reflection Survey |
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Mon Nov 9, 2026 |
Discussion Topic M5 Discussion |
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Tue Nov 10, 2026 |
Assignment M12 |
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Sun Nov 15, 2026 |
Assignment M11 Individual Application |
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Sun Nov 22, 2026 |
Assignment M12 Individual Application |
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Mon Nov 30, 2026 |
Assignment Signature Assignment: Policy Analysis Paper |
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Tue Dec 1, 2026 |
Assignment M14 |
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Sun Dec 6, 2026 |
Discussion Topic M14 Discussion |
Grading standards
Papers are graded on the quality of the final product, not on the effort you extended to complete them. The grade of A is reserved for truly outstanding work that goes beyond basic requirements.
In the Indiana University School of Social Work MSW program, grades of B are the expected norm. Reflecting competency and proficiency, grades of B reflect good or high- quality work typical of graduate students in professional schools. Indeed, professors typically evaluate students’ work in such a way that B is the average grade. Grades in both the A and the C range are relatively uncommon and reflect work that is significantly superior to or significantly inferior to, respectively, the average, high-quality, professional work conducted by most IU MSW students. Because of this approach to grading, students who routinely earned A grades in their undergraduate studies may conclude that a B grade reflects a decrease in their academic performance. Such is not the case. Grades of B in the IU MSW program reflect the average, highly-competent, proficient quality of our students. In a sense, a B grade in graduate school is analogous to an A grade in undergraduate studies. MSW students must work extremely hard to achieve a B grade. If you are fortunate enough receive a B, prize it as evidence of the professional quality of your work.
Grades of A reflect excellence. Excellent scholarly products and academic or professional performances are substantially superior to the “good,” “the high quality,” “the competent,” or the “satisfactory.” They are unusual, exceptional, and extraordinary. Criteria for assignments are not only met, but also are exceeded by a significant margin. Excellence is a rare phenomenon. As a result, relatively few MSW students earn A grades.
Grades of B signify good or high-quality scholarly products and academic or professional performance. Grades in the B range reflect work expected of a conscientious graduate student in a professional program. Criteria for assignments are met in a competent, thoughtful, and professional manner. However, the criteria are not exceeded, and the quality is not substantially superior to other good quality products or performances. There is a clear distinction between the good and the excellent. We expect that most MSW students will earn grades in the B range—reflecting the good or high-quality work expected of competent future helping professionals.
Grades of C and C+ signify work that is marginal in nature. The scholarly products or professional performances meet many, but not all, of the expected criteria. The work approaches, but does not quite meet, the standards of quality expected of a graduate student in a professional school. Satisfactory in many respects, its quality is not consistently so and cannot be considered of good or high quality. We anticipate that a minority of MSW students will earn C and C+ grades.
Grades of C- and lower reflect work that is unsatisfactory. The products or performances do not meet several, many, or most of the criteria. The work fails to approach the standards of quality expected of a graduate student and a future MSW-level professional. We anticipate that a small percentage of MSW students will earn unsatisfactory grades of C-, D, and F.
Grading scale
Grade minimums are as follows: (Note: Grades below C are unsatisfactory in the MSW Program.)
| A | 93% | Excellent, Exceptional Quality |
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| 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 |