SOC 255 — Introduction to Social Welfare
(3 Lecture 0 Lab 0 Shop) 3 Hrs./Wk. (3 Hrs. Lecture) *1 5 wks. This course is an introduction to social welfare, exploring its historical development through the varying political perspectives that impacted its growth, as well as the current issues faced by American society today. Among the topics discussed are human diversity, religion, poverty, child welfare, crime and criminal justice, health care, mental health and developmental disabilities, homelessness, aging, and the social and environmental factors associated with each. Students are challenged to expand their knowledge of social welfare systems and gain a basic understanding of social work as an applied profession.