Review the course syllabus, and, in a couple of sentences, indicate what you expect to learn in this class.
Course Description
This course will examine the evolution of American public aid from its roots in Elizabethan Poor Law to 21st century welfare programs offered by churches, charities and government.
Students will learn about and research the concept of "worthy poor," reforms to institutions such as orphanages and penitentiaries, the ever-shifting response to immigrants, the influence of abolition and the civil rights movements, and benefits to veterans and their families.
The course will conclude with students examining their own perceptions in light of historical trends.
Learning Outcomes & Competencies (Students will be able to:)
Communication: Express and interpret ideas clearly, using a variety of written, oral and/or visual forms.
Construct coherent, organized expression appropriate to a variety of disciplines and audiences.
Apply the basic mechanics of language (syntax, grammar, punctuation, and spelling) effectively.
Critical & Creative Thinking: Use different modes of disciplinary and interdisciplinary inquiry to explore ideas and issues from multiple perspectives.
Assess ideas, research, and/or theories presented by others
Synthesize multiple perspectives into a coherent understanding of a problem, issue, or question
Ethical & Social Responsibility: Express ethical & social implications in one's social, professional, artistic and/or scholarly practice.
Articulate one's own values and situate them with respect to the larger society
Identify the ethical and social implications of one's own values
Exhibit ethical scholarly practice
Course Specific Competencies
Identify changing perceptions of and responses to Americans needing community support from the 17th century to the 21st century
Describe how socio-economic, political, and religious influences and leaders have shaped social welfare movements
Explain the impact of race, gender, class, and ethnicity on the American welfare state
Distinguish between primary and secondary sources and evaluate conflicting sources
Explain how personal perceptions have been shaped by historical public welfare activities and policies
Course Topics
Historiography
Primary/ Secondary Sources
Elizabethan Poor Law
Indoor/ Outdoor Relief including prisons/ corrections facilities
Women and Child Welfare
Charity Organization Movement
Settlement House Movement
Progressive Movement
Public Welfare Movement
Depression and the New Deal
War on Poverty
21st Century Social Welfare
Military Veterans