Canyon College Syllabus
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Course Number and Title: SW506 – History and Philosophy of Social Work
School of Learning: Social Work
Instructor: Keith F. Harris, MSW, LMSW, BCD
Contact: kfharris@canyoncollege.edu
Credits: 3 Semester Credits
Prerequisites: Undergraduate course in Social Work
Required Text Online Bookstore
The Reluctant Welfare State, 5th Edition,
by Bruce S. Jansson. Wadsworth, 2004.
ISBN: 0534574696
Course Description
This course will feature enhanced attention to the ethical reasoning surrounding a range of issues affecting the lives of many people. From a historical perspective, this course will attempt to increase the student's understanding of how the lives of ordinary people and social work clients are deeply affected by social policies of local, state, and federal governments.
Course Objectives
Upon the completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Gain an increased knowledge of the history and the philosophy regarding the American social welfare state.
- Better understand the historical oppression of diverse groups including women, African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, gay men and lesbians, older Americans, children, and people with physical and mental disabilities.
- Evaluate the social policies, past and current that greatly impacts the quality of life for the previously mentioned diverse groups.
- Understand the importance of ethical reasoning about a range of issues, including controversial policies and social reform.
- Analyze the limitations and strengths of the American welfare state, including the role of federal government as well as state and local governments.
- Familiarize themselves with the evolution and direction of the social work profession.
- Understand the ways the social reformers have used policy practice, policy advocacy, and social reform in order to help other groups improve.
- Gain a better understanding of how the lives of ordinary people and social work clients are deeply affected by social policies of local, state, and federal governments, as well as by agency policies.
Course Outline
- Assigned reading assignments.
- E-mail correspondence one on one with the instructor at least once during the eight week course. Please submit the following information to the instructor as soon as possible: name, e-mail address, user name, course expectations, brief Social Work experience if any or other work experience, educational background and any other special interests you may wish to share.
- Message board participation for individual and group discussions are available upon request.
- Classroom (Chat room) discussions are also possible if desired.
- Exams: Midterm and Final. Each exam is worth 50% of the course grade.
Week 1: Read Text, Chap. 1 & 2
Week 2: Read Text, Chap. 3 & 4
Week 3: Read Text, Chap. 5 & 6
Week 4: Read Text, Chap. 7
NOTE: Upon completion of week 4 reading assignment, e-mail instructor for discussion and permission to take the mid-term exam.
Week 5: Read Text, Chap. 8 & 9
Week 6: Read Text, Chap. 10 & 11
Week 7: Read Text, Chap. 12 & 13
Week 8: Read Text, Chap. 14
NOTE: Upon completion of week 8 reading assignment, e-mail instructor for discussion and permission to take the final exam.
Grading
A 90 - 100%
B 80 - 89%
C 70 - 79%
D 60 - 69%
F 0 - 59%
Version #2 – 22 February 2010