In all nations, social policy is a very large public investment. Course 1 will explore the size, structure, and outcomes of U.S. social policy and compare this policy to those of similar developed countries. The course will also probe the values this policy represents and the values debate regarding about how big our welfare state should be— in other words, how much of our education, housing, health, income support, and social services the government should supply and how much individuals should supply for themselves. This course addresses issues of power, oppression, and white supremacy.
This course is part of the Social Policy for Social Services & Health Practitioners Specialization
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About this Course
What you will learn
Describe the development of the welfare state across developed nations distinguishing choices made in education, health or pensions
Evaluate the structures of the US welfare state to explain US choices in education, health or pensions of those seeking aid.
Differentiate the public and private welfare state to interpret structures of education, health or pensions to those seeking services
Honors: Summarize and critique readings to professionally interpret them. Identify a topic to a professional memo.
Skills you will gain
Offered by

Columbia University
For more than 250 years, Columbia has been a leader in higher education in the nation and around the world. At the core of our wide range of academic inquiry is the commitment to attract and engage the best minds in pursuit of greater human understanding, pioneering new discoveries and service to society.
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Social Policy and the Welfare State
In this module, you will develop an understanding of the domains, values, and expenditures of the U.S. welfare state.
Social Policy Structure
In this module, you will explore the domains of the US welfare state and differentiate the floor, platform and safety net components
Comparing U.S. Social Policy with Europe: Investment & Effects
This module will compare US and comparable western nations in a country's approach to education, health care and income stability. The module will address the relative place of the US in the structure of it welfare state.
Does the Welfare State Enrich Us of Impoverish Us?
In this module, we will explain the size, structure and outcomes of US social policy when compared with comparable developed nations and to differentiate the conservative approaches to social welfare
Reviews
TOP REVIEWS FROM US SOCIAL SERVICES COMPARED
The course was very informative, it definitely broaden my knowledge of Social Services in the US and other Countries. I would recommend my co-workers to take this course.
"US Social Services Compared" - I am hoping this course will help me out with a clear concept of US Social Services Compared. Thanks COURSERA for the such online access.
The quality of the content is good for an introductory course. The high amount of typos in the slides is distracting when you're trying to take notes.
Excellent information and well presented. Love the honors section that provides an opportunity for further learning and feedback from peers.
About the Social Policy for Social Services & Health Practitioners Specialization
In the U.S., social policy accounts for two-thirds of government spending. Knowing how policies are constructed, what values underlie them, and how they succeed or fail makes everyone more effective at work or in their civic role. This specialization includes an HONORS track in which learners will complete a professional social policy analysis.

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