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.
The course is part of a sequence in social policy that has an HONORS TRACK. This track will prepare the learner for masters-level work in policy, which involves reading the literature, writing concise summaries and probing critiques. Over the sequence the learner will develop a policy analysis that will create a foundation for professional policy analyst assignments.
This course is part of the Social Policy for Social Services & Health Practitioners Specialization
What Is the Welfare State? A Cross-National Comparison
Offered By
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
- Distinguish the values inherent in each social policy initiative- Critique components of a social policy based on their effectiveness at meeting the goals stated in the initiative- Develop social welfare policy analysis and reform proposals- Differentiate alternative approaches to social policy problems- Formulate practice strategies to overcome the historic biases in social welfare programs
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
14 hours to complete
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.
9 videos (Total 51 min), 1 reading, 3 quizzes
9 videos
Sequence video: Why Social Policy - alumni3m
Domains5m
Values5m
Expenditures6m
Welfare State6m
Module 1 Wrap Up40s
The Honors assignments9m
Policy Project: Introduction9m
1 reading
Reading 1: The Welfare State10m
1 practice exercise
Quiz: Module 1 Overview15m
Week
23 hours to complete
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
9 videos (Total 41 min), 1 reading, 2 quizzes
9 videos
Education4m
Healthcare7m
Social Insurance6m
Public Aid3m
Social Services5m
Safety Nets and Floors by Professor Garfinkel2m
Housing4m
Module 2 Wrap Up2m
1 reading
Federal Benefits and Services for People with Low Income10m
1 practice exercise
Quiz: Module 2 Overview15m
Week
33 hours to complete
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.
7 videos (Total 44 min), 2 readings, 2 quizzes
7 videos
Education8m
Early Childhood by Professor Waldfogel6m
Healthcare9m
Income6m
Leader? Or Laggard? by Professor Garfinkel5m
Module 3 Wrap Up1m
2 readings
Dr. Heidi Allen's TEDMED talk on "the cost of being uninsured in America"10m
Welfare State Myths and Measurement10m
1 practice exercise
Quiz: Module 3 Overview15m
Week
46 hours to complete
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
12 videos (Total 69 min), 1 reading, 3 quizzes
12 videos
Size of the Welfare State5m
The Structure of the Welfare State9m
Floors and Platforms3m
Outcomes7m
Fragile Families by Professor Garfinkel6m
Wealth & the Welfare State by Professor Garfinkel6m
Economic Conservatives5m
Social Conservatives4m
Module 4 Wrap Up1m
Summary & Critique Description5m
Summary and Critique: How to Evaluate8m
1 reading
Understand the Hidden $1.1 Trillion Welfare System and How to Reform it20m
1 practice exercise
Quiz: Module 4 Overview15m
Instructor
John Robertson
Policy LecturerSchool of Social Work, Columbia University in New York City
About 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.
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.
Teachers, health care workers, police, and social workers interact with policy daily, but all of us should care about the impact and effectiveness of these programs. Health and mental health programs, education, housing and income supports, pensions, criminal justice services, veterans’ programs, child protective services, and immigration services create a support system all Americans will draw upon. They also reveal Americans' ethics and values, indicating how we regard and care for our most vulnerable.
This specialization will explore the size, structure, and outcomes of U.S. social policy by
-comparing it with the approaches of other developed nations.
-examining the history of our efforts and probing population effects that shape policy.
-looking deeply into support for families in general, poor families, people with disabilities, and the elderly.
-mapping out existing policies for housing, education, healthcare, immigration and child welfare.
-addressing issues of power, oppression, and white supremacy.
By the end of the course the learner will be at home working in, utilizing, and voting in the U.S. welfare system.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
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