SOWK 2200

This course introduces students to social welfare policy in Canada. Students will explore the historical development of these policies, considering the political, economic, and theoretical factors that shape them. This course will examine the experience of people accessing social welfare services, including the experience of women, Indigenous people, immigrants and refugees, children, and Francophone individuals. The role of the social worker to support service users and influence existing policies and social structures will be examined. Students will investigate the intersection of personal, professional, and societal values in relation to broader issues of power, oppression and the inclusion and exclusion of different societal members. Throughout this course, students will have the opportunity to critique policies based on their impact on service users and society.