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.
US Social Services Compared
Give your career the gift of Coursera Plus with $160 off, billed annually. Save today.
US Social Services Compared
This course is part of Social Policy for Social Services & Health Practitioners Specialization
Instructor: John Robertson
5,862 already enrolled
Included with 
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.8
(150 reviews)
Beginner level
No prior experience required
16 hours to complete
3 weeks at 5 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
What you'll 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'll gain
- - Formulate practice strategies to overcome the historic biases in social welfare programs
- - 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
- - Differentiate alternative approaches to social policy problems
- - Develop social welfare policy analysis and reform proposals
Details to know
Shareable certificate
Add to your LinkedIn profile
Assessments
4 assignments
Taught in English
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills
Build your subject-matter expertise
This course is part of the Social Policy for Social Services & Health Practitioners Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
- Learn new concepts from industry experts
- Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
- Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
- Earn a shareable career certificate
Earn a career certificate
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV
Share it on social media and in your performance review
There are 4 modules in this course
In this module, you will develop an understanding of the domains, values, and expenditures of the U.S. welfare state.
What's included
9 videos1 reading1 assignment2 peer reviews
In this module, you will explore the domains of the US welfare state and differentiate the floor, platform and safety net components
What's included
9 videos1 reading1 assignment1 peer review
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.
What's included
7 videos2 readings1 assignment1 peer review
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
What's included
13 videos1 reading1 assignment2 peer reviews3 discussion prompts
Instructor
Instructor ratings
4.7 (41 ratings)Offered by
Recommended if you're interested in Governance and Society
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP)
University of Minnesota
University of Michigan
O.P. Jindal Global University
Why people choose Coursera for their career
Felipe M.
Learner since 2018
"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."
Jennifer J.
Learner since 2020
"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."
Larry W.
Learner since 2021
"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."
Chaitanya A.
"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."
Learner reviews
Showing 3 of 150
4.8
150 reviews
- 5 stars
80%
- 4 stars
16%
- 3 stars
3.33%
- 2 stars
0.66%
- 1 star
0%
Open new doors with Coursera Plus
Unlimited access to 7,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription
Advance your career with an online degree
Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online
Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business
Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy
Frequently asked questions
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
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.
If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy.