Course Description
Through a multilevel exploration of factors related to poverty in welfare states, students will gain an understanding of the diverse individual, social, economic, and political causes of poverty and will explore viable policy solutions.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
In coordination with the graduate student’s advisory committee, graduate students will complete additional reading from professional and academic literature and make significant progress on an empirical research project. Graduate students will also meet with the instructor bi-weekly for graduate-level discussion of the additional reading material and an assessment of the student's progress on the empirical research project.
Athena Title
Poverty in America
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in FHCE 5175E or FHCE 7175E
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall and spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
- Students will be exposed to the long history of economic insecurity and poverty in America. - Students will explore the multiple individual, economic, and financial decisions that contribute to an individual/family entering poverty. - Students will explore the multiple individual, economic, and financial decisions that contribute to an individual/family exiting poverty. - Through in-class activities, students will be encouraged to develop or increase their capacity for empathy for the impoverished individual/family’s perspective as well as an increased awareness of cultural differences that may contribute to their poverty status. - During the semester students will understand and apply evaluation criteria to current local, state, and federal government public assistance policies affecting low-income and/or impoverished consumers. - By the end of the semester, students will understand the different methodologies used to measure economic insecurity and poverty. - Ultimately, students will propose decision-making and/or policy changes that could positively impact an individual’s or family’s poverty status.
Topical Outline
History of Poverty in America 19th Century 20th Century 21st Century Measuring Poverty in America The Census Bureau The Department of Health and Human Services Consumer Decision-making Models Social Models Psychological Models Economic Models Financial Models Poverty Contributing Variables Education Employment Family structure Family size Substance Abuse Social Injustice Cultural Norms Needs-based Programs SNAP TANF WIC HUD Methodologies to determine the effectiveness of Needs-based Programs: Needs Assessments Cost-benefit Analysis Program Proposals Student-Generated
Syllabus