MCCCD Program Description

A Social Services Perspective of Government

Course: SWU182

First Term: 2018 Fall

Lecture 3.0 Credit(s) 3.0 Period(s) 3.0 Load
Subject Type: Occupational
Load Formula: S- Standard

Description: Government and the role of policy practice in advancing social and economic justice and effective social services within the southwest.

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Identify the mission and core values of the social work profession in relation to policy practice. (I, VI, VII, VIII) 2. Identify the historical underpinnings of the federal, state, tribal, county, and municipal levels of governments. (II, III, V) 3. Explain the unique role of each level of government, and the similarities and differences between their structures and divisions of power. (II, III, IV, V, VI) 4. Describe the historical background of the development of reservations, the structure and divisions of power of tribal governments, the role of tribal law, the concept of tribal sovereignty, and the interrelationship between tribal, state, and federal governments. (II, III, V) 5. Apply the principles of civil liberty to civil rights and social justice. (IV) 6. Explain the electoral process of each level of government. (V) 7. Describe the process involved in the creation of law and public policy. (VIII, IX) 8. Identify and apply various policy models that help explain the development of public policy and political advocacy. (VII, VIII, IX, X) 9. Summarize the role of the social service professionals in influencing public policy through advocacy and policy practice. (VII, VIII, IX, X, XI) 10. Demonstrate understanding of the values and ethical considerations for a social services worker working within the political arena. (X, XI) 11. Identify the influence of the media, special interest groups, and corporations on public policy. (IX) 12. Demonstrate political advocacy related to a contemporary social issue. (VIII, X, XI)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Social Services in Relation to Government A. How social services are impacted by and interact with all levels of government B. Social welfare and the role of government actions and services II. Historical Background of the United States Structure of Government A. Becoming a Democratic Republic B. The Constitution of the United States C. Federalism III. Historical Background of State, Tribal and Local Structures of Government A. The Arizona Constitution B. County, Classes, and Charters C. Incorporation of Municipal Areas D. Charters Tribal Sovereignty and Governance IV. Civil Liberties and Civil Rights A. The Bill of Rights B. Freedom of Religion, Speech, Assembly and Privacy C. Balancing the Rights of Individuals and the Rights of Society V. Government Structures, Division of Power, and Relationship between Levels of Government A. National Legislative, Judicial and Executive Branches B. State, County, Municipal, and Tribal governments C. Interrelationship between Tribal, State, and Federal Governments D. Electoral Process VI. Federal and State Bureaucracies VII. Policy Models A. Incrementalism B. Elite Theory C. Rational Theory D. Critical Theory VIII. The Creation of Law and Public Policy A. How a bill becomes law- Federal and State B. Policy models in action IX. The Role of Special Interest Groups, Corporations, and the Media in Influencing Public Policy X. Policy Practice and the Practitioner`s Influence upon Policy: Becoming a Change Agent A. Mission of the Social Work Profession - Core values, educational standards B. NASW Code of Ethics in relation to policy practice XI. Social Service Values and Ethics in the Political Arena A. Social and Economic Justice B. Empowerment C. Self-determination D. Responsibilities to the broader society - promoting the general welfare, public participation, and social and political action

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: December 12, 2017

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.