Courses Fall 2009

(Kent McClelland) 4 credits, prerequisites: none. This course introduces students to some of the most important social institutions and policies shaping the everyday life of British families of different class positions and ethnic backgrounds. We will focus on the history and current functioning of major institutions of the British welfare state-the educational system, the health system, systems of social insurance and public pensions, employment programmes, housing programmes, and programmes providing services for people with special needs-in the context of the governmental, legal, and economic institutions of the United Kingdom. A field trip to the west of England will examine the impact of policies made in London on the provision of social services in small-town settings. An important goal of the course is to give the student new perspectives on policy issues affecting comparable institutions in his or her home country.