MS in Social Policy
Curriculum
The ten-course, ten-credit curriculum is designed to provide students with the knowledge base and analytical skills needed to participate in policy analysis and development.
Core Courses (Required)
Social Policy Analysis: Part 1
Social Policy Analysis: Part 2
Research & Evaluation Design
Quantitative Reasoning
Applied Linear Modeling
Social Welfare and Economics
Capstone Seminar (Required)
The Capstone Seminar will focus on the integration of the theory and practice of social policy analysis. The course builds on the previous offerings and provides an opportunity to apply the skills learned, based on: a) the student’s area of interest; b) the student’s policy research internship; and c) the content of and plan for the student's Capstone Seminar Report (CSR).
Social Policy Capstone Seminar I
Social Policy Capstone Seminar II
Social Policy Internships (credit incorporated in Capstone Seminar)
Students have the opportunity to practice their policy analysis skills and gain work experience through a summer internship. The 6-8 week internship is structured on the basis of individual student interests and past social policy experience(s). When appropriate, students may complete the internship requirement at their current place of employment. Internships may occur anywhere in the United States or in another country best suited to the learning objectives of the student. In every case, the policy field experiences must consist of a minimum commitment of 15 hours per week.
Electives (Required)
Three elective courses offer students the opportunity to maximize breadth in multiple substantive policy areas or to choose a specialized area of social policy analysis and conduct further research. Two possible specialized tracks are:
Social Policy & the Law Track:
Selected electives that may be taken to support the Social Policy and the Law Track: The courses listed here are illustrative only and may not be taught each year. Special permission may be required from Penn's Law School for students to register for particular electives.
The School of Social Policy and Practice offers: Social Welfare and the Law; Equity, Equality, Personal Rights & the Public Interest; and Principles of Legal Research.
The Law School offers: Special Topics in the Law and Social Welfare;
Contemporary Issues in Law & Politics; Current Issues in Health Care Law & Policy; Education Law; Employment Discrimination; Comparative & International Labor Law; Family Law in the World Community; Feminist Legal Theory; International Human Rights; and Immigration Law.Social Welfare Policy Tracks:
Social Welfare policy tracks may be organized either by social welfare policy domain, policy issue(s) or by selected population groups.
Social Welfare Policy Specializations are possible in the following areas: Behavioral Health; Child Welfare; Education; Environmental Issues; Family Services; Gerontology; Health; Housing (including homelessness) & Community Development; Human Rights; Income Security; Immigration; International & Comparative Social Policy; Justice (Criminal and Social); Religion & Spirituality; Sex & Gender; Violence; Welfare & Welfare Reform; Workplace & Workforce; Youth Development.
Courses that could be used to support the social welfare policy electives are: Health & Mental Health Policy; Policies for Children & Families; Social & Economic Development; Comparative Social Welfare; Economics of Aging; Welfare Politics; Intimate Violence; Poverty, Welfare and Work; Mental Health Policy; Social Policy & the Aged; Modern Cities and their Dilemmas; Housing Policy; Religion, Social Work and Social Policy; Social Policy & the Aged; Modern Cities and their Dilemmas; Addictions Policy; Financing Behavioral Health Policy; Comparative Social Entrepreneurship; Policy for International Development.
*The courses listed here are illustrative only and may not be taught each year.
In addition, other courses may be identified in the Fels Institute, the Medical, Nursing, and Wharton Schools, Urban Studies, and other departments in the School of Arts and Sciences.
