These two courses introduce all students to the design and implementation of social welfare interventions at the community, agency, and public policy levels. The courses use case material on policy issues that require a decision. This helps students learn and exercise skills in analyzing the components of current policies; designing programmatic alternatives; anticipating substantive, operational, and political advantages and disadvantages; weighing benefits against financial costs; and making sound choices among imperfect alternatives. The courses also give students a thorough substantive grounding in several critical areas of social welfare, including those of transfer programs and such social service areas as child welfare and mental health. Some cases include an analysis of the historical antecedents of a contemporary issue, and some include discussion of underlying philosophical premises.