NGO Education Survey

SASS 284 The Impact of "-ism"s:  Oppression, Privilege, and Inequalities in Society

Privilege flings open the doors of opportunity in a multicultural society. Oppression jams those doors tightly shut. This course provides students with understandings of how oppression and privilege operate in a multicultural society to restrict the life chances of minority and disenfranchised group members. Increasing knowledge about the nature and dynamics of oppression and privilege are fundamental dimensions of the ability to value a diverse world. This undertaking requires self-assessment and reflection on discrimination, oppression, and privilege as components of individual awareness. Such insight will help students to live, work, study, and play well with "others" who are culturally different from themselves with respect to race/ethnicity, religion, class, gender, sexual orientation/gender identity, ability, and age. Beyond increasing respectful social interaction, it is hoped that students will be motivated to work towards dismantling systems that perpetuate de-valuing, exploitation, marginalization, and violence against members of subordinate groups. Major consideration will be given to structures of oppression and privilege related to racism, classism, religious bigotry, sexism, heterosexism/transgenderism, ableism, and ageism. Note: A student cannot receive degree credit for both SASS 284 and SOCI 349.

SASS 367 - Poverty, Wealth Building, and Social Entrepreneurship

With poor communities and individuals across the world aspiring for higher standards of living and quality of life, monolithic development strategies are proving to be insufficient. Microenterprise and social entrepreneurship are among the latest strategies for poverty alleviation. New strategies that are grass-roots, multi-dimensional, entrepreneurial, and engage stakeholders as partners are gaining ground. They seek to fundamentally transform the roles and relationships of the stakeholders in the economy. While social entrepreneurship is revolutionizing the practice of development work, the micro-enterprise sector plays an important role for some of the poorest sectors of society who gain employment, connection to the market, and opportunities for innovation through it. In this course, we will examine social entrepreneurship, the change it brought about in how development is viewed, conceived, and implemented. Some of the examples that will provide core content include economic development strategies that promote asset building among the poor; Mandragon in Spain (and other similar institutions from across the world), Greyston Bakery (and other similar examples from around the United States) and Evergreen Cooperative (and other relevant local examples).

SASS 369 - Social Networking and Community Organizing in the 21st Century

his course will examine the changing nature of place, given increased mobility and diversity in communities within the United States and the emergence of a truly global economy and communication network due to the revolution in information technology. Community itself is being redefined as many members of society consider their most important relationships are primarily virtual in nature. The forms of engaging citizens are also changing as old models of community organizing give way to new approaches that focus on connectivity through social networks. This course will examine various new approaches to engagement, from political or campaign organizing to social networking around mutual interest to mobilizing people for a cause. We will examine the Obama presidential campaign as an example of a new mobilization strategy that emphasizes choice, flexibility, value, and the ability to influence through organic informal networks. The course will also explore case studies, such as network centric organizing as developed by Bill Traynor and Lawrence (MA) Community Works. Special attention will be given to controversial efforts criticized by the right or the left, such as the ACORN voter registration initiative. Students will also explore the changing nature of community in Northeast Ohio and how this new approach might lead to social change and economic development for greater Cleveland.

SASS 405 - Nonprofit Ethics & Professionalism

This course is an application of ethical frameworks and analysis to nonprofit organizations. Using cases and essays, the course will help nonprofit managers become better equipped to address ethical problems and dilemmas in their work in the following areas: ethics of boards, ethics and leadership, ethics and organizational culture, professional ethics, and ethics and fundraising.

SASS 407 - Nonprofit Revenue Planning and Development

Revenue strategy and development are critical in advancing the mission and core work of a nonprofit organization, and are among the most strategic responsibilities held by an executive director and his/her board. Nonprofits face a myriad of revenue options which could be pursued but each of these has implications for how the organization advances it mission and its sustainability. The course will examine how to assess these revenue sources and evaluate how they can contribute to an organization's overall financial vitality.

SASS 409 - Nonprofit Strategic Planning

This is an integrated practicum designed to provide "hands-on" experience in planning for, designing, and conducting strategic planning in nonprofit organizations. Students will learn to assess organizational readiness, facilitate the design of strategic planning processes, create a variety of approaches involving key stakeholders, and finalize a planning design suited to organizational culture.

SASS 410 - Nonprofit Databased Decision-Making

Nonprofit leaders face a wide range of data needs and opportunities to use data to inform strategy and practice. This course is designed to give students a working knowledge of data analysis, statistical concepts, research designs for program planning and evaluation, and techniques for problem solving. By exploring a continuum of decision making opportunities in the nonprofit sector, the course will present methods and frameworks for collecting and interpreting data to inform organizational action.

POSC 306. Interest Groups in the Policy Process.

Introduction to the institutions and processes that make up the political environment of nonprofit and other organizations in the United States, beginning with an examination of the role of civil society in a democracy and continuing with the framing of issues, role of political entrepreneurs and organized interests, elections, the legislative process and strategies for influencing it, and the roles of executive institutions and the courts.

POSC 383. Health Policy and Politics in the United States

Overview of the principal institutions, processes, social forces, and ideas shaping the U.S. health system. Historical, political, economic, and sociological perspectives on the health system are explored as well as the intellectual context of recent policy changes, challenges, and developments. Students will acquire a sense of how health services are financed and delivered in the U.S. They will also learn how to assess its performance compared to that of other similar countries.

POSC 384. Ethics and Public Policy.

Evaluation of ethical arguments in contemporary public policymaking discourse. That is, approaches to evaluating not only the efficiency of policy (Will this policy achieve its end for the least cost?) but also the ethics of policy (Are a policy's intended ends ethically justified or "good," and are our means to achieve those ends moral or "just"?). Overview of political ideologies that supply U.S. political actors with their ethical or moral arguments when proposing and implementing public policy, followed by an application of these differing perspectives to selected policy areas such as welfare, euthanasia, school choice, drug laws, censorship, or others

POSC 385. Doing Government Work: Public Administration in the U.S..

This course focuses on how governments, particularly governments in the United States, do their work. The topic is often called "public administration," or "implementation," or "bureaucratic politics." It involves what James Q. Wilson calls government "operators" such as teachers, public health doctors, agricultural extension agents, grant administrators and Seal teams. Their actions depend on their own values; conflict among political authorities, and on what is needed to perform specific tasks. We will begin by discussing the challenges of organizing to do anything, or organization theory; turn to the peculiar political context of administration in the United States; and apply these understandings to specific government activities. Students should emerge with a better understanding of why government agencies do what they do, and why they succeed or fail.

POSC 386. Making Public Policy.

Politics is about who wins, who loses, and why. Policy, by contrast, is often depicted as more "neutral;" policies are the means through which political decisions are carried out. In this class, we examine the notion that policy is the rational, impartial counterpart to the political arena. We will ask: How are public policies made? Why do some issues make it on to the agenda, while others do not? Can we separate facts from values, or are both always contested? We will examine how decision-making in a group introduces distinct challenges for policymaking. The course focuses on widely applicable themes of policymaking, drawing on both domestic and international examples

SASS (School of Applied Soc Sciences) 420: Nonprofit Organization and Management

This course will focus on theories of organizations and general concepts and principles of management, governance, and leadership. Organizational design, behavior, performance, and effectiveness will be studied, and the special character and management problems of nonprofit organizations will be highlighted and analyzed.

SASS (School of Applied Soc Sciences) 425: Nonprofit Financial Management

This course focuses on techniques and principles of financial management including budgeting, finance and investment decision making. Topics include budget formulation, analysis and planning, present value analysis, cost-effectiveness, cash flow analysis, portfolio management, and venture planning. Special emphasis will be given to the unique problems of nonprofits in capital formation, generating earned income, managing endowments, gifts and grants, and tax planning.

SASS (School of Applied Soc Sciences) 500: Special Topics in Applied Social Sciences - Community Trauma & Resilience

SASS (School of Applied Soc Sciences) 500: Special Topics in Applied Social Sciences - LGBTQIA2S Health and Wellbeing

SASS (School of Applied Soc Sciences) 500: Special Topics in Applied Social Sciences - Nonprofit Orgs for Resilience

SASS (School of Applied Soc Sciences) 500: Special Topics in Applied Social Sciences - Operationalizing Antiracism

SASS (School of Applied Soc Sciences) 500: Special Topics in Applied Social Sciences - System Dynamics of Soc Equity

SASS (School of Applied Soc Sciences) 518: Social Work with Death, Grief and Loss

This course focuses on the concept of death and related topics from a social work perspective. Such topics include the role of death in American culture; the dying process and its institutions; assessment and intervention strategies; life span and family life considerations; and end-of-life decisions. The course provides both theoretical and experiential exposure to the dying process as it relates to self, the dying person, and the bereaved. Students will gain insight into serving the terminally ill, those who need assistance with mourning and grief, and clients dealing with difficult life-and-death decisions regarding loved ones.