HI 115 - History of Poverty in America

Credit Hours: 3

This course is about the history of poor people and poverty policy in the United States, from the colonial period to the beginning of the 21st century. Through readings, lectures, writing and discussion, students will consider how Americans (both the poor and the non-poor) have tried to cope with poverty. We pay close attention to how Americans thought about the causes of poverty and what sorts of efforts followed from those assumptions. This course is a social history which will explore the concept of poverty in American society from the colonial times to the present.

Fulfills SUNY General Education – American History.
S (C)

Reading and writing skills are essential for this course. Students ideally should have a basic understanding of American history.