Poverty in the United States, 10:762:304
Tuesdays 6:10 - 9:00 pm, TIL 209
Bloustein School of Planning & Policy
Rutgers University
Fall 2011
Samonne Montgomery, Ph.D.
Email: samonne@rutgers.edu
Office Hours: Tues 4:00 - 6:00 and by apt
A pedestrian walks by graffiti on a street in Detroit. Approximately one in three Detroiters lives in poverty.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course examines the nature and extent of poverty in the United States, its causes and
consequences, and the antipoverty effects of existing and proposed government programs and
policies. We will address the following types of questions: What is poverty? Why is poverty so
persistent? Why are poverty rates for minorities so high? Is there a culture of poverty? What are the
interrelationships among poverty, race, family structure, inner city neighborhoods, education, labor
market conditions, and public policies? Is poverty passed on from generation to generation? We will
consider what, if anything, we as a society can do to reduce poverty and inequality.
COURSE EXPECTATIONS
Our meetings are a forum to raise questions and debate issues that pertain to class topics. To
participate fully, students will need to complete the appropriate readings prior to class and come
with thoughtful questions for further discussion. Throughout the course students will be asked to
critically analyze their own position in the social and economic hierarchy of the United States. You
are expected to respect the views, opinions, and experiences of your classmates. Everyone is allowed
equal opportunity to share his/her views in a non-threatening, non-insulting manner.
READINGS
The readings consist of a required text, reports, journal articles, and book chapters. The required
book (available at the Rutgers University Book Store) is:
Ending Poverty in America: How to Restore the American Dream
Edited by John Edwards, Marion Crain & Arne Kalleberg
All other required readings are available on the course Sakai site.
GRADING
Your grade will be determined by a combination of attendance, participation, and the timely and
effective completion of written and oral assignments. All written assignments are due at the start of
class on the designated date. Late assignments will be penalized.
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Attendance & Participation (20%)
Mid-Term Exam (25%)
Group Project (25%)
Final Exam (30%)
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A (90 or higher)
B+ (85 – 89)
B (80 – 84)
C+ (75 – 79)
C (70 – 74)
D (60 – 69)
F (60 or lower)
In the event of a serious illness or emergency on the day of an exam, contact me before the exam
begins. Please be advised that you will be required to provide official documentation of your illness
or emergency in order to take a make-up exam.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Academic misconduct includes cheating, plagiarism, and failure to cite sources. If you have any
questions about citing material, refer to an academic citation and style guide, ask me, another faculty
member, or a research librarian at one of the University’s libraries. Penalties for misconduct can
range from failing an assignment/exam or dismissal from the university. Please review the
University’s Academic Integrity Policy here http://academicintegrity.rutgers.edu/integrity.shtml.
SPECIAL NEEDS
If accommodations are needed for a disability, you should notify me during the first week of class
and provide me with a Letter of Accommodation (LOA) describing the accommodations you need.
You will also need to be registered with the Office of Disability Services
(http://disabilityservices.rutgers.edu). For more information, contact the Dean of Students Office.
COURSE SCHEDULE
September 6
“Introduction”
September 13
Chapter 1 – “Connecting the Dots”
Chapter 2 – “Economic Mobility in the US”
Chapter 3 – “The Vanishing Middle Class”
September 20
Chapter 4 – “The Great Doubling”
Chapter 5 – “The Risky Outlook for Middle-Class America”
September 27
Chapter 6 – “Single Mothers, Fragile Families”
Chapter 7 – “A New Agenda for America’s Ghetto Poor”
October 4
Chapter 8 – “Up and Out: When the Working Poor Are Poor No More”
“The Earned Income Tax Credit”
Chapter 9 – “Making Work Pay”
October 11
Chapter 10 – “Education and Training for Less Affluent Americans in the New Economy”
“Jobs for Life”
October 18
Chapter 11 – “Reducing Wealth Disparities Through Asset Ownership”
“Banking the Poor: Overcoming the Financial Services Mismatch”
Chapter 12 – “Assets for All: Toward Universal, Progressive, Lifelong Accounts”
“Making Saving Easier: The Automatic 401(k) and Automatic IRA
October 25: Mid-Term Exam
November 1
Chapter 13 – “An Affordable Homeownership Strategy That Promotes Savings Rather Than Risk”
“Making Homeownership a Reality by Believing in Working-Class Families”
Chapter 14 – “The Role of the Entrepreneur in Combating Poverty”
November 8
Chapter 15 – “Why We Should Be Concerned About Young, Less Educated, Black Men”
November 15
Chapter 16 – “A Hopeful Future: The Pathway to Helping Teens Avoid Pregnancy and Too-Soon
Parenthood”
November 22
Chapter 17 – “Public Schools: Building Capacity for Hope and Opportunity”
“Getting Parents and Community into the School Reform Act”
November 29
Chapter 18 – “Top-Down Meets Bottom-Up: Local Job Creation in Rural America”
“Strengthening the Rural Community”
December 6
Chapter 19 – “Fighting Poverty with Equitable Development”
“Conclusion: Ending Poverty in America”
December 13: Group Presentations
December 20: Final Exam (8-11pm)
**Note: The professor reserves the right to alter the syllabus as necessary. Sufficient advance notice will be provided to
complete readings or assignments.
USEFUL WEB SITES
Administration for Children and Families: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/
Brookings Institute: http://www.Brookings.edu
Census Bureau: http://www.census.gov
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: http://www.cbpp.org
Center for Law and Social Policy: http://www.clasp.org
Center on Poverty, Work & Opportunity: http://www.law.unc.edu/centers/poverty/default.aspx
Children’s Defense Fund: http://www.childrensdefense.org
Economic Policy Institute: http://www.epi.org/
Future of Children: http://www.futureofchildren.com
Heritage Foundation: http://www.heritage.org
Institute for Research on Poverty: http://www.ssc.wisc.edu/irp
Joint Center for Poverty Research: http://www.jcpr.org
Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation: http://www.mdrc.org
Michigan Program on Poverty & Social Welfare: http://www.ssw.umich.edu/poverty/pubs.html
National Poverty Center: http://www.npc.umich.edu
Urban Institute: http://www.urban.org
Welfare Information Network: http://www.welfareinfo.org
Welfare Law Center: http://www.welfarelaw.org