Social Science Seminar

Catalog description

This interdisciplinary course uses the lenses of power and privilege to introduce students to academic disciplines within the social sciences. Beginning with a foundation in the social sciences, students will explore research and apply analytical perspectives from related fields of study to examine social issues, public policies, and institutions. In particular, we will focus on how power and privilege create intersecting dynamics of inequalities (e.g., social, political and economic) which impact our lived experiences. One initial goal of the course is to increase your understanding of forces that shape definitions and meanings of different sources of power: e.g., socioeconomic status, sex/gender, sexuality, age, health, race/ethnicity, and immigration status. As the course progresses, we'll focus more in-depth on contemporary issues, drawing on readings and lectures from experts who will bring to bear relevant theories and methods from their respective academic disciplines.