Higher Education and Society
You are entering college at a time when higher education is the setting for some of the most complex challenges facing society. In this course we will explore how social and political debates shape questions about who is admitted to college, how students live and learn on campus, and the value of a degree. We will discuss research on topics such as: the changing demographics of students, the evolving definition of "merit" in admissions, the challenges of assessing what students learn, the relationship between student loans and economic inequality, and the possibilities of reform. Assignments will encourage students to reflect on their own experiences while learning the theories and methods social scientists use to analyze higher education.