UMass Boston

Course Overview

Description

This required course introduces students to political economic theories of class, gender, race, ethnicity and their intersection with each other and with policy. The course explores various theoretical explanations for the existence and persistence of class, gender, racial and ethnic inequality in the United States, largely within the economics and sociology literature (including Marxist, feminist and critical race theorists). Particular attention is paid to the way these inequalities shape the notions of citizenship as well as employment. Students will be asked to explore how theoretical understandings of race, class and gender underlie various policy prescriptions and to use various theories to explore the ways policies can or do result in class, gender and /or racially/ethnically based disparities.

Prerequisites

Graduate degree student in Public Policy or graduate student with permission of instructor