Are you interested in learning about social issues around the world? Do you care about social inequalities in our community? In this FIG we examine food insecurity to explore questions of privilege and power in our communities here and around the world, particularly considering how our seemingly personal human experiences are shaped by larger social/cultural/political processes (intersections) and how these are differentially structured and valued (hierarchies). We focus particularly on food insecurity and basic needs in our community as we work together to build a supportive class community where we engage these dynamics through fun and collaborative social, research, and service-learning experiences. Recent classes have enjoyed going to the Saturday Market/Farmers’ Market for lunch, a hike in the woods, riding the city bus, volunteering at Food for Lane County, working at the Grassroots Farm, and getting ice cream at Prince Puckler’s. You will also have opportunities to learn about tools and resources on campus to facilitate your educational success at UO towards your career and life goals and to support your overall well-being. Explore social issues in a supportive community and have fun together while you learn!
Students explore the intersection of topics by taking the following course package:
UGST 109 First-Year Experience Seminar - 1-credit
GLBL 101 Introduction to International Issues - CoreEd or major satisfying course, 4-credits
Hunger, intellectual property, global warming, arms trade, water rights, civil war, genocide, education, global financial inequities, and immigration: a few examples of the challenges we face in a highly globalized word. Develop a fundamental knowledge about several international issues, critically examine how these issues are presented by stakeholders, and consider creative attempts to solve these problems.
SOC 207 Social Inequality - CoreEd or major satisfying course, 4-credits
Our world is structured by unequal social relations that permeate all aspects of our lives. All societies have systems of stratification which result in the unequal distribution of economic, social, and political resources. These systems of stratification are complex, pervasive, and persistent yet highly variable. Focusing primarily on the United States, we will explore the structural bases of inequality by examining primarily three intersecting stratification systems: class, race, and gender. We will also examine some individual and collective experiences of people differently located in these systems of stratification. Through lectures, discussions, and videos, we will think critically about social inequality and how that’s reflected in our own social worlds and our personal experiences