Courses

This foundational course examines the complexities and expressions of cultural values, practices, beliefs and norms, exploring how culture is central to informing how we understand issues, as well as the designs and outcomes of public policy. The course focuses on three keys approaches to studying culture: political culture, cultural studies and cultural identity. In this way, students get a strong foundational understanding of how culture manifests in patterns of attittudes towards, for example, political participation, differences between countries, relations of power and challenges to the status quo, and governance systems and concepts of justice. After studying some of the basic theoretical concepts, students will then examine how to recognize cultural influences in a variety of issues and policies across cultures. Students learn to apply cross-cultural frameworks and examine fundamental cultural determinants such as gendered norms and roles. With a focus on challenging preconceptions and developing critical reflection about culture and its determinants, this course enables students’ abilities to challenge their preconceived ideas about culture through engaged critical discussions with peers in a multicultural learning context.