Students will know the major controversies and debates, new developments, emerging issues, and current trends within inequality research.  They will be able to critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of various explanations of inequality and to match evidence to claims while acknowledging various ways to interpret data.

Students will understand how race, class, and/or gender intersect with other social categories to create a variety of life experiences and influence the life chances of individuals.  They will be able to articulate the sources of inequality and describe how power and advantage influence the structure of modern society.

Students will develop an original argument in writing as a literature review, research proposal, or theoretical analysis. They will demonstrate their knowledge of inequality, theory, and research methods by developing an original argument paper and presenting it at a student conference.