UPPP 115: Global Poverty & Inequality in the 21st Century
Poverty is one of the most complex and pressing issues of our time. This course offers an introduction to the study of poverty, inequality, and social justice, both in the US and globally, with the goal of preparing students to think critically about the subject.
The study of poverty and inequality is approached from a multidisciplinary perspective, diving into questions such as "What is poverty? What causes and maintains poverty? How are poverty and inequality alleviated?" and covering topics related to poverty such as education, health, environment, disaster, gender, and technology.
This 4-unit 10-week course (formerly PP&D 115) is entirely online and available to all UC undergraduates. Enrollment space is limited.
The course will next be offered in Spring 2019. Enrollment information and instructions will be posted on this website.
Search course codes 53120 (Lecture) and 53121 (Discussion) on the UCI Schedule of Classes to see course details for the Spring 2018 term. No authorization code is required.
Visit the Cross-Campus Enrollment website for more information. To locate the course, use the search function to select your home campus and the Spring 2018 term.
For questions, please email the Blum Center at blumcenter@uci.edu.
STUDENT TESTIMONIALS
"I thought that this class would be really difficult as it was an online class but really, this class is made for you to learn and to enjoy learning... It was one of the first classes at UCI that I really enjoyed and it helped reignite my passion for poverty alleviation. Despite it being online, this class was one of the most engaging classes I’ve had with the discussion posts giving me a chance to hear the stories of my peers as well as the online discussions where we could ask our own poverty related questions to professionals within the field."
"There are several reasons why I really enjoyed this course because of how it differed from other courses that I’ve taken. Since I am a software engineering major, we don’t really get the opportunity to explore the social issues that are currently going on. As a result, this course exposed me to the different underlying issues with society that normally isn’t talked about in the media."
"The Global poverty course was the most interdisciplinary course that I have taken at UCI. Although it was online, it was extremely interactive and I got the opportunity to directly ask questions to many renowned professors/researchers, including Robert Reich. It prompted me to think analytically and creatively, refining my own solutions for different issues. It also engaged me within my community, as many of the assignments required interactions with community members or organizations."