We want you -- our students -- to be:

• More informed about the world we live in.  Is global inequality widening or narrowing? Have we solved our racial problems or is a person’s race still a factor in how well they do in life? Is the family falling apart or just becoming more varied? Does the recent drop in the crime rate take into account white-collar crimes like predatory lending? Are current levels of immigration threatening or strengthening the US?
• Better able to evaluate other people’s claims about the world, whether they be scientists or specialists, reporters or pundits, Internet bloggers or friends and acquaintances..
• More competent interpreting ideas and expressing them clearly and persuasively to others in your writing and speaking.
• More aware of others’ social situations and the policies and programs that could better their lives.