Policymaking Bias in the US

4 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

his interdisciplinary seminar explores the ways implicit bias and structural or institutional discrimination shape public policy in the United States. Students will critically examine key 20th and 21st century U.S. policies across areas such as healthcare, housing, criminal legal systems, gender and reproductive justice, income inequality, disability rights, education, and environmental justice. Through close reading, discussion, and analysis, students will uncover how racism, xenophobia, sexism, ableism, and other forms of systemic oppression have influenced policymaking and contributed to unequal outcomes. The course will also challenge students to reflect on their own identities and perspectives, recognize the role of bias in policymaking, and explore how cultural narratives and institutional power intersect in shaping laws and policies. Using frameworks like JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion), intersectionality, and proximity-centered analysis, students will begin to develop tools for ethical and equity-focused engagement with contemporary policy issues.