Cultural and Social Inequality in Higher Education

Harvard HGSE

College education is perceived as the “great equalizer,” especially for students who come from low-income and racially-ethnically marginalized communities. Yet, studies have contested this view by demonstrating how universities have institutional policies, practices, and structures to maintain social inequality. In this module, students will be introduced to theoretical and empirical studies on the role of social class and culture in higher education in the United States. The aim of this…