Overview of Course

Students will study the theory of change and learn how different cultures deal with divergent opinions and the need for reform and improvement. Particular emphasis will be placed upon sources of stability and stress in changing societies; consequences of planned and unplanned change; future trends. We will examine social change movements in NGOs, educational organizations, health care reform, linguistic reform, gender roles and other areas of societal change. Who are the social change activists in the countries we will visit and how do they do their work? Why do they dedicate their lives to the common good? This course will require students to compare, contrast and analyze the people, programs, and agencies that are deeply involved in social change.