Grand Challenge Learning 147/Cultures of Debt is one of six Grand Challenge Experience Courses (GCXs) to emerge from a new pilot initiative that enables students to earn gen ed credit while taking innovative courses organized around grand challenge themes including Inequality & Cultural Understanding. These courses are intended to be interdisciplinary and experiential in their treatment of grand challenge themes.

Prior to the unit study, participants should read/view the following:

• Goodlad GCL 147 syllabus 2 (Lauren M. E. Goodlad)
• Inequality for All official trailer
• Jeffrey J. Williams. Are Students the New Indentured Servants? Dissent Magazine, 2009.

They should also interview one community member about their experiences of income inequality.

Part 1

Participants will discuss their experiences and those of the interviewees in relation to the readings.

Part 2

Participants will step back to reflect on the unit, especially in terms of how it can work as a gen ed course addressing a grand challenge theme.