- To gain an understanding of how racial and ethnic differences differ from society to society, focusing on Mexico, Canada, Northern Ireland, Israel and South Africa.
- To understand the status of women on a global level and how it compares to the status of women in the United States.
- To gain a further understanding of the social construction of race.
- To increase our understanding of how issues of identity and culture both unify and divide communities and nations.
- To understand the nature of conflict based on religious differences in Northern Ireland.
- To examine the foundations of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians as well as consider the likelihood of resolution of this conflict.
- To gain an understanding of the impact of colonialism and apartheid on current race relations in South Africa.
- To gain an understanding of how multiculturalism is a global phenomenon.
