Race, Culture & Community

Introduction to Branding & Marketing - Build Brands That Stand Out: Ever wonder what gives your favorite brands their unique edge? In today’s digitized world, we’re constantly bombarded by ads and content, making it harder for brands to capture and keep our attention. This course reveals what it takes to build an effective brand that authentically connects with consumers and leaves a lasting impact. You’ll explore the core elements of branding—from visual identity and advertising strategy to content marketing and the nuances of the customer journey. You’ll also explore how addressing ethical, social, and environmental issues can influence a brand’s success.

Discourse Across Difference - Navigate Today’s Complex Issues: How do you engage in conversations when you don’t agree? In today’s interconnected world, complex social, political, and ethical issues demand thoughtful dialogue. This course will equip you with the skills to engage thoughtfully and effectively through structured conversations, debates, rhetorical analysis, and guided reflection. You’ll learn to navigate challenging discussions and foster understanding across differences on pressing topics like technology’s impact on privacy, environmental sustainability, and social justice reform.

Entrepreneurship in a Global Context - Turn Your Ideas Into Global Impact: How does an entrepreneur think? What skills are essential to stay competitive and relevant in today’s fast-paced market? This course will push you to step beyond the classroom and into real-world environments to understand how global markets work. Collaborating with peers worldwide, you’ll dive into essential topics like customer development, value propositions, brand strategy, and funding sources. Using the business model canvas, you’ll build a viable framework and ultimately develop, refine, and present your own online startup pitch.