UChicago Undergraduates Participate in the Crown Family School’s New Three-Course Inequality and Global Social Development Experience in Paris
By Crown Family School
This autumn, the University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice launched a new study abroad initiative, Paris: Inequality and Global Social Development, designed to give undergraduate students a deeper understanding of how nations worldwide address persistent social challenges. The quarter-long program brought 11 students to the University’s Paris Center for an immersive, three-course sequence taught by Crown faculty whose scholarship spans global development, disability justice, and social governance.
A Three-Course Exploration
The first course, Global Development and Social Welfare, was led by Alan Zarychta, PhD, Associate Professor. Drawing on his expertise in global social policy and governance, Professor Zarychta guided students through foundational questions related to international development systems, equity, and state responsibility. Classroom discussions were enriched by field experiences, including visits to the Musée de l’Homme and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), where students encountered real-world applications of the policies and ideas studied in class.
The second course, International Disability Rights and Justice, was taught by Zhiying Ma, PhD, Assistant Professor, whose research examines disability, mental health, and human rights across global contexts. As part of the course, students traveled to Brussels to meet with leaders from the European Disability Forum and the European Network for Independent Living. These conversations offered students direct insight into cross-national disability rights movements and the strategies advocates use to shape more inclusive societies. The course concluded with a community-building dinner at the historic Bistro Polidor, giving students time to reflect on their expanding perspectives.
The program now concludes with Social Equity, the State, and the Pursuit of Shared Governance, led by Jennifer E. Mosley, PhD, Professor. Professor Mosley’s course examines how public institutions, civil society organizations, and democratic systems collaborate—or sometimes struggle—to advance equity and shared decision-making. This final component brings the sequence full circle, encouraging students to connect the themes of development, rights, and governance across the global case studies encountered throughout the quarter.
Strengthening Crown Family School's Global Learning Approach
Beyond its rich academic content, the Paris initiative represents a significant step in the Crown Family School’s broader global strategy. By embedding students within international policy environments and advocacy networks, the program creates opportunities for firsthand learning about how different regions approach social welfare, equity, and community care. The impact was immediate. Several students shared that the experience inspired them to pursue the Crown Family School’s undergraduate minor, Inequality, Social Problems, and Change, which offers further opportunities to explore these issues upon returning to Chicago.
The program also strengthens connections between the Crown Family School’s curriculum and global social welfare and global health initiatives across the University. Through partnerships with organizations abroad and through the Paris Center’s support, students experience new intellectual frameworks, develop cross-cultural understanding, and gain a broader lens for analyzing social systems.
Looking Ahead
As the cohort concludes its coursework, the Paris program has already demonstrated its value in shaping students’ academic trajectories and deepening Crown Family School's global engagement. With strong faculty leadership, robust partnerships, and a curriculum that bridges theory and practice, Paris: Inequality and Global Social Development is poised to become a defining component of the Crown Family School’s expanding international learning portfolio for undergraduate students at UChicago.