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    Equity and Justice: The Meaning of Equality in a Time of Systemic Oppression
    Online Program

    Equity and Justice: The Meaning of Equality in a Time of Systemic Oppression

    by Brown Pre-College Programs

    Study the philosophy of equality at Brown through classic texts, contemporary debates, written discussion, and a final presentation connecting ideas to current events.

    Last verified: 9 Oct 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy

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    Equity and Justice at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility

    Current status

    Upcoming

    Eligibility

    Students completing grades 9–12

    Age range / Year group

    Ages 14-18

    Location / Region

    Online

    Cost

    $3,364

    Duration

    2 weeks

    Format

    Online

    Next deadline

    Not announced · Next cycle not announced

    Get next-cycle reminder
    PhilosophyEthicsPolitics
    Language: English
    Sessions / cadence: Daily engagement; about 15 hours weekly
    Assessment style: Reading responses; discussion; presentation
    Main deliverable / output: Final presentation project
    Certificate: Digital certificate of completion
    Latest verified cycle: 2026
    Instructor support: Leonard Feldblyum; virtual office hours

    Equity and Justice summary

    Brown's course examines how philosophers have defended and challenged equality, then applies those arguments to contemporary questions about justice.

    You read classic texts, write short responses, discuss ideas with classmates, and develop a final presentation. It suits students who enjoy examining assumptions and defending a position carefully.

    What is Equity and Justice: The Meaning of Equality in a Time of Systemic Oppression?

    Equity and Justice: The Meaning of Equality in a Time of Systemic Oppression is a Brown University Pre-College course about the philosophical foundations of equality. It begins with Rousseau, Kant, and Rawls, then considers critiques of egalitarianism associated with Plato and Nietzsche.

    The course connects these debates to civil disobedience, meritocracy, economic and political inequality, artificial intelligence, and genetic engineering. Students learn mostly asynchronously, using short reading responses and peer discussion to develop their thinking before creating and presenting a final project.

    Why Succeed highlights Equity and Justice

    • Studying both defenses and critiques of equality gives students a stronger basis for evaluating their own assumptions.

    • The connection to current events makes abstract moral and political philosophy easier to test against real questions.

    • Written responses, peer discussion, and a final presentation offer several ways to practice rigorous argument.

    • Optional live sessions and virtual office hours add instructor contact to independent online study.

    Who is Equity and Justice for?

    Best for

    Students interested in philosophy, ethics, or politics who enjoy reading carefully and discussing competing explanations of justice.

    Not ideal if

    You want a fixed live-class timetable or college credit, or prefer practical campaigning to philosophical analysis.

    Is Equity and Justice worth it?

    The strongest reason to choose this course is the opportunity to examine equality through conflicting philosophical arguments and apply them to current events. The combination of written discussion and a final presentation can help students test whether they enjoy sustained humanities study.

    Its value depends on active participation and comfort managing independent work. Families should weigh the fee against the teaching and feedback they want, since the course awards no college credit and does not offer a special undergraduate admissions advantage.

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    A practical overview of cost, time commitment, provider details, student outcomes and online support to review before deciding.

    Cost and what is included

    $3,364; includes Online course instruction and activities., Virtual instructor office hours., Personalized feedback., Digital certificate after successful completion..

    Dates and time commitment

    2 weeks; Daily engagement; about 15 hours weekly.

    Provider details

    Review the Brown Pre-College Programs provider page and official sources before making a final decision.

    What the student gains

    Potential output: The main output is a final presentation project that you create and present to the class.. Check whether feedback, certificate, recommendation or application evidence is included.

    Online support and safeguarding

    Brown expects applicants to complete the process largely independently. Parents can support planning, but application materials must be the student's original work.

    What to check before committing

    Confirm current dates, session schedule, payment terms, cancellation rules, support expectations and what output or certificate is included with the provider.

    Compare this program with similar options before deciding on dates, cost, format and fit.

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    How much preparation does Equity and Justice need?

    Effort level

    Moderate to high, with about 15 hours of weekly coursework.

    Best started

    For a future cycle, begin several weeks before its application deadline to prepare the essay, grades, and any English test results.

    Main challenge

    Turning complex theories into clear arguments that address competing views.

    Typical preparation

    • Practice summarizing a philosophical argument and identifying one possible objection.

    • Gather current and previous academic-year grades and draft the required application essay.

    • Reserve a regular daily study window for reading, discussion, and project work.

    • Allow approximately three hours for Canvas orientation during the week before the course starts.

    Useful if

    You want to test your interest in university-level philosophy or political theory.

    What do students do on Equity and Justice?

    You examine how the idea of equality developed, test critiques of egalitarianism, and apply those debates to contemporary issues. Short written responses and class discussion help you develop ideas for a final presentation.

    Step-by-step process

    1. 1

      Complete the required Canvas orientation before the course begins.

    2. 2

      Study classic arguments about equality from Rousseau, Kant, and Rawls.

    3. 3

      Examine critiques associated with Plato and Nietzsche.

    4. 4

      Write short responses to assigned readings and reply to classmates on the discussion board.

    5. 5

      Apply philosophical ideas to contemporary questions about inequality and justice.

    6. 6

      Create and present a final presentation project to the class.

    Equity and Justice dates and deadlines

    Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.

    Application deadline

    15 May 2026

    General Brown Pre-College admissions deadline.

    Reference date

    Programme dates

    13-24 July 2026

    Reference date

    Applications open

    14 January 2026

    Brown Pre-College application opening for the reference cycle.

    Reference date

    Final admission decisions

    22 May 2026

    Final decisions sent to applicants.

    Reference date

    Eligibility and requirements

    • Completing grades 9–12.

    • Ages 14–18 by 14 June 2026 for the reference cycle.

    • No course prerequisites.

    • Strong English proficiency required.

    • Applicable international applicants must submit TOEFL iBT or Duolingo results.

    • Brown Pre-College admission and separate course enrollment required.

    How much does Equity and Justice cost?

    Program fee

    $3,364 — One two-week online course.

    Funding or discounts

    • Application fee: $80 — Paid with the application; fee waivers have separate eligibility.
    • Enrollment deposit: $500 — Nonrefundable, with a stated exception for Brown course cancellation.
    • Sibley Scholarships: Limited need-based assistance for eligible U.S. applicants.
    • PPSD Scholarships: Full scholarships for qualifying admitted district students completing the required form.
    • Partner Scholarships: Require nomination by an established partner organization.
    • Employee dependent scholarships: 20% or 50% — For eligible Brown employee dependents; tax treatment differs.

    What's included

    Online course instruction and activities., Virtual instructor office hours., Personalized feedback., Digital certificate after successful completion.

    How to apply to Equity and Justice

    1. 1

      Create one applicant account in the Brown Pre-College Student Portal.

    2. 2

      Complete the application form and write the required 250–500-word essay.

    3. 3

      Upload current and previous academic-year grades and any required English proficiency results.

    4. 4

      Pay the $80 application fee or follow the fee-waiver process.

    5. 5

      Monitor the portal and email for requests for additional materials and the admissions decision.

    6. 6

      After admission, confirm your preferred course, submit the $500 deposit, and enroll separately through the portal.

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    Learning format

    The course runs through Canvas and is mostly asynchronous, with daily engagement, virtual office hours, and optional live sessions whose times are announced at the start. Plan for about 15 hours of coursework per week, generally two to three hours each day, including reading, written discussion, and project work.

    Required Canvas orientation takes approximately three hours and must be completed by the Friday before the course starts.

    Mentorship and feedback

    • Leonard Feldblyum is the listed course instructor.

    • Online courses include virtual instructor office hours.

    • Brown Pre-College Online offers personalized feedback.

    • Optional live sessions supplement independent coursework.

    • Discussion-board replies support engagement with classmates' ideas.

    Time-zone considerations

    • Most coursework can be completed asynchronously.
    • Live sessions are optional and encouraged.
    • Optional live-session times are announced at the course start.
    • Plan for daily engagement and about 15 hours of weekly work.

    Technology requirements

    • Use Canvas to access the online course.

    • Complete the required Canvas orientation.

    • Activate your Brown account and Brown email account.

    Assessment style

    Learning is demonstrated through written reading responses, discussion participation, and a final presentation project without formal grades.

    • Write short responses to assigned readings.
    • Post ideas on the class discussion board.
    • Respond to classmates' contributions.
    • Create and present a final project.
    • Participate consistently to meet course-completion expectations.

    Portfolio and outputs

    Main deliverable / output

    The main output is a final presentation project that you create and present to the class.

    • Short written responses to philosophical readings.

    • Discussion-board contributions and peer replies.

    • Digital certificate after successful completion.

    Equity and Justice FAQs

    No. The course has no prerequisites and begins with the historical development of the idea of equality.

    You study Rousseau, Kant, and Rawls, alongside critiques associated with Plato and Nietzsche. Contemporary topics include civil disobedience, meritocracy, economic and political inequality, artificial intelligence, and genetic engineering.

    This course is mostly asynchronous. Live sessions are optional and encouraged, with their times announced at the start of the course.

    Brown recommends about 15 hours per week for online coursework, generally two to three hours each day. Activities include reading, writing, discussion, and project work.

    You write short reading responses, contribute to the discussion board, respond to classmates, and create and present a final presentation project.

    The course is noncredit. Successful completion earns a digital certificate of completion; the Course Performance Report applies to online courses lasting three weeks or longer.

    No. Admission is to Brown Pre-College, and course enrollment is a separate step. Students should confirm their preferred course before paying the nonrefundable deposit.

    Brown expects applicants to complete the process largely independently. Parents can support planning, but application materials must be the student's original work.

    Alternatives to Equity and Justice

    Compare these options for a different philosophical focus or a broader introduction to politics and the humanities.

    Alternatives to Equity and Justice

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    Ben Stacy

    Content reviewed by

    Ben Stacy

    Co-founder, Succeed | Former secondary teacher and educational leader

    Ben works at the intersection of education, technology and school adoption, with expertise in how secondary schools evaluate data-driven tools and how education technology is used in practice.

    View author page

    Sources and verification

    Source types reviewed

    • Scholarships | Pre-College Program | Brown University
    • Handbook of Pre-College Policies | Pre-College Program | Brown University
    • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) | Pre-College Program | Brown University
    • Financial Policies and Payment Information | Pre-College Program | Brown University
    • Application Checklist | Pre-College Program | Brown University
    • Apply | Pre-College Program | Brown University
    • Brown Pre-College Online
    • Program Dates and Costs | Pre-College Program | Brown University
    • 2026 Program Costs: Breakdown of Fees
    • Equity and Justice: The Meaning of Equality in a Time of Systemic Oppression - Pre-College Course Catalog"

    Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.

    What we verified (on 9 Oct 2026)

    • Official course page checked

    • Course dates reviewed

    • Eligibility requirements reviewed

    • Online workload checked

    • Published fee tier matched

    • Application requirements reviewed

    • Scholarship eligibility reviewed

    • Completion credential checked

    How Succeed uses this information

    We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current application instructions before applying.