This course is designed to prepare you to make the most of your time at The New School. During the intensive semester, we develop a comprehensive, individualized plan for your undergraduate education that expresses your personal educational philosophy, assesses your prior educational accomplishments, and outlines how you plan to achieve your educational goals. As a context for developing your personal degree plan, we learn about the history and values of The New School, and the educational resources that are available to you. We explore the history, characteristics, and purposes of higher education in today’s world. What does it mean to be an educated person in the 21st century? Should education be a force for social change? Who should bear the cost of higher education? The answers to these questions impact our society as a whole and influence academic and public policy. The main focus of the course is on the defining the purpose of your own education and developing a plan that will provide a pathway for achieving your goals. This course is especially useful for any student in the Undergraduate Programs, as well as anyone interested in education and public policy.