The course focuses on human identity, beginning with the individual and progressing to communal and global viewpoints using a framework of perspectives from biology, genetics, medicine, psychiatry, religion and the law. W4321 evolved from a Columbia College Core Capstone course developed initially from a Ford Foundation grant to the Center for the Study of Science and Religion, and is cross-listed as well with the Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Race. As a graduate level course, it is open to interested seniors and graduate students including those from the Medical Center campus.