Using backward design to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive principles course

The economics profession has been working to become more open, inclusive, and welcoming. The introductory principles of economics courses provide a unique opportunity to teach students of the wider university the value of the field of economics. It is in this setting that instructors’ interactions with students show them a welcoming and diverse profession or confirm that economics provides a toolbox useful only to some. Using a careful backward course design and attention to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment, the following article’s author presents a principles of microeconomics course with the potential to illustrate to undergraduate students the value of a degree in economics for all students.