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Goal 7. Human Diversity

Goal: To increase students' understanding of individual and group differences (e.g. race, gender, class) and their knowledge of the traditions and values of various groups in the United States. Students should be able to evaluate the United States' historical and contemporary responses to group differences.

LEP Objective: Examine patterns of racial and ethnic inequality in the United States; the heritage, culture, and contributions of racially subordinated groups; and how race and ethnic relations are embedded in the institutions that structure our lives. Students can meet this requirement through 1 approved course or experience.

Students will be able to:

  • Understand the development of and the changing meanings of group identities in the United States, history and culture.

  • Demonstrate an awareness of the individual and institutional dynamics of unequal power relations between groups in contemporary society.

  • Analyze their own attitudes, behaviors, concepts and beliefs regarding diversity, racism, and bigotry.

  • Describe and discuss the experience and contributions (political, social, economic, etc.) of the many groups that shape American society and culture, in particular those groups that have suffered discrimination and exclusion.

  • Demonstrate communication skills necessary for living and working effectively in a society with great population diversity.

Consistent with LEP Student Learning Outcomes, students will also demonstrate their ability to:

  • Demonstrate awareness and understanding of historical and current race relations in the United States.

  • Explain the concept of “race.”

  • Analyze current events and conditions at the local, statewide, and national levels using course theories and concepts.

  • Identify forms of institutional discrimination in areas such as education, media, housing, employment, economics, politics, and the legal system.

  • Describe the basic history of discrimination against and contributions of African Americans, Asian Americans, American Indians, Latinos, and recent immigrants of color.

  • Engage in dialog and self-reflection concerning racism, racial oppression, and white privilege.

The following courses are pre-approved to fulfill this goal requirement and further indicate what other goal area(s) or Diversity courses of the Liberal Education Program (LEP) or Racial Issues Graduation Requirements (RIGR) the course fulfills.

Requirements:  (1 course)

Community Development
course (5) (Diversity) (RIGR), Diversity in the American Experience, 3 Cr.

Community Psychology
course (Diversity) (RIGR), Cultural Competence in Human Services, 3 Cr.

Communication Sciences and Disorders
course (5) (Diversity), Introduction to Human Communication Disorders, 3 Cr.

English
course (6) (Diversity) (RIGR), African American Literature, 3 Cr.

Ethnic Studies
course (Diversity) (RIGR), Race in America, 3 Cr.
course (Diversity) (RIGR), Introduction to Ethnic Studies, 3 Cr.
course (Diversity) (RIGR), Introduction to Chicano/a Studies, 3 Cr.
course (Diversity) (RIGR), Introduction to American Indian Studies, 3 Cr.
course (Diversity) (RIGR), Introduction to Asian American Studies, 3 Cr.
course (Diversity) (RIGR), Introduction to African American Studies, 3 Cr.
course (Diversity), African American Cultural Expressions, 3 Cr.
course (Diversity) (RIGR), American Indians in the Social Science Curriculum, 3 Cr.
course (Diversity), Major Works in African American Studies, 3 Cr.
course (Diversity) (RIGR), The Black Community, 3 Cr.

Gender and Women's Studies
course (Diversity) (RIGR), Race and Gender in the U.S., 3 Cr.

History
course (5) (Diversity) (RIGR), Race in America, 3 Cr.
course (5) (Diversity), America to 1865, 3 Cr.
course (5) (Diversity), United States Since 1865, 3 Cr.
course (5) (Diversity), American Indian History, 3 Cr.
course (5) (Diversity), Immigration, Race and Ethnicity, 3 Cr.
course (Diversity), Colonial North America, 3 Cr.

Human Relations and Multicultural Ed.
course (Diversity) (RIGR), Human Relations and Race, 3 Cr.

Jewish Studies
course (Diversity), Anti-Semitism in America, 3 Cr.

Political Science
course (Diversity) (RIGR), U.S. Politics of Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration, 3 Cr.

Religious Studies
course (Diversity), Religion: Race and Racism, 3 Cr.

Sociology
course (Diversity) (RIGR), Race and Ethnicity, 3 Cr.