Diversity (D) Courses

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Diversity (D) courses emphasize one or more socially constructed groups (e.g. racial, ethnic, religious, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation) in the United States. Goals of “D” courses are to prepare students to critically analyze historical and contemporary examples of socially constructed groups in American society or culture and the distribution of political, economic, and/or cultural benefits and opportunities afforded to these groups; to understand how these groups relate to the student’s academic discipline and American culture; and demonstrate their understanding through written work that provides them the opportunity to enhance their writing skills.

 

 

Requirements 

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1. Students will reflect on identity through the examination of one or more underrepresented groups (e.g. racial, ethnic, religious, social class, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation) in present day United States.
2. Students will examine the ways underrepresented groups define and express themselves and the context in which these definitions are constructed. 
3. Students will critically analyze theories and systems of cultural, societal, political, or economic power. 
4. Students will demonstrate their understanding through written work that provides them the opportunity to enhance their writing skills; upper division “D” courses will include extensive written work.
   1. Writing assignments must be weighted in the grading scheme such that students are discouraged from skipping the assignment (i.e. writing assignments are worth a minimum 10% of the overall grade).
   2. Writing assignments must be tied to the purpose/requirements of the “D” designation. 
   3. The minimum required number of pages may be encompassed in one or multiple assignment/s. Informal writing assignments (like journals or class notes) and group projects will not count toward writing minimum. Multiple drafts of the same work cannot be counted twice in the cumulative page minimum. 
   4. Lower-division courses must include at least five pages of out-of-class written assignments or essays. 
   5. Upper-division courses must include at least ten pages of out-of-class written assignments or essays. Instructors must provide feedback that students can incorporate in subsequent writing assignments (by revising and resubmitting a single assignment or submitting multiple assignments). At least one writing assignment must be at least 4 pages in length. 
5. In courses worth three or more credit hours, at least one-half of the course materials must relate to one or more underrepresented groups. A course that is fewer than three hours must be entirely devoted to these groups. A detailed class schedule should be included on the course syllabus to confirm content minimum has clearly been met.