DIRECTIONS FOR COMPLETING
THE CULTURAL DIVERSITY COURSE APPROVAL FORM
In order for a course offering to be approved as a Cultural Diversity course, it must first be submitted to
the General Education Committee (GEC) and then to the University Curriculum Committee (UCC) for
approval. Once approved, all sections of the course may be offered in subsequent semesters as fulfilling
that particular provision of General Education. The decision to offer the course as fulfilling the Cultural
Diversity Competency is made by the department chair in consultation with the dean and provost.
To submit an existing course for approval as a Cultural Diversity course, first obtain department approval,
then complete the attached form and submit it along with a cover sheet, syllabus, and supporting
documentation to the GEC, which will in turn submit approved courses to the University Curriculum
Committee (UCC) for final approval. Note: a new course must first be approved through the regular
curriculum routing process before it can be submitted for the Cultural Diversity designation.
Rationale
A Cultural Diversity course helps students appreciate differences in the ways that people think by taking
an explicitly comparative approach, in both space and time. The research on multicultural education
strongly suggests that being attentive to diverse voices and views provides an individual with a better
understanding of how social, political, economic, and cultural variables shape our worldview. An
emphasis on the fact that there are many ways of knowing prepares students for the complexity of the
diverse world in which they will work and live. Cultural Diversity refers to the differences among people
in terms of beliefs, customs, values, politics, and experiences. In essence, culture is a worldview; it is both
learned and evolved. Diversity includes, but is not limited to, the following: age, education, ethnicity,
gender identity, geography, language, nationality, occupation, physical ability, race, religious affiliation,
sexual orientation and socio-economic class.
Guidelines
1. Interculturally and/or cross-culturally focused assignments (Cultural Diversity assignments) will be
an integral part of the course.
2. Cultural Diversity assignments will be distributed throughout the course. Assignments may be
drawn from discipline-based course content that encourages students’ appreciation for and
understanding of historical and environmental factors that contribute to cultural differences.
 Assignments may examine how global, regional, and local factors affect underlying cultural
differences.
 Assignments may focus on the identification, critical analysis, and applied scholarship of
cultural diversity.
3. The course will encourage positive engagement with and/or about individuals of a variety of
histories and communities.
 Assignments and scheduled activities should promote engagement in positive discussions
and/or interactions with members of different communities when possible.
4. Cultural Diversity assignments will constitute a significant portion of the course grade and
content. At least 30% of the course grade and content should be based on such assignments.
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5. Cultural Diversity courses should discuss and employ, where applicable, discipline-specific ethical
standards.
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CULTURAL DIVERSITY COURSE APPROVAL FORM
Course Prefix & Number
Contact Person
Course Title
Phone and/or e-mail
According to the guidelines, Cultural Diversity Courses will have the following characteristics:
1. Interculturally and/or cross-culturally focused assignments (Cultural Diversity
assignments) will be an integral part of the course.
Will Cultural Diversity assignments be an integral part of the course? YES
NO
2. Assignments may be drawn from discipline-based course content that encourages
students’ appreciation for and understanding of historical and environmental factors
that contribute to cultural differences.
In the list below, give a brief description of each kind of Cultural Diversity assignment (the
gray boxes will expand as needed; please note that Microsoft Word’s spell checker does not
work in this instance).
Assignment(s) that examine how global, regional, and local factors affect underlying cultural
differences.
Description:
Assignment(s) that focus on the identification, critical analysis, and applied scholarship of
cultural diversity.
Description:
3. The course will encourage positive engagement with and/or about individuals of a
variety of histories and communities.
Give a brief description of assignments and scheduled activities that promote engagement
in positive discussions and/or interactions with members of different communities.
Description:
4. Cultural Diversity assignments will constitute a significant portion of the course
grade and content.
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What percent of the final grade will be based on Cultural Diversity assignments?
5. Cultural Diversity courses should discuss and employ, where applicable, disciplinespecific ethical standards.
If applicable, describe how this course will discuss and employ discipline-specific ethical
standards (the gray box will expand as needed; please note that Microsoft Word’s spell
checker does not work in this instance).
Description:
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