St. Cloud State University
General Education Goal Area 5
History and the Social & Behavioral Sciences
Academic Affairs Use Only:
Response Date:
Effective Date:
1.
Prepared by: Jeanne Lacourt
Phone: 8-1048
Proposal Number:
Email: jalacourt@stcloudstate.edu
2.
Requesting Unit: Ethnic Studies Department
3.
Department, Course Number, Title: ETHS 312: American Indian Women's Lives
4.
New Course
5.
Will this course be flagged as a diversity course?
Already Designated as Diversity
6.
Will this course also satisfy another General Education Goal Area?
If “Yes” specify which goal area.
Existing Course
No
Diversity Proposal Accompanying This Form
No
Yes
7.
Course bulletin description, including credits and semesters to be offered:
Lives of American Indian women from several cultures; historical and contemporary perspectives, stories,
experiences and histories. 3 Cr. S
8.
Indicate the clientele for whom this course is designed. Is the course for general education only, or
does it fulfill general education and other program needs for this or another department? Obtain
signatures from any affected departments.
It is an elective course for the American Indian Studies minor and for the Women's Studies major.
9.
Indicate any changes that must be made in offerings or resources in your department or other
departments by offering this course.
None.
10.
For new courses or courses not yet approved for General Education, indicate any other SCSU departments
or units offering instruction that relates to the content of the proposed course.
N/A
11.
Courses designated as General Education are included in the assessment plan for the Goal Area(s)
for which they are approved. Courses for which assessment is not included in the annual GE
assessment report for two years will be removed from the General Education Program.
12/11/2009
The Requesting Unit understands and recognizes the above conditions.
12.
Provide a concise explanation of how the following goal is a “significant focus” of the proposed course.
Goal Area 5: History and the Social & Behavioral Sciences
Develop understanding of human societies and behaviors, and of the concepts, theories, and methods of
history and the social sciences.
Interest in the histories, cultures and contributions of Indigenous American women has been increasing in
the past 30 years. Only recently has scholarship in this area begun to adequately and accurately portray and
represent native womens' lives. Until recently, roles and contibutions of native women have largely gone
unnoticed and unappreciated; and many writings give the impression that all native women are alike. Historians,
anthropologists, ethnographers have postulated that Indian women played unimportant roles in the lives of their
communities and have maintained subservient roles to men. In reality, Indigenous women's lives are mutifacted
with long histories of possessing great political, religious, economic and social power. Critiquing older historical
and anthropological concepts with decolonization theories, a deeper understanding of the socities and cultures
native women belong to and contribute to is explored.
13. In order for a course to be designated as fulfilling Goal Area 5, it must address at least 4 of the 5 student learning
outcomes (SLOs) below. Check the SLOs below that are focused on in the proposed general education course.
1. Describe or use the methods and data by which historians, social scientists, or behavioral scientists investigate
human conditions.
2. Analyze human behavior, cultures, and social institutions and processes from the perspectives of history or the
social and behavioral sciences.
3. Develop explanations for and explore solutions to historical or contemporary social problems.
4. Reflect upon themselves in relation to family, communities, society, culture, and/or their histories.
5. Apply and critique alternative explanatory systems or theories about human societies and behaviors.
14.
Discuss how each Student Learning Outcome checked above is achieved in this course. (Note: Although
descriptions of typical assignments or types of assignments may be part of this discussion, it is not
appropriate to submit copies of actual assignments.)
SLO2 is achieved by critiquing historical and anthropological misunderstandings of native women.
Particularly helpful is a critique of the social construction of gender and stereotypes of native women.
SLO3 is achieved by researching social problems plagueing native women today. Issues of domestic violence and
poverty are examined with discussions about why current systems are failing these women.
SLO4 is acheieved by students keeping a "diary or journal" about their lives in relation to and contrasting with
autobiographical accounts of the lives of the women we read about. Journal entries include a reflection on their
roles as women (or men) in society, how they see themselves as reflections of their communities.
SLO5 is achieved by students' critical essays and final projects in which students choose a social problem, critique
concepts used in the literature, deconstruct the arguments using decolonization theories and formulate a new lens
by which to offer alternative perspectives on the social problem.
12/11/2009
15.
List or attach the Course Outline (adequately described and including percentage of time to be allocated
to each topic). Curriculum Committees may request additional information. Topics larger than 20% need
to be broken down further. Indicate in your course outline where the Student Learning Outcomes
checked above are being met.
Traditional Role of American Indian Women in Indian Societies -10% - SLO 2
Colonialism and Domination - 10% - SLO 2
Feminism and Decolonization - 10% SLO 3 and SLO 5
Stereotypes of Women - Gender analysis - 10% SLO 3 & SLO 5
Ethnographic/Autobiographic exploration - 10% SLO 4
Research Issues: contemporary social issues - 20% SLO 5
Sovereignty - 10 % SLO 3
Activism - 10% SLO 5
Identity - 10% SLO 4
12/11/2009
St. Cloud State University
General Education Transmittal Form
Academic Affairs Use Only:
Response Date:
Effective Date:
Proposal Number
Department: Ethnic Studies Department
Course or Course(s): ETHS 312: American Indian Women's Lives
Christopher Lehman
Department or Unit Chair Signature
2/26/10
Date
Department forward to Academic Affairs for publication and electronically to Chair of General Education Committee, Chair
of College Curriculum Committee, College Dean
Recommendation of General Education Committee:
Approve
Remarks:
Disapprove
Chairperson
Committee
Signature
Date
Recommendation of University Curriculum Committee:
Approve
Remarks:
Disapprove
Chairperson
Committee
Signature
Date
Recommendation of Faculty Association:
Approve
Remarks:
Disapprove
FA Senate
Signature
Date
Action of Academic Vice President:
Approve
Disapprove
Signature
Entered in Curriculum Data File
12/11/2009
Remarks:
Date