Proposal for Designation as a General Education – Cultural Diversity Course
Proposed Course (Number and Title): _______________________________________________
Instructor: ___________________________ Date of Submission: _______________________
Is this a multiple section course?
Yes ____
If so, are all sections being proposed?
Yes ____
If not, which sections are being proposed?
No ____
No ____
Directions: Please indicate whether or not your course satisfies each of the criteria listed below.
If you check “No” for any of the criteria, please provide a written rationale for why this course
should be designated as a General Education – Cultural Diversity course. If you check “Yes” for
all of the criteria, then you do not have to provide a written rationale.
Certification of Criteria:
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
This course is designed to achieve the objectives of the General
Education – Cultural Diversity requirement (see other side for more
detail).
This course is devoted primarily to the study of EITHER a nonmajority
culture or cultures in the United States OR a nonmajority culture or
cultures in a Western European society OR a culture or cultures
outside the United States and Western Europe.
Please specify the country or region: _______________________
Please specify the culture(s): _____________________________
I certify that the proposed course meets these criteria.
PLEASE NOTE: If you checked, “Yes,” no written rationale is required. If you checked “No,”
please supply a written rationale below for why this course should be designated as a Cultural
Diversity course.
NOTE: By the end of the drop-add period, a syllabus for this course must be provided to the Curriculum
Committee. That syllabus should clearly state how the course will satisfy the above criteria. Failure
to do this will mean that the certification is revoked.
Written Rationale: (You can attach an additional sheet if necessary.)
Instructor’s Name: ___________________________________
Department Chair’s Name: _____________________________
OBJECTIVES FOR GENERAL EDUCATION – CULTURAL DIVERSITY COURSES
A course in any field is eligible to be designated as a General Education – Cultural Diversity
course if, in addition to its other goals, it meets the following objectives:
I.
Cultural Diversity courses help students “begin to understand the cultural diversity of
American society and the world at large, so that, as citizens of an increasingly interconnected world, they may become better able to respond sensitively and intelligently to
peoples of varied social backgrounds and cultural frameworks” (“Peoples and Cultures
Courses,” Williams College Office of the Registrar, 2000).
II.
Cultural Diversity courses may study nonmajority cultures within the United States or
Western Europe or both.
III.
Cultural Diversity courses may study a culture or cultures outside the United States or
Western Europe.