Please submit to Dr. Randall Rhodes, Chair, University Undergraduate Curriculum Requirements Committee.
IDENTITY AND DIFFERENCE
COURSE PROPOSAL INFORMATION
The function of a course in Identity and Difference within the constructs of a liberal education at Frostburg State University is
to allow the consideration of “factors of culture, race, gender, ethnicity, class, and global imperatives in the dynamic
formation of student identity.” The principal objective of studies in Identity and Difference is “to open students’ minds to the
varieties of perspectives that determine values in a complex, global society.” Identity, therefore, may be defined as the
“dynamic process of psychological and cultural self-conception by individuals, both separately and as members of social and
cultural groups,” while difference (or diversity) is best interpreted as “the range of significant differences among people
eligible for participation in, contribution to, and/or benefit from an activity or experience.”
All quotes are from “Undergraduate Education Initiative: Recommendations for a Distinctive Undergraduate Experience,”
March 2004, pages 78-79.
NOTE:
1. This form is for submittal of existing courses only. Any proposals for new courses must follow
established governance procedures.
2. All proposals are to be submitted to the University Undergraduate Curriculum Requirements SubCommittee (UUCR) of Faculty Senate as per announced deadlines.
3. Proposed courses may be offered at any level (i.e., 100, 200, etc).
4. Inclusion of a course within the Identity and Difference roster does not waive any of the course’s
prerequisites.
5. Courses submitted for and approved for Identity and Difference offerings will continue in that
category until the departments petition for the course’s removal, through established governance
procedures, from the general education program.
6. Existing courses within the Modes of Inquiry category of FSU’s general education program may be
included as an Identity and Difference courses (if they meet I & D criteria). However, such courses
may NOT be counted for credit in both Identity and Difference and in their respective segment of
general education (i.e., Sections A, B, C, D or E ).
7. Neither the First-Year FSU Colloquium nor the Advanced FSU Colloquium may serve as a course in
Identity and Difference.
1
Please submit to Dr. Randall Rhodes, Chair, University Undergraduate Curriculum Requirements Committee.
Course Development Criteria:
1. In order to qualify as an Identity and Difference course within the general education program, each
course must meet at least one of the following criteria, each of which support the intention of studies
in Identity and Difference as defined on the previous page.
a. This course is designed to encourage each student to understand his/her own identity or the
identity of others with respect to factors that may include culture, ethnicity, race, gender, social
class, sexual preference, economic status, urban/suburban/exurban/rural, or other issues of
identity as clearly articulated in the course syllabus and learning goals.
b. This course is designed to encourage each student to understand how power includes/excludes
groups in the United States and/or outside its national boundaries.
c. This course is designed to encourage each student to understand the causes of
equality/inequality in distinct societies within the United States and/or outside its national
boundaries.
d. This course is designed to encourage each student to understand the social, political, and
economic institutions, as specifically related to issues of identity and difference, within the
United States and/or outside its national boundaries.
2. To submit a proposal, please provide the following information.
a. Complete the cover page (page 3 of this information packet).
b. Attach a brief narrative (one page) describing:
i)
How the course meets any of the criteria as identified above,
ii) How the course supports the learning goals for general education and the Undergraduate
Institutional Learning Goals (please cite specific goals),
iii) Specific course components (readings, exercises, activities, etc.), that relate to the above
objectives,
iv) A discussion of how much of the course content specifically relates to the Identity and
Difference issues identified above,
v) A discussion of how course activities will allow you to assess learning goals associated with
the criteria identified above.
This narrative is particularly important in helping members of the UUCR understand the
connections of your course to the stated goals for Identity and Difference courses.
c. Attach a syllabus from the proposed course. The syllabus must clearly define learning goals
and expected outcomes. The syllabus must also clearly articulate the course’s connection to
the learning goals of general education and the Undergraduate Institutional Learning Goals.
2
Please submit to Dr. Randall Rhodes, Chair, University Undergraduate Curriculum Requirements Committee.
FROSTBURG STATE UNIVERSITY
IDENTITY AND DIFFERENCE
COURSE PROPOSAL FORM
COURSE INFORMATION
Course Title
Department/Course Number
Sponsoring Faculty
Implementation date (semester/year)
If actual date of offering is different,
due to department/division rotation
schedule, please note
Division/Dept. Chair Approval/date
Dean Approval/date
Course Description (text box expands to accept your narrative)
Please circle or otherwise highlight the criterion/criteria which serves as the focus of your course. You
must identify at least one criterion.
1. This course is designed to encourage each student to understand his/her own identity or the identity
of others with respect to factors that may include culture, ethnicity, race, gender, social class, sexual
preference, economic status, urban/suburban/exurban/rural, or other issues of identity as clearly
articulated in the course syllabus and learning goals.
2. This course is designed to encourage each student to understand how power includes/excludes
groups in the United States and/or outside its national boundaries.
3. This course is designed to encourage each student to understand the causes of equality/inequality
in distinct societies within the United States and/or outside its national boundaries.
4. This course is designed to encourage each student to understand the social, political, and economic
institutions, as specifically related to issues of identity and difference, within the United States
and/or outside its national boundaries.
Submittal Checklist
Completed cover sheet with
One-page narrative (see page 2, item
selected criterion/criteria (this page)
2B of this information packet)
Syllabus
Ten copies
3