The University
Senate of
PROPOSAL 15-07
(Voting
Units: Academic)
Proposal for a
MINOR IN DIVERSITY STUDIES
Department of Humanities
The
Michigan Tech Diversity Framework http://www.edopp.mtu.edu/DiversityFramework/Default.htm
calls on the University to “develop an academic diversity studies minor.” And Goal 1 of the Michigan Tech Strategic
Plan http://www.mtu.edu/stratplan/stratplan42806.pdf
is to “attract and support a world-class and
diverse faculty, staff, and student population.”
The
availability of a diversity studies minor on campus would help to increase
awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the importance of diversity in
the contemporary world. The faculty,
students, and courses in this minor could have a campus-wide impact far greater
than just the number of students selecting this minor might suggest. Such a minor could help to improve the
climate for underrepresented groups on campus and, thus, could help with
recruiting and retaining underrepresented students, faculty, and staff.
Since
a diverse environment helps people to learn to work successfully in diverse
groups, a minor in diversity studies could be an invaluable asset not only for
students from underrepresented groups but for all students.
Diversity
Studies
This
Humanities Minor in Diversity Studies provides students from all areas of the
University with a better understanding of underrepresented populations within
the
The
Minor in Diversity Studies requires a minimum of 18 credit hours.
A. Study of underrepresented populations within
the
Pedagogical objective: To increase students’
understanding and appreciation of underrepresented populations within the
HU2520 Cultural Diversity in the
Literature of the
HU3850 Cultural Studies (spring)
Prerequisites: UN1002 or UN1003
SS3710 Social Problems (offered
alternating years) Prerequisite: UN2002
SS3750 Social Inequality
(offered alternating years) Prerequisite: UN2002
SS4100 American Indian Political
Issues (offered alternating years) Prerequisite: UN2002
PSY3070 Cross-Cultural Psychology
(offered on demand) Prerequisite: UN2002
B. Study of the
cultures contributing to these underrepresented populations (at least 6
credits)
Pedagogical objective: To increase students’
understanding and appreciation of cultures outside the
Up to six credits of HU1241 (Less Commonly Taught Languages, Level I),
HU1242 (Less Commonly Taught Languages, Level II), Spanish, or French
HU2920 Language and Society (spring)
HU3261 Communicating across
Cultures Prerequisites: UN1002 or UN1003
HU3504 Novels from World
Literature (fall every other year) Prerequisites: UN1002 or UN1003
HU3910 Language Issues in the
World (spring) Prerequisites: UN1002 or UN1003
SS2100 World Peoples and
Environments
SS3100 Developing Societies
(offered every other year) Prerequisites: UN1002 or UN1003
SS3410 World Resources and
Development (offered every other year) Prerequisite: UN2002
SS3810 Culture, Science and Technology
(offered every other year) Prerequisite: UN2002
SS4200 Cultural and Political
Ecology (offered on demand) Prerequisite: SS2100
Although
the Department of Humanities will adapt existing courses in support of this
minor, we will initially implement the minor with courses that are currently
available.
All
of the courses required for this minor are already offered at Michigan Tech;
hence, the minor requires no additional resources.
Assuming
the minor is approved during the 2006-2007 academic year, it will be in place
in the fall of 2007.
Introduced in Senate: 17 January 2007
Adopted by Senate: 31 January 2007
Became Senate Policy 405.1