Essential Characteristics
Courses in this component focus primarily on cultures or societies outside of the United States and Europe. In the twenty-first century, we live in a richly interconnected world, with closely intertwined political and economic relations, widespread cross-cultural influences, and information flowing across national boundaries. Globalization is the new norm. As a result, we are all now in a significant sense “global citizens.” It is impossible to work or plan effectively, or to adequately understand our own country and society, without knowledge of the diversity of global cultures world-wide, as well as the diversity within particular global cultures, and how these other cultures intersect with each other and with our own.
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Such a course should enable students to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of at least one culture or society outside of the United States, specifically one or more non-European cultures (i.e., those originating from Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, or East or South Asia, the Pacific, or indigenous cultures outside the United States)
- Describe examples of how those cultures and societies intersect with or have intersected with other cultures (possibly including US or European cultures and/or a colonial legacy)
- Identify at least one specific aspect(s) of such a culture, such as its history, thought, customs, art, religion(s), economy, political institutions, colonialism, etc., and say how this aspect is related to other features that shape or have shaped that culture
(Committee approved: 2/2021)