ISS 2160 – Cultural Diversity in the U.S.

About The Course

Cultural Diversity in the United States offers a platform for discussing the many kinds of diversity we encounter in the United States today. This course will attempt to dispel the notion of diversity as merely a synonym for racial or ethnic issues. Through the study of diversity consciousness and training we will attempt to better understand prejudices and discrimination in the United States. As we explore various types of diversity including racial, political, sexual, gender, religious, ethnic and any others that arise from our discussions, we will examine both the positive and negative experiences that have arisen from laws, actions, cultures, feelings, and protests in the United States.

Course Goals

By the end of this course, students will:

• define what diversity means in the United States;
• explain how the benefits of Diversity Education and Training may help reduce the number of prejudicial incidents in the future;
• describe and identify personal and social barriers to success and how they are related to diversity;
• identify multiple types of prejudice and discrimination that exist(ed) in the United States;
• explain how prejudice and discrimination have impacted our world;
• define cultural encapsulation, enculturation, classism, and sexism, and cite examples of their occurrence in American workplaces and schools;
• describe the power of language;
• demonstrate how communication and culture are interrelated and how miscommunication has been the cause of more than one war;
• select and employ effective strategies for inclusive communication, the value of a team-based approach to leadership, as well as conflict management skills and the ability to think critically.

Satisfied High School Graduation Requirement Subject: Elective
High School Credit: 0.5

• Sample Syllabus