ERIC Number: ED416796
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1997
Pages: 120
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: ISBN-0-911696-70-9
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
General Education and American Commitments. A National Report on Diversity Courses and Requirements.
Humphreys, Debra
This monograph reports on a study which examined how 92 colleges participating in a multiproject initiative, "American Commitments: Diversity, Democracy and Liberal Learning," are addressing issues of diversity in their general education curricula, policies, and practices. Chapter 1 focuses on emerging trends and promising practices, and includes discussions of: U.S. pluralism; culture and identity; prejudice, discrimination, and the pursuits of justice; education for social responsibility; and diversity in the core curriculum. Chapter 2 considers the process and politics of curricular change. Topics addressed include: effective diversity learning, defining learning goals, questions for faculty dialogue, the change process, and pedagogical change and faculty development. Chapter 3 covers the shaping of effective curricular models, including infusing diversity across the curriculum, requirements allowing students to choose among many courses, and the single course or course sequence requirement. A conclusion urges a four-part curricular engagement for effective citizenship: study of one's own culture, pluralism and pursuit of justice, justice seeking, and pluralism in majors and concentrations. An afterword by Carol Geary Schneider is titled: "Education for Cultural and Democratic Pluralism." Extensive appendices include exemplary syllabi, a listing of participating institutions, a list of resources, and a summary review of the literature. (Contains 11 references.) (DB)
Descriptors: Citizenship Education, College Curriculum, Colleges, Core Curriculum, Course Content, Course Descriptions, Cultural Differences, Cultural Pluralism, Curriculum Development, Democratic Values, Faculty Development, General Education, Higher Education, Justice, National Surveys, Required Courses, Universities
Association of American Colleges and Universities, 1818 R Street, N.W., Washington DC 20009; phone: 202-387-3760; fax: 202-265-9532 ($15).
Publication Type: Books; Information Analyses; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Ford Foundation, New York, NY.; National Endowment for the Humanities (NFAH), Washington, DC.
Authoring Institution: Association of American Colleges and Universities, Washington, DC.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A