Background
To fulfill the University at Buffalo’s “Diversity in the United States,” a new course related to social life, cultural differences, and history should be proposed. It should enhance people’s understanding of race, ethics, and religion to help reduce discrimination. Therefore, the course will cover the history of slavery, civil rights, and immigration. Critical thinking skills and communication should be a significant part of the course.
What Academic Department(s) Should Offer This Course
The Department of Sociology or American Studies should be responsible for the new course, as they have extensive knowledge in helping people from minority groups. It is also important to collaborate with academic departments that develop literature and history programs to ensure the correctness of facts provided to students attending the course. Individuals from minority groups should be aware of their history and understand how to protect their rights.
Diverse Groups Engagement
In the early stages of course development, racial and ethnic minorities will be taught how to respond in aggressive situations. Moreover, religious individuals can take the course to remain in a safe community and delve deeper into the history of their religion. The classes for non-Christian communities like Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists will be available every week. Moreover, participants’ preferences will be taken seriously.
Course Format
The format should remain compact because many people with diverse interests want to be surrounded by those who share their beliefs. Overcrowding may increase anxiety levels and decrease productivity. Therefore, small seminars and learning communities will be proposed for discriminated groups. While workshops will remain more informative, with the ability to ask questions, learning groups will pay closer attention to each participant’s personal experiences.
Current Course Offerings vs. the Proposal
There are many universities across the US where workers support the discriminated groups. For example, the University of Southern California has a Race and Equity Center where people can ask for help 24/7. However, the proposed course will include weekly classes and assessments to ensure that people from minority groups can cope with the tension. Additionally, a structured plan for the types will be provided at the beginning, making it more structured and appealing to those who cannot make a final decision about attendance.