Time Schedule:
Jeanette M. Bushnell
CHID 260
Seattle Campus
Considers the notion of diversity from many scholarly perspectives and from personal engagements. Critically visits historical thinking about diversity and examines contemporary issues such as racism and other oppressions.
Class description
The participants of this course will study the notion “diversity” from many scholarly perspectives and from personal engagements. We will critically visit the historical thinking about ‘diversity’. Questions that drive this course are: What does diversity mean? What is diversity? What is non-diversity? Is it important and if so, why? What are the implications to me? How has ‘diversity’ successfully challenged inequalities and how has it been co-opted to support inequality? We will look into origins and histories of ‘diversity’. We will learn about contemporary issues related to ‘diversity’ such as racism and other oppressions. We will relate ‘diversity’ dialogues to the harsh realities that face certain members of our society.
Student learning goals
strive to increase knowledge about ‘diversity’ and learn from each other
study several historical trajectories of oppressions, how oppressions are tied to diversity, and how we are personally involved with these in our everyday lives
study the fluidity of identities and how forces influence individual’s lived realities
learn to recognize these processes and become more conscious of our choices as we take on identities and attempt to place identities on others
engage in conversations about difference and societies’ engagements with difference. explore ways in which the Westernized academy has or has not engaged in diversity, with diversity’s implied concepts of difference and hierarchy, or with power and privilege endowed or withheld within complex systems of creating and identifying difference.
learn how knowledge systems engage in conversations about difference
General method of instruction
Monday and Tuesday -- large lecture setting with guest speakers each day Wednesday -- two-hour discussion section led by a graduate teaching assistant Friday -- one-hour discussion section led by an undergraduate peer facilitator
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
vary by teaching assistant -- see Time Schedule notes
vary by teaching assistant -- see Time Schedule notes
