Being aware of the role WVC can play in educating our students for participation in a multicultural world, the Diversity & Cultural Enrichment Core Theme Council along with the Educational Achievement Core Theme Council has identified the following six diversity competencies we believe all students who seek a associate in arts and sciences direct transfer agreement degree should learn through taking at least five credits of diversity courses (course highlighted with a “[D]” designation) during their term of study at WVC. The diversity requirement for graduation will be in effect starting with new students in fall 2018. Every WVC AAS-DTA seeking student will need to take at least 5 credits of diversity courses to graduate.
Six Standards
- Understanding Discrimination and Racism: An understanding of race and racism in the U.S. while also exploring the meaning of power and privilege, along with historical patterns, marginalization and demographics of American society in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, ability and class differences.
- Self-reflection of Personal Identities and Bias: Self-reflection by students regarding one’s own personal identities, biases and personal prejudices, in a manner that is observable by the instructor. Expression of student’s cultural awareness, sensitivity, diversity and cultural competency.
- Global or International Issues and Impact on U.S. Culture: Global or international issues, including the flow of people, religion, genocide, human rights violations, cultures, labor, capital, diseases, or resources past or present, across or within geographical borders with an emphasis on the global understanding of the diversity of United States culture and other cultures across the globe.
- Identity Development and Intersectionality: Exploring how race, class, gender and other categories of difference are socially constructed,flexible, and overlapping; how identities and their representations change over time; how different identities intersect with one another and are shaped by power, privilege and systemic discrimination.
- Systemic Discrimination and Oppression: Knowledge of the origins and systemic nature of prejudice, discrimination and oppression that has been directed toward people of diverse backgrounds and orientations.
- Analysis of Public Policy and its Effect on Diverse Populations: Analyzing and critiquing public policies that affect various groups of people in different ways; understanding how social trends impact institutions and lives of individuals; developing conceptual tools for analyzing bias, prejudice, and discrimination in society.
Student Learning Outcomes Categories: Cultural Diversity
- Understanding discrimination and racism
- Self-reflection of personal identities and bias
- Global or international issues and impact on U.S. culture
- Identity development and intersectionality
- Systemic discrimination and oppression
- Analysis of public policy and its effect on diverse populations
Diversity Courses
For the most up-to-date list of diversity courses, visit wvc.edu/Diversity. Courses certified as of July 2022:
- AIIS 102 – Introduction to American Indian Indigenous Studies
- AIIS 103 – The Indigenous Pacific Northwest
- AIIS 150 – History of American Indian Education
- AIIS 170 – Film and Cinema Through the Indigenous Lens
- AIIS 202 – Contemporary Topics in American Indian and Indigenous Studies
- AIIS 203 – Introduction to American Indian Indigenous Literature
- AIIS 209 – Native American History to 1815
- AIIS 210 – Native North America 1815 to Present
- AIIS 240 – Indigenous Women of North America
- ANTH& 100 – Survey of Anthropology
- ANTH& 206 – Cultural Anthropology
- ANTH 220 – Cross-Cultural Studies
- ART 204 – Contemporary Art History
- BIOL 103 – Salmon, Ecosystems & Society
- CHST 112 – Chicano/a History: An American Journey
- CHST 115 – La Chicana: Gender, History and Intellectualism
- CHST 120 – Identity, Art and Culture
- ENGL 247 – Multicultural Literature
- ENGL 255 – Women’s Literature
- GEOG& 100 – Introduction to Geography
- GEOG& 102 – World Regional Geography
- GEOG 150 – Introduction to Sustainability
- GEOG& 207 – Geography of Economy
- HIST 147 – US History II
- HIST 202 - The American Constitution
- HIST& 215 – Women in US History
- HIST 230 – Plateau History
- HIST 240 - Hip Hop History
- HIST 260 – History of Mexico
- HIST 261 – Latin America: History Through Revolution
- HUMN 242 – Global Cinema
- POLS& 203 – International Relations
- POLS 205 – Contemporary World Problems
- POLS 206 – State & Local Politics
- SOC 135 – Sociology of Women
- SOC 151 – Sociology of Race & Ethnicity
- Exceptions for study abroad courses: Students must individually petition to have study abroad courses meet the diversity requirement.