Cultural diversity is a fact of life in the United States today.
Race and ethnic relations are more important than ever before, especially for students in the helping professions. This course is designed to understand race and ethnicity in its political, social and historical context. Since the culture in which we are raised as children and youth greatly influences our attitudes, beliefs, values and behaviors, it is important to gain an awareness of the cultural background of our own, as well as others' thoughts, feelings and acts. At the completion of this course, it is hoped that students will learn to recognize and appreciate both the emotional and intellectual energies felt by all kinds of subordinate groups and be able to express this awareness through the written word. The student will demonstrate knowledge of multi-cultural patterns as they exist in homes, schools, and communities for a variety of racial, ethnic, and social groups.