In order to justify an opinion, students must examine their own feelings and views and try to understand what they feel and why. The disciplines in SPEA have both a national and international component. Students are encouraged to consider their own viewpoints as well as those of others. Topics such as population planning, loss of biodiversity, the death penalty, international trade, and international relations can be used to demonstrate to students how contemporary policy issues have many facets. Students are encouraged to consider all sides of an issue and appreciate how discussions and decisions may be influenced by such factors as race, age, gender, and social class.
All students are encouraged and directly called upon to share their views on course topics.
Periodically, students are asked to engage in classroom debates and dialogue about a variety of issues. Students are provided information about conservative, liberal, and racial views of social dynamics. The effectiveness of integrating this principle within the undergraduate curriculum can be assessed in many ways. Primary among them are successes in internship programs and service learning projects. Through these activities we seek to give students a varied academic experience that will enable them to understand and appreciate the differences within various regions and cultures within the United States and throughout the world.