In our youth-oriented culture, albeit an aging one, death and dying are subjects too infrequently discussed. The purpose of the theme is to acquaint students with the variety of responses of different cultures and disciplines to sensitive and emotional issues surrounding death and dying.
Death is a universal experience among humans.
Most experts in the field of grief and bereavement categorize the American society as a death-denying culture since many individuals are uncomfortable discussing issues related to death and dying and often go to great lengths to avoid dealing with these issues. The Death and Dying Theme will provide students with an opportunity to explore death and dying issues in a structured, safe forum. A significant outcome for a student who selects this theme will be better understanding of loss when confronted with the death of a loved one, colleague, client or acquaintance. The program prepares students for intelligent participation in public dialogues that consider the issues of human living and responsible action in local, national, and global communities. Death is one of the relatively few experiences shared by all humankind.