These themes are designed to help learners practice new ways of thinking, learning and living together. Return to top American Pluralism and the College Curriculum American Pluralism and the College Curriculum probes the notoriously difficult work of changing college curricula. This report focuses specifically on ways of addressing American democratic and cultural pluralism across the college curriculum. Illustrated with examples from recently established diversity requirements, courses, and approaches at campuses throughout the United States, American Pluralism demonstrates that diversity is becoming an educational priority at all kinds of institutions, from large state universities to small private liberal arts colleges. The illustrations show that in dozens of different ways new diversity courses are fostering civic knowledge and social responsibility.
Diversity education is more than learning about cultural difference.
In a participatory democracy, diversity studies also have important civic dimensions. Before students can really engage difference in others they need to develop a grounded sense of their own identities. Diversity curricula also should include study of particular groups' ongoing struggles for recognition, inclusion, opportunity and justice. In justice seeking, the student comes to understand participatory democracy by taking part in community-initiated efforts to enhance opportunity and participation in American society. This field learning should be augmented by reflective seminars in which students compare their field experiences and draw new insights from the comparisons.