Cluster Four: Social and Cultural Processes

Dr. Raymond M. Hyser, Coordinator

Courses in Cluster Four require students to think critically about their own society and its relationship to the larger global community. These courses develop responsible and enlightened global citizenship by examining a wide variety of the processes that shape the human experience. Students will take one course that focuses on the American experience and one course that examines the global experience.

Cluster Four Learning Objectives

American Experience

Students completing this part of Cluster Four will be able to identify, conceptualize and evaluate:

• The social and political processes and structures using quantitative and qualitative data.
• The key primary sources relating to American history, political institutions and society.
• The nature and development of the intellectual concepts that structure American political activity.
• The history and operation of American democratic institutions.
• The history and development of American society and culture.
• The history and development of American involvement in world affairs.

Global Experience

Students completing this part of Cluster Four will be able to identify, conceptualize and evaluate:

• The basic global problems.
• The global political, social, cultural and economic systems that shape societies.
• The issues involved in analyzing societies different from one’s own.
• The theoretical models used in studying global problems.
• The strengths and limitations of solutions to global problems across and within cultures.