American and Global Perspectives (formerly: Cluster Four: Social and Cultural Processes)

Courses in American and Global Perspectives 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 complete one course that focuses on the American experience and one course that examines the global experience.

American and Global Perspectives Learning Outcomes

The American Experience

After completing an American Experience course students will be able to identify, conceptualize and evaluate:

• Social and political processes and structures using quantitative and qualitative data.
• Primary sources relating to American history, political institutions and society.
• The evolution of intellectual concepts shaping American democratic institutions, including issues involving power, inequity and justice.
• The complexity and diversity of American politics, society and culture.
• Intentions and consequences of America’s engagement in global affairs.
• How the historical exclusion of various social identities influences political, social, cultural and economic development.

The Global Experience

After completing a Global Experience course students will be able to identify, conceptualize and evaluate:

• Basic global problems.
• Global political, social, cultural and economic systems that shape societies.
• Issues involved in analyzing societies different from one’s own.
• Strategies to achieve diversity, equity, inclusion, justice and access both locally and globally.
• The value and complexity of global diversity in all its forms.