Diversity Proficiency

To fulfill the Diversity Proficiency, students will demonstrate proficiency in diversity, understood as either cross-cultural or involving diversity within the American context through a designated course as approved by the Core Curriculum Committee.

Why Diversity?

The pursuit of truth that animates the academic mission of Providence College cannot be rightly undertaken by individuals isolated from community. Education is not merely an acquisitive process, but a formation of mind and heart directed toward the sharing the fruits of one’s contemplations with others. In today’s world, we are more and more aware that these others reflect a wide diversity of traditions, cultures, religious convictions, abilities, and experiences. For this reason, an education for truth must involve serious consideration of the differences within the human community. Accordingly, each student will be required to take a course devoted either to the exploration of a culture outside of the American and Western European ambit or to the study of differences within the American context. Both options reflect the Catholic commitment to the unity of the human family above and beyond all distinctions.

Diversity Proficiency Courses

Core Curriculum Resources

For Faculty Advisors

The information below is intended to help faculty members learn more about the Diversity Proficiency.

Requirement Objectives

The following is a list of objectives that you may find helpful when you’re preparing to submit a course to the CCC for approval.

Option #1: Cross-cultural Understanding courses will:

Introduce students to a different culture and help students think about what constitutes a cultural identity and the fundamental assumptions which underlie cultural differences.
Provide students with the opportunity to understand and appreciate the perspectives of others who encounter and interpret the world in significantly different ways, while simultaneously providing students with new perspectives on their own culture.
Explore the theoretical, methodological, and/or ethical issues involved in encountering cultural differences.
Provide students with significant opportunity to use their understanding of cultural differences to reflect on their own behavior and decisions.

Option #2: Diversity courses will:

Introduce students to the meaning of social identities, such as race, ethnicity, gender, class, and disability and their intersections.
Offer students the opportunity to discuss and understand multiple forms of oppression including, but not limited to racial and ethnic intolerance and resulting inequality as it occurs in the United States or elsewhere.
Explore comparisons of discrimination such as those based on race, ethnicity, religion, disability, social class, age, or gender.
Stimulate critical reflection on theoretical, methodological, and ethical issues involved in encountering differences stemming from race, gender, class, religion, and disabilities, and help students to think systematically about the fundamental assumptions underlying such differences.

Notes

Study Abroad/Diversity Proficiency

A study abroad experience by itself does not satisfy the Diversity proficiency requirement. However, an approved study abroad course may meet the requirement.

Helpful Links

Diversity Proficiency

Why Diversity?