The Perspectives Requirement (6 Hours)
Perspectives courses prepare students to live and work in a pluralistic society and a connected, interdependent world. These courses prepare students to understand multiple perspectives within their own society, the role of culture in shaping human lives, and the relations among groups of people. Perspectives include but are not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, physical or mental ability, religion, language, socio-economic status, and sexual orientation. While any two MX courses will fulfill the requirement, a student whose first course is in a language is encouraged to fulfill the second requirement with a second course in that language.
Perspectives courses must address at least two of the following:
1. Culture Perspectives: Focus on at least one culture through the study of one or more of the following: social structures, religions, historical traditions and customs, languages, politics, economics, etc.
2. Human Perspectives: Explore the variety of backgrounds and characteristics found among humans through the examination of at least one of the following: age, physical and/or cognitive ability, ethnicity, gender, language, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, or social class.
3. Global Perspectives: Compare and understand some factor or set of issues in different cultures in a global context. For examples, see lists in criteria 1 and 2.
Some courses may carry both designation as a Perspectives course (MX) and one of the distribution requirements. These courses may be applied toward both requirements.