Diversity in our Curriculum

There are several diversity courses for students to enroll in and for faculty to instruct at Adams State University.

Majors/Minors

• Spanish Major
  

• Women's Studies Minor

• Latino Studies Minor

Ongoing Courses:

• SOC 318: Race, Class, & Gender
• SOC 365: Race, Culture, & Ethnicity
• SOC 419: Gender & Society
• ECE 340: Diverse Families & Communities
• SPED 341: Special Education for the Diverse Student
  

Spring 2013 Special Topics Diversity Courses:

JOUR 379: "Diversity in Media," focuses on how race, gender, class, sexuality, and other groups are represented in the media. Students critically analyze media representations of traditionally marginalized, as well as non-marginalized, groups and identify and contemplate consequences of these representations, as well as articulate solutions for the viewing audience. The class is by-and-large an open discussion format, where all views are welcome and where all, including the instructor, struggle with current conceptions of, and issues surrounding, media representation, hegemony, the media industry structure, and the (dis)empowerment of the audience.

THTR 379: "Theatre & Social Change," is an introduction to the ideas and practice of theatre as a catalyst for social change. It examines the intersection between theatre, society, and political activism.

The course is designed to expand students’ understanding of the contemporary role of theatre within society and possible career choices they can make within the theatre and larger entertainment industries. It augments courses that teach more traditional acting techniques by providing an alternative approach to acting training.

The students in the class form a theatre company named WILL ACT FOR CHANGE. Throughout the semester, they will create performance pieces, including Guerrilla Street Theatre, that tackle issues of racism, sexism, homophobia, poverty, and more including challenges facing college students. This year WILL ACT FOR CHANGE has been selected to participate in the national "8" The Play Project. The play is a docudrama about California's Proposition 8 which banned gay marriage. On March 23, we will present a staged reading of the play in our Main Stage Theatre. The original staged reading featured George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Martin Sheen, and many other film and television actors. Adams State University's presentation occurs two days before the Supreme Court hears the case to determine the constitutionality of Proposition 8.