This component of our curriculum is deeply steeped in our Mission as a Catholic university. Students are required to complete two courses that carry the Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice (DISJ) flag. At least one course asks students to critically examine and recognize how difference may lead to disparities in life experiences domestically. The second course may be internationally focused. This is a developmental requirement and students must complete both level 1 and level 2. The level 1 course must be completed before enrolling in level 2.
DISJ Level 1 v. Level 2 courses
Typically, Level 1 courses are looking for students to develop their skills and knowledge whilst Level 2 courses are prompting students to reach an advanced or mastery level, particularly in the reflective component of the DISJ curriculum.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will demonstrate:
- Critical self-reflection: Critically reflect on and describe how you and others have experienced privilege and oppression with accuracy of information about privilege/oppression, depth and impact of self-reflection, relevance of personal experience and clarity and effectiveness of ability to communicate about self and self in relation to others.
- Explain diversity, inclusion and social justice: Analyze how social constructions are produced historically and reproduced in contemporary contexts and various forms of cultural representation – literature, film and others. Describe struggles of marginalized peoples and their allies against forces such as racism, sexism, classism or heterosexism to attain equitable outcomes with accuracy of information about groups and identities, factual accuracy not stereotypes, breadth of multiple viewpoints, distinguish between master and counter narratives and clarity explanation about group(s)/values.
- Analyze the complexities of diversity, inclusion, and social justice: Critically examine the intersections of categories such as race, ethnicity, class, gender and sexuality in local and/or global contexts of unequal power relationships and social justice with accuracy and depth of synthesis of intersecting axes into a more complex picture of self, another individual or a group, accuracy and thoroughness of explanation of past, current and future national/global group patterns and effective employment of multiple or mixed-methods (such as qualitative, quantitative, case studies, spatial analysis, oral history, literacy or cultural studies, etc.).
Example of flagged courses
DISJ Domestic, Level 1: THRS 113 - World Religions in San Diego
A survey of major religious traditions of the world, including Catholic Christianity, focusing on their presence in San Diego and issues of power, privilege, and social justice.
DISJ Domestic, Level 2: PHIL 420 - Philosophy of Race
This course aims to provide a comprehensive overview of key themes in the philosophy of race. Areas of inquiry include: historical origins of philosophical accounts of race, the metaphysics of race, the social construction of race and racial identity, contemporary social issues concerning race both nationally and internationally, as well as feminism and race, among other topics.
DISJ Global, Level 1: MUSC 106 - We Shall Overcome
This course examines the complex relationship between song and social dissent. We will explore the use of popular, traditional, and art musics by activists and social change-makers, drawing on a range of global group singing traditions. In doing so, we will seek to understand how and why group singing can be effective in mobilizing social movements, and how it might be able to advance causes of social justice in our communities today. This course bridges two subdisciplines of music, ethnomusicology and performance; in addition to seminar-style exploration of history and culture, a significant portion of the course will include group singing, culminating in an end-of-semester song festival led by the members of the course.
DISJ Global - Level 2: COMM 380 - International Media
This course examines media systems, uses, and social impact around the world, with an emphasis on trans-national comparisons of media development. Topics to be addressed include globalization of the media environment, media and national identity, communication for social change, and the influence of U.S. media on cultures around the world. It is recommended that students complete COMM 130 before enrolling in this course.
Diversity levels 1 and 2 do not necessarily correspond to lower/upper division courses.
Students must complete at least one Domestic and one other Diversity course (Domestic or Global).