The purpose of Kent State’s diversity requirement is to help educate students to live in a world of diverse communities, many of which are becoming increasingly permeated with cultural and ideological differences. The study of diversity is intended to promote awareness of local and global differences, to identify shared values, to improve understanding of one’s own culture, and to encourage people to explore and respect differences.

The diversity requirement is part of the university’s broader efforts to encourage, both at the university and beyond, the development of communities in which all members and their contributions are recognized and valued. Diversity courses provide opportunities for students to learn about such matters as the history, culture, values and notable achievements of people other than those of their own national origin, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, gender, physical and mental ability, and social class. Diversity courses also provide opportunities to examine problems and issues that may arise from differences, and opportunities to learn how to deal constructively with them.

Courses that satisfy the diversity requirement aim to give students significant opportunities to:

  • Address diversity issues, particularly those involving unequal and/or discriminatory treatment
  • Compare positive and negative implications of various parochial or "...centric" perspectives
  • Encourage global awareness and sensitivity
  • Engage issues of racial or ethnic perceptions, attitudes and stereotypes
  • Examine patterns and trends of diversity in the United States
  • Explore ways to communicate and participate constructively in a diverse community
  • Foster appreciation of aesthetic dimensions of other traditions and cultures
  • Learn systematic approaches to understanding cultural differences and commonalities
  • Learn systematic techniques for dealing constructively with problems arising out of cultural differences
  • Participate in special programs that promote understanding other peoples
  • Study Western and non-Western cultures in a world context or from a comparative perspective
  • Understand how one’s own culture shapes one’s perceptions, ideology and values

It is understood that not every course will address all of these criteria.

Requirements

As part of the requirements for any bachelor's degree at Kent State, all students must satisfy the diversity requirement, consisting of one course addressing domestic (U.S.) issues and one course addressing global issues.

At least one course must come from the Kent Core. Students may satisfy the second diversity requirement in one of three ways:

  1. They may complete the second diversity course from the Kent Core, which also will count toward fulfilling the Kent Core.
  2. They may complete any non-Kent Core diversity course. This course may also count toward major or minor program requirements or may be used as an elective.
  3. They may, with approval from their dean, satisfy the second diversity requirement by completing one semester of study in another country.

Diversity Criteria and Guidelines

Domestic Diversity Focus

AFS 23002BLACK EXPERIENCE II: 1865 TO PRESENT (DIVD) (KHUM) 3
AFS 30010AFRICAN AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN PHILOSOPHIES (DIVD) 3
AFS 33100THE AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY: HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES (DIVD) 3
AFS 33110BLACK WOMEN, CULTURE AND SOCIETY: HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES (DIVD) 3
AFS 33171AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES (DIVD) 3
AFS 33310AFRO-LATINX COMMUNITIES IN THE U.S. (DIVD) 3
ARTH 42059AFRICAN AMERICAN ART AND VISUAL CULTURE (DIVD) 3
ARTH 42065FEMINIST AND QUEER ART AND CULTURAL THEORY (DIVD) 3
COMM 26000CRITICISM OF PUBLIC DISCOURSE (DIVD) (KHUM) 3
COMM 35912GENDER AND COMMUNICATION (DIVD) 3
COMM 46605COMMUNICATION ACROSS THE LIFESPAN (DIVD) 3
CRIM 36800LGBTQ POPULATIONS IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM (DIVD) 3
CRIM 37311MINORITIES IN CRIME AND JUSTICE (DIVD) 3
CRIM 37411WOMEN IN CRIME AND JUSTICE (DIVD) 3
CRIM 37511IMMIGRATION: LAW, CRIME AND JUSTICE (DIVD) 3
ECON 32083THE ECONOMICS OF POVERTY (DIVD) 3
ENG 21001INTRODUCTION TO ETHNIC LITERATURE OF THE UNITED STATES (DIVD) 3
ENG 21002INTRODUCTION TO WOMEN'S LITERATURE (DIVD) 3
ENG 21003INTRODUCTION TO LGBT LITERATURE (DIVD) 3
ENG 33005NATIVE AMERICAN LITERATURE (DIVD) 3
ENG 34021WOMEN'S LITERATURE (DIVD) 3
ENG 35301LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER: CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES (DIVD) 3
ENG 41001SOCIOLINGUISTICS IN SCHOOLING (DIVD) (WIC) 3
ENGR 31000CULTURAL DYNAMICS TECHNOLOGY (DIVD) (WIC) 3
GEOG 17064GEOGRAPHY OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA (DIVD) (KSS) 3
GERO 14029INTRODUCTION TO GERONTOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) 3
HDF 24011INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND FAMILIES (DIVD) 3
HIST 12070EARLY AMERICA: FROM PRE-COLONIZATION TO CIVIL WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION (DIVD) (KHUM) 3
HIST 12071MODERN AMERICA: FROM INDUSTRIALIZATION TO GLOBALIZATION (DIVD) (KHUM) 3
HIST 31104MIGRATIONS TO AMERICA, 1607 TO PRESENT (DIVD) 3
HIST 41056THE INVENTION OF AMERICA: 1492-1714 (DIVD) 3
HIST 41057ALEXANDER HAMILTON'S WORLD: EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY AMERICA (DIVD) 3
HIST 41056THE INVENTION OF AMERICA: 1492-1714 (DIVD) 3
HIST 41057ALEXANDER HAMILTON'S WORLD: EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY AMERICA (DIVD) 3
HIST 41071IDEAS IN ACTION: U.S. INTELLECTUAL HISTORY (DIVD) 3
MDJ 20001MEDIA, POWER AND CULTURE (DIVD) (KSS) 3
MUS 22131SURVEY OF ROCK MUSIC HISTORY (DIVD) 3
MUS 42161HISTORY OF JAZZ (DIVD) 3
MUS 42165HISTORY OF CONTEMPORARY POPULAR MUSIC (DIVD) (WIC) 3
PACS 11001INTRODUCTION TO CONFLICT MANAGEMENT (DIVD) (KSS) 3
PH 44000HEALTH DISPARITIES (DIVD) (WIC) 3
PHIL 31035PHILOSOPHY AND JUSTICE (DIVD) 3
PHIL 31040FEMINIST PHILOSOPHY (DIVD) 3
PHIL 31070AFRICAN AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN PHILOSOPHIES (DIVD) 3
PHIL 31072AMERICAN INDIAN PHILOSOPHIES (DIVD) 3
POL 10100AMERICAN POLITICS (DIVD) (KSS) 3
POL 40183CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES (DIVD) 3
POL 40470WOMEN, POLITICS AND POLICY (DIVD) 3
POL 40620POLITICS OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS (DIVD) 3
PSYC 11762GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) 3
PSYC 20651CHILD PSYCHOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) 3
PSYC 21211PSYCHOLOGY OF EVERYDAY LIFE (DIVD) (KSS) 3
PSYC 40625DEVELOPMENT OF GENDER ROLE AND IDENTITY (DIVD) 3
RPTM 36040INCLUSION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN LEISURE SERVICES (DIVD) 3
RPTM 36085LEISURE AND CULTURE (DIVD) 3
SOC 12050INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) 3
SOC 32560SOCIOLOGY OF FAMILIES (DIVD) 3
SOC 32565SOCIOLOGY OF SEXUALITIES (DIVD) 3
SOC 32569MINORITIES IN THE UNITED STATES (DIVD) 3
SOC 32570INEQUALITY IN SOCIETIES (DIVD) 3
SOC 42315SOCIOLOGY OF GENDER (DIVD) 3
SOC 42568RACE AND ETHNIC STUDIES (DIVD) 3
SOC 42879AGING IN SOCIETY (DIVD) 3
SPAD 25000SPORT IN SOCIETY (DIVD) 3
SPED 23000INTRODUCTION TO EXCEPTIONALITIES (DIVD) 3
THEA 41113THEATRE IN A MULTICULTURAL AMERICA (DIVD) 3
THEA 41115LGBTQ THEATRE (DIVD) 3
WMST 30091KEY CONVERSATIONS THROUGH WOMEN'S STUDIES (DIVD) 3

Global Diversity Focus

AFS 23001BLACK EXPERIENCE I: BEGINNINGS TO 1865 (DIVG) (KHUM) 3
AFS 24407INTRODUCTION TO CARIBBEAN STUDIES (DIVG) 3
AFS 32050AFRICAN LITERATURES (DIVG) 3
AFS 34000INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN WORLD VIEW (DIVG) 3
AFS 37100AFRICANA WOMEN’S LITERATURE (DIVG) 3
ANTH 18210INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY (DIVG) (KSS) 3
ANTH 18420INTRODUCTION TO ARCHAEOLOGY (DIVG) (KSS) 3
ANTH 48212KINSHIP AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATION (DIVG) 3
ANTH 48245PSYCHOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY (DIVG) 3
ANTH 48250MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY (DIVG) 3
ANTH 48262PEOPLES AND CULTURES OF AMAZONIA (DIVG) 3
ANTH 48360ANTHROPOLOGY OF GENDER AND SEXUALITY (DIVG) 3
ANTH 48630PACIFIC ISLAND CULTURES (DIVG) 3
ANTH 48830HUMAN BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION (DIVG) (ELR) (WIC) 3
ARTH 22010INTRODUCTION TO ASIAN ART (DIVG) 3
ARTH 22021ART HISTORY: AFRICAN ART (DIVG) (KFA) 3
ARTH 42025ART OF WEST AFRICA (DIVG) 3
ARTH 42028CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN ART: 1980-PRESENT (DIVG) 3
CLAS 21404THE GREEK ACHIEVEMENT (DIVG) (KHUM) 3
CLAS 21405THE ROMAN ACHIEVEMENT (DIVG) (KHUM) 3
COMM 35852INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION (DIVG) 3
DAN 27076DANCE AS AN ART FORM (DIVG) (KFA) 3
ENG 31006WORLD ENGLISHES (DIVG) (WIC) 3
ENG 33013AFRICANA WOMEN'S LITERATURE (DIVG) 3
ENG 33015AFRICAN LITERATURES (DIVG) 3
ENG 34011WORLD LITERATURE IN ENGLISH (DIVG) 3
GEOG 17063WORLD GEOGRAPHY (DIVG) (KSS) 3
GEOG 22040INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL TOURISM (DIVG) 3
GEOG 22061HUMAN GEOGRAPHY (DIVG) (KSS) 3
GEOG 32080POLITICS AND PLACE (DIVG) 3
GEOG 36065CITIES AND URBANIZATION (DIVG) 3
GEOG 37040GEOGRAPHY OF AFRICA (DIVG) 3
GEOG 37066GEOGRAPHY OF EUROPE (DIVG) 3
GEOG 37070GEOGRAPHY OF EAST AND SOUTHEAST ASIA (DIVG) 3
GEOG 37084GEOGRAPHY OF SOUTH AMERICA (DIVG) 3
GEOG 37085GEOGRAPHY OF LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN (DIVG) 3
HIST 11050WORLD HISTORY: ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL (DIVG) (KHUM) 3
HIST 11051WORLD HISTORY: MODERN (DIVG) (KHUM) 3
HIST 31140MODERN LATIN AMERICA (DIVG) 3
HIST 31141EARLY MODERN LATIN AMERICA (C. 1450-1820) (DIVG) 3
INTS 10504THE NEW PANGAEA: YOUR ROLE IN OUR GLOBAL COMMUNITY (DIVG) 3
INTS 30570PALESTINE AND ISRAEL (DIVG) 3
INTS 40560HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE (DIVG) 3
MCLS 21417MULTICULTURALISM IN TODAY'S GERMANY (DIVG) 3
MCLS 22217DIVERSITY IN TODAY'S RUSSIA (DIVG) 3
MCLS 28404THE LATIN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE (DIVG) 3
MUS 22121MUSIC AS A WORLD PHENOMENON (DIVG) (KFA) 3
MUS 42181POPULAR WORLD MUSIC (DIVG) 3
NURS 40020COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING (DIVG) 4
NURS 44001POPULATION-BASED NURSING FOR PROFESSIONAL NURSING PRACTICE (DIVG) 3
PACS 32030INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION (DIVG) 3
PACS 32040CROSS-CULTURAL CONFLICT MANAGEMENT (DIVG) 3
PACS 41010RECONCILIATION VERSUS REVENGE: TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE (DIVG) (WIC) 3
PH 10002INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL HEALTH (DIVG) 3
PHIL 11001INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY (DIVG) (KHUM) 3
PHIL 21001INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS (DIVG) (KHUM) 3
PHIL 31075PHILOSOPHY AND CULTURE (DIVG) 3
PHIL 41491SEMINAR IN ASIAN PHILOSOPHY (DIVG) 3
POL 10004COMPARATIVE POLITICS (DIVG) (KSS) 3
POL 10500WORLD POLITICS (DIVG) (KSS) 3
POL 30520EUROPEAN POLITICS (DIVG) 3
POL 30530ASIAN POLITICS (DIVG) 3
POL 30550LATIN AMERICAN POLITICS (DIVG) 3
POL 30560MIDDLE EAST POLITICS (DIVG) 3
POL 30570PALESTINE AND ISRAEL (DIVG) 3
POL 40540POLITICS OF DEVELOPMENT (DIVG) 3
POL 40560HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE (DIVG) 3
REL 11020INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS (DIVG) (ELR) (KHUM) 3
REL 21021MOSES, JESUS AND MOHAMMAD (DIVG) (ELR) (KHUM) 3
RPTM 26060INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL TOURISM (DIVG) 3
SOC 22778SOCIAL PROBLEMS (DIVG) (KSS) 3
SOC 32673URBAN SOCIOLOGY (DIVG) 3
SOC 42575FAMILIES IN A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE (DIVG) 3
SPAN 58424SPANISH-AMERICAN CULTURE THROUGH SONGS (DIVG) 3
THEA 11000THE ART OF THE THEATRE (DIVG) (KFA) 3