Diversity Course Requirements in Colleges and Universities

Beginning with the first ethnic studies department in the late 1960s, an increasing number of colleges and universities are requiring a diversity course as part of their general education curriculum. Just as the spectrum of American colleges and universities is quite diverse in terms of mission, size, and selectivity, so too are the types of curricular offerings that constitute a diversity course requirement on any given campus. In this entry, a brief overview of the rationale for diversity course requirements is provided along with a discussion of different curricular options, pedagogical methods, student outcomes, and characteristics commonly associated with diversity course requirements.