Students will be required to take one 3-hour course that engages them in extensive cross-cultural learning. A course might be defined as meeting the cross-cultural learning requirement either because of its content or because of the experiential context in which the course was taken. Meeting this requirement does not necessarily mean taking an extra course. These CC courses may be either within or outside the major or may meet another general education requirement. They may be courses that are regularly a part of our curriculum. CC courses may also be specially designed interterm courses. A student could also fulfill the CC requirement by participating in one of the CCCU international programs.

In general, a CC course will have an experiential component that includes reflection and synthesis. In order for a course to be approved by the General Education Council as meeting the CC requirement, it must meet a majority of the following criteria:

1. Focus on a cultural group or groups other than the predominant culture group of the United States.
2. Provide a significant knowledge base regarding a different culture or cultures and, in so doing, emphasize the importance of developing a comprehensive worldview.
3. Explain ethnocentrism and its role in the development of perceptions and reality.
4. Focus on the alternative views of reality and perceptions of the cultural group(s) studied: beliefs, values, customs, language, non-verbal communication, etc.
5. Include the study of the accomplishments of the culture(s) being considered.
6. Strive to develop empathy toward the group or groups studied.
7. Address the issues of cultures in conflict between and within nations.
8. Develop an understanding of social and cultural change.

See Cross Cultural programs page for most recent developments.