INS-301R IS: Intercultural Studies † *

An interdisciplinary course designed to develop students' cultural self-awareness and intercultural competence through the application of concepts and perspectives drawn from a variety of academic fields (language and linguistics, communication, cultural studies, ethics, history, anthropology, sociology, psychology) to a range of problems and situations involving intercultural encounters. Students will consider their own culturally-based assumptions, biases and practices; articulate and analyze similarities and differences between cultures and subcultures; use both direct experience and technologies to enhance their knowledge of and experiences with intercultural encounters; consider ethical dimensions of cross-cultural encounters; and develop a problem-solving approach to improving communication and interactions with those from other cultural backgrounds. Through a deeper understanding of their own and other cultures, students will enhance their critical understanding of salient features of intercultural encounters.