Bulletin Course Description:
IN250. U.S. Studies (3) Sophomore year. Course sections study the diversity of cultures, institutions, and groups in the United States. Inter-disciplinary and historical perspectives inform contemporary understanding of diversity issues. Pre-requisites: sophomore standing.
US Studies Student Learning Outcome Goals
As part of Millikin University’s participation in the NCA re-accreditation process, the IN250 Self-Study Committee reviewed course guidelines and syllabi and derived the following Student Learning Outcome Goals from actual classroom practices of faculty across the campus. The Committee determined that by the end of IN250/U.S. Studies, students will have:
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Read primary texts by and/or historical texts about some of the diverse cultures living in the United States;
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Conducted research into cultural issues distinct to the discipline of the course;
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Written polished essays that reflect critical analysis; and
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Reflected on the uses of their deeper knowledge of cultures in the U.S. in their public and personal lives to better understand themselves, their communities, and the world.
IN250 Connections to Millikin University’s Mission
IN250 is the middle-level course in the Millikin Program for Student Learning sequence, positioning students for success in more advanced coursework, as well as in deeper reflection upon their identities and ways of being and acting in the world. The MPSL prepares students in three areas:
- Professional success,
- Democratic citizenship in a global environment, and
- A personal life of meaning and value.
IN250 courses are expected to meet Millikin’s second and third university-wide learning goals:
University Goal (2)—Millikin students will actively engage in democratic citizenship in a global environment—is met by all four IN250 goals. Students in IN250 courses explore the experiences of multiple cultures living in the U.S. through reading, conducting research, writing essays, and reflection. This exposure inculcates in Millikin students a respect and appreciation for differences among cultures and institutions; such knowledge forms the foundation for informed participation in a democracy.
University Goal (3)—Millikin students will discover and develop a personal life of meaning and value—is met by all four IN250 goals. By reflecting on what they learned through their reading, writing, and research, students in IN250 better understand themselves and their relationship to the world around them. Moreover, this understanding lays the groundwork for lifelong learning. |
