Sample Diversification: Humanities (DH) Initial Application and Syllabus

As most of the required questions in the Initial Application are straightforward and easy to respond to (e.g., pro forma questions about course alpha, number, title, etc.), the Diversification Board has chosen to provide a sample response to the last question: "Which Diversification hallmarks does your course fulfill, and how does this course fulfill those hallmarks in your selected Diversification category/categories?"

As noted in the Diversification Board Proposal Guide, one should take care to explain, by way of a short narrative, how the course meets those hallmarks through the Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs). A mere list of CLOs is insufficient to satisfy this requirement. In your response to this final question of the application, please be aware that you do NOT need to prove how two-thirds of the required class meetings fulfill the hallmarks of the Diversification designation being sought. Instead, use the syllabus to establish the two-thirds requirement.

The below response was supplied in the Initial Application for a Diversification: Humanities (DH) Designation for History 281: American History I. Take particular note of the way the applicant explains which hallmarks of the DH designation the Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) fulfill and how the CLOs fulfill them. The attached syllabus at the bottom of this page establishes how two-thirds of the required class meetings demonstrate the hallmarks of the DA designation.

Please remember that responses should be entered into the online Initial Application form.

Sample Response

Which Diversification hallmarks does your course fulfill, and how does this course fulfill those hallmarks in your selected Diversification category/categories?

The course description states that the course surveys the "history of the United States of America, including prehistoric times as well as the periods of European exploration, colonization, independence, expansion, and social, cultural, economic, and political development up to, and including, the Civil War."

Major topics in the content of the course contain titles which clearly reflect the key concerns of history, i.e., looking at change over time involving individuals, groups, cultures, countries, regions, and/or societies. A selection of those content topic titles include: European exploration and colonization; the Federalist era; westward expansion; the coming of the Civil War.

DH.1 Uses the terminology of historical, philosophical, language, or religious studies.

SLO 2: Identify important individuals and events in American history through Reconstruction.

DH.2 Involves texts, artifacts, concepts, processes, theories or issues of concern in these studies.

SLO 3: Analyze, in a critical manner, primary sources in American history.

SLO 4: Analyze connections between contemporary events and American history.

DH.3 Demonstrates inquiry that involves the methods of study, reflection, evidence-gathering, and argumentation that are employed in these studies.

SLO 1: Describe, analyze, and interpret the major themes in American history such as settlement, the colonial era, the American Revolution, early nineteenth century, the Civil War, and Reconstruction.

SLO 4: Analyze connections between contemporary events and American history.

Sample Syllabus

Attached below is the accompanying syllabus for History 281. Please note that a syllabus does NOT require a daily course calendar updated for the semester of application, though it may. Rather, a syllabus that includes a list of topics and/or issues covered over the sixteen weeks of instruction may be submitted instead. However, the syllabus provided must be updated for current course alpha, number, and catalog description; credit hours; and Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs). If you are uncertain about any of these required elements, please consult the course information archived in the Kuali Student Curriculum Management system.