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Diversity Studies

96%
Employment Rate
of surveyed alumni within 9 months of graduation
14:1
Ratio
Of students to faculty
100%
OF INCOMING FIRST-YEARS & TRANSFERS
Receive scholarships or grants

Essential social perspectives

Develop a broad understanding of diversity in society.

Mount Mercy University’s diversity studies minor will equip you with knowledge, skills, and perspectives essential to civic participation, career development, and promoting a just and equitable society.

Our diversity studies minor is interdisciplinary and flexible by design. The program intersects with several different academic disciplines and complements many of MMU’s majors, including criminal justice, nursing, English, social work, and more.

Curriculum

Hone your understanding of psychological and institutional factos.

Potential concentrations:

  • Aging
  • Disability
  • Gender and Sexuality
  • Race and Ethnicity
  • Social Class

By the end of the program, students will:

  • Understand the focus and mechanisms of discrimination and oppression
  • Understand and appreciate the unique experiences of persons of color, women, LGBTQ+ persons, the impoverished, immigrants, children, the elderly, and the (dis)abled as well as how underrepresented and vulnerable group members’ status and experiences help shape individual lives
  • Apply critical thinking skills and self-examination to become aware of their own potential biases
  • Understand how emerging societal trends impact marginalized experiences 

What courses will I take?

Diversity Studies Minor

Required:
EN 140Introduction to Diversity Studies3
or SW 265 Diversity in America
Choose Four From the Lists Below: *12
100-Level Courses:
EN 133
Introduction to American Multicultural Literature
EN 134
Introduction to U.S. Latino Literature
EN 135
Introduction to African American Literature
EN 180
Introduction to Literature and Gender
EN 181
Introduction to LGBTQ Literature
RS 115
Introduction To World Religions
AR 216
History Of Non-Western Art
SP 100
Elementary Spanish I
SP 101
Elementary Spanish II
SP 120
Accelerated Spanish Review
200-Level Courses: Choose At Least Two of the Following Courses:
BI 210
Biology And Human Culture
CO 260
Intercultural Communication
HO 216
Honors: The Holocaust
PL 270
Introduction to Asian Thought
PS 221
Social Psychology
SO 200
Introduction to Gender Studies
SO 202
Marriage & the Family: Intimate Relationships
SO 235
Social Inequalities
SP 200
Intermediate Spanish I
SP 201
Intermediate Spanish II
SP 205
Linguistics & Second Language Acquisition
SP 220
Spanish for the Profession
SP 240
Spanish Conversation
SP 260
Spanish Conversation, Film and Culture
SW 225
Aging In America
300-Level Courses: Choose At Least One of the Following Courses:
AR 315
Contemporary Art and Theory
BK 310
Consumer Behavior
BN 382
Corporate Social Responsibility
CJ 365
Diversity and the Criminal Justice System
ED 371
Special Education Foundations
ED 380
Characteristics of Learners with Mild/Moderate Disabilities
EN 303
Topics In American Literature
EN 305
Anglophone Literature
HI 306
20th Century American History of Race and Gender
HI 369
Hispanic Culture & Civilization
or SP 369
 Hispanic Culture & Civilization
HO 330
Biological Anthropology: Human Evolution and Biocultural Adaptations in the Ancient and Modern World
LS 301
Foundations of Servant Leadership
NU 470
Extending the Journey: Population Based Nursing
PO 302
Constitutional Law II: Civil Rights and Liberties
SO 330
Global Race Relations
SP 300
Spanish Grammar & Composition
SP 310
Advanced Communicative Spanish Abroad
SP 320
Spanish Phonology
SP 331
Introduction to Hispanic Literature
Total Hours15
*

- Two courses must be at the 200 level

- One course must be at the 300 level

- The remaining elective may be at any level.

- Spanish minors may only count one Spanish course toward the Diversity Minor.

Alexa Zamora, a diversity studies student

The program at Mount Mercy helped me grow as an individual and as a learner.

Alexa Zamora '19

Alexa Zamora '19

English, Diversity Studies

Looking forward to getting a graduate degree abroad, Alexa Zamora also is looking fondly back on her time at MMU.

Read more
Haley Weideman '20

Haley Weideman '20

English, Creative Writing, Diversity Studies

Haley Weideman added a diversity studies minor to learn how best to represent marginalized voices in a classroom.

Read more

What are the next steps?

Mount Mercy offers competitive tuition and generous scholarships.

We also encourage all students to apply for federal, state, and other kinds of financial assistance.

Learn more about:

We make it easy by accepting applications year-round! No deadline, no fee, no pressure.

  1. Create your application
  2. Apply under standard admissions criteria or go "test optional"
  3. Request official transcripts from all institutions previously attended. Mail to:

* Mount Mercy University Admissions
  1330 Elmhurst Drive NE
  Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402

* If you are applying for an accelerated program, please mail to "Accelerated Programs"

For more detailed instructions on how to apply, see our Admissions page.

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