ELP 582SEM - Multicultural Education: Theory and Practice

This course traces the history and examines the current status of women’s studies, ethnic studies, gay and lesbian studies, and studies about disability in the schools and in higher education with emphasis on political background and policy impolications. Current controversies about whose knowledge should be taught and about the legitimacy of the traditional “cannon” will be explored, as will recent literature on the complexity and fluidity of ethnic and other forms of identity. Students will also be introduced to recent thinking on definitions of multicultural education and on methods of implementing it in the schools in higher education, and in adult education. Among the topics covered are organization of “inclusive” curricula, finding multicultural materials (and how to tell good materials from bad) and teaching muticulturally across the curriculum.

Credits: 3