Thomas Dyne, Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences, Slavic Languages and Literature: Behind Bars: Cross-Cultural Representations of Prison in the 20th Century
Behind Bars: Cross-Cultural Representations of Prison in the 20th Century is a modified course that invites students to consider the experience of 5.5 million incarcerated people of color, arrested, or jailed Americans, factoring in socioeconomic, personal, and historical impact. The change has impacted 102 students across all three spring terms (2022, 2023, 2024).
The addition of real-world elements, such as the prison visit day, transformed theoretical discussions into tangible experiences. These components of the course allowed me to engage critically with the material in ways that went beyond typical academic study. The oral histories, for instance, gave a face and a voice to individuals often rendered invisible by the system, which made the discussions more personal and emotionally resonant.
– Ragan Liebsch, Political Science, Economics, Human Rights & Justice
Jialei Jiang, Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences, English: Innovative Approaches to Design Justice
Innovative Approaches to Design Justice is a course that fosters students’ abilities to produce digital media compositions while exploring the rhetorical, poetic, and political implications of various writing platforms. The modification aims to strengthen diversity and inclusion by engaging students in creating inclusive digital media projects to enhance the representation of diverse racial, gender, and cultural groups.
The curriculum gave me a tangible sense of how digital media can be used as a tool for public advocacy and social justice. Although I come from a different discipline, this course influenced how I think about my future work. I now recognize that even in public health, the way we communicate our findings can positively challenge systemic inequities.
– Krista Olson, School of Public Health
Sam Pittman, Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences, English: The Disability Studies Certificate and Introduction to Disability Studies
The Disability Studies Certificate and Introduction to Disability Studies program was launched in October 2022 to address the lack of representation of disabled experiences in its curriculum. Developed collaboratively, it centers on a social and cultural model of disability, valuing it as an essential aspect of identity and aiming to foster greater understanding and inclusion. Five students graduated with the certificate in 2023, 33 are currently enrolled, and 132 have completed the program since spring 2022.
Professor Pittman has designed a diverse curriculum that allows students to explore Disability Studies across various fields. Through elective courses such as Considerations for Health and Fitness Programming, I have learned about the health inequalities for people with disabilities and how to evaluate the accessibility of fitness and healthcare facilities. In the course Disability and Performance, I learned the relationship between aesthetics and accessibility, broadening my perspective on access for both performers and audience members. These electives have provided me with an understanding of how to create more inclusive spaces and practices from a disability perspective
– Marilyn Warren, School of Education, Exercise Science