Mission Statement
Mission Statement
Department of Human Relations and Multicultural Education
The Department of Human Relations and Multicultural Education (HURL) provides education in self-awareness and skills essential for living and working in a democratic, socially just society, environmentally sustainable world. The department addresses issues of oppression and social justice related to race, gender, age, class, religion, disability, physical appearance, sexual orientation and nationality/culture. HURL is an interdisciplinary applied field committed to addressing questions of equity, self-determination, resource allocation and quality of life facing people around the world.
HURL programs and courses attempt to represent the perspectives of groups that have historically been excluded from the western cannon. The department is also dedicated to teaching investigative and critical thinking skills whereby participants examine mainstream and alternative viewpoints for values, veracity, and outcomes. The department serves as an academic and developmental resource to students, faculty, university programs, departments, administration, and community organizations. The department provides programs, courses, resources, and leadership in meeting the goals set forth in the SCSU mission statement and in various accreditation standards on diversity and global awareness.
Departmental objectives are to provide opportunities and experiences which will:
1. Develop skills in analyzing the impact of power, resource distribution, cultural standards and institutional policies and practices on various groups in the United States and internationally.
2. Foster skill development in recognizing and addressing dehumanizing biases, discrimination and oppression.
3. Introduce and examine structural analyses of oppression and social justice related to: race, gender, age, class, religion, disability, physical appearance, sexual orientation and nationality/culture.
4. Promote an understanding of the multifaceted contributions which reflect the knowledge and history of the various racial, cultural (including women, people with disabilities, lesbian/gay/bi/transgender, religiously oppressed persons/communities) and economic groups in society.
5. Promote analytical and evaluative skills to examine ideologies and dominant/alternative paradigms in the physical sciences, social sciences, business, education, arts and humanities.
6. Develop skills in creating living, learning and working environments which contribute to the self-esteem of all persons and to positive interpersonal relations.
7. Define a global understanding of social, economic, political and environmental justice to counter neocolonialism, xenophobia, and militarism.
8. Expose students to independent and international media that routinely provide diverse perspectives on global justice.
9. Develop knowledge of social movements, and the efforts of various groups of people to resist oppression and establish a just society on local and global levels.
10. Develop critical perspectives on teaching and learning.
11. Support development and application of change agent skills for local and global social responsibility.
Specifically, the department:
1. Offers a 17 and 23 credit Baccalaureate Minor for Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Elective Studies degrees.
2. Offers a Masters of Science in Social Responsibility in collaboration with the Departments of Sociology and Women's Studies.
3. Provides quality courses that fulfill the human relations requirement for teacher licensure in the State of Minnesota and assists in meeting the NCATE standard on diversity.
4. Provides courses and programs on domestic and global social justice, peace, and environmental sustainability to meet the diversity requirements of the institution.
5. Provides courses that fulfill the Racial Issues requirement within the Diversity component of General Education.
6. Provides courses on social justice issues for other liberal arts and professional majors and minors.
7. Aids and supports the development and improvement of other programs and services in the university and community that pertain to race, gender, age, class, religion, disability, physical appearance, sexual orientation, nationality/culture, species and the environment.
