Cultural Diversity Flag: Information for Students

UT Austin’s new core curriculum, which is now being implemented by individual colleges and schools, requires all undergraduates to earn credit for flagged courses in six areas: Writing, Quantitative Reasoning, Global Cultures, Cultural Diversity, Ethics and Leadership, and Independent Inquiry. Upon full implementation, students will be required to earn credit for one course flagged for Cultural Diversity in the United States in order to graduate. You should check with your advisor to find out how many flag requirements have been implemented for your degree program.

The Cultural Diversity requirement is intended to increase your familiarity with the variety and richness of the American cultural experience. Courses carrying this flag ask you to explore the beliefs, practices, and histories of at least one cultural group that has experienced persistent marginalization. Many of these courses also encourage you to reflect on your own cultural experiences.

Cultural Diversity courses may be flagged simultaneously with any of the other flags except Global Cultures. Although there might be overlap, Cultural Diversity courses are centered on cultural groups within the U.S., whereas Global Cultures courses focus on non-U.S. groups. A single course will not carry both of these flags.

What is a Cultural Diversity flag class like?

Cultural Diversity courses are taught across the curriculum in departments all over campus, both at the upper- and lower-division levels, and cover a wide variety of topics. For example, a Cultural Diversity class might focus on African-American art, the perspectives of the American deaf community, or Iranian-American literature. No matter the topic, all Cultural Diversity classes must meet the following requirement:

At least one-third of the course grade must be based on content dealing with the culture, perspectives, and history of one or more underrepresented cultural groups in the United States.

Each instructor will use the Cultural Diversity requirement in unique ways to enhance the class. You might be asked to engage in an activism project, write from the perspective of someone from a different demographic, or explore issues of social justice. Any such activities are designed to help you master course content while deepening your appreciation for the variety of lived experiences in the U.S.

How will I know if a course carries the Cultural Diversity flag?

When choosing classes, you can consult the online course schedule to find out whether or not a course carries a Cultural Diversity flag. You can search the course schedule by flag to see a list of all courses carrying the flag that semester. Or you can search by class to see if a specific course carries the flag. If it does, it will be marked with a small yellow box that includes the letters “CD,” as in this example:

A course might carry multiple flags (maximum of three), as in the following example. In this case, you should make sure that one of the yellow boxes is marked with the letters “CD”. Please note that a single course may not carry flags for both Cultural Diversity and Global Cultures.

During the semester, you can also consult your course syllabus for information on which flag(s) the course carries. To determine which flag requirements you have already fulfilled, you or your advisor should check the degree audit system.

For more information, contact the Center for Strategic Advising.