Anoka-Ramsey Community College announces new certificate for Diversity Studies for fall 2018

July 11, 2018

Starting in the fall of 2018, students at Anoka-Ramsey Community College will be able to pursue a certificate in Diversity Studies while completing other degree or Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) coursework at the college. 

Intended to complement other academic pursuits, the Diversity Studies certificate will prepare students to be culturally competent, and to engage with the community around them and in the workplace. The certificate will be available on both Cambridge and Coon Rapids campuses.

“The certificate is such a wonderful way for our students to become more familiar with our globalized world,” said Venoreen Browne-Boatswain, Anoka-Ramsey Director of Diversity and Multiculturalism, “It will be a great complement to any program and help students to become more familiar with other cultures that they may not normally have the opportunity to.”

The Diversity Studies certificate is intended to introduce students to skills and insights needed when working with diverse populations. Through a broad cross-section of courses in culture, religion, majority/minority relations, geography/history and communication studies, students will develop an understanding of the complexities within our pluralistic society. Courses will prepare students for settings where communication skills require an understanding of the many groups typically included within, and extending beyond, protected class.

The certificate provides a broad cross-section of courses, covering a variety of academic areas:

• Anthropology
• Art/Music/Theatre
• Biology
• Communication Studies
• Geography
• History
• Humanities
• Languages
• Philosophy
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Women’s Studies

“The certificate is the first of its kind in the Minnesota State system and is intended to evidence a student’s ability to work successfully within a diverse population,” emphasized Kristin Doneen, Philosophy instructor and certificate coordinator. “Diversity Studies is something everyone should have exposure to, and students completing this program will be able to demonstrate that when entering the workforce.”

The coursework will overlap with the majority of goal areas within the MnTC, and can be easily completed while a student pursues their generals before transfer, or a two-year Associate of Arts degree. Students pursuing Associate of Science, Applied Science or Fine Art degrees, will find that the 24 credit certificate will still fit into general education requirements without delaying their academic progress.

For more information, visit AnokaRamsey.edu/DiversityStudies.