This is a very practical course which is designed to increase students’ knowledge of and sensitivity to a wide variety of cultures.

The goal is to become more multi-cultural. The centerpiece of the course is an anthropological model which sensitizes participants what to look for and what questions to ask if, for example, they were to be parachuted into North Whatisitstan.



An emphasis is placed on the critical importance of nonverbal communication, the cause of many cross-cultural mistakes. Also stressed is the deceptively difficult process of re-entry to one’s own country. Tentatively scheduled are professor experts speaking about the American, Chinese, Japanese, Indian and Russian cultures. Also, a panel of clergy from the Muslim, Jewish and Christian faiths will discuss the vital role of religion in intercultural communication.



Students will visit a local African-American church service and write a paper on aspects of that very rich American subculture. Also, there will be a Sunday cross-cultural retreat in which students will interact with many different cultures at the gorgeous redwood tree area of Big Sur State Park.