Culturally aware

Penn's mission, along with that of its academic peers, is to prepare students for the world they will enter upon graduation. Today, more than ever, that world is becoming smaller and more connected. Penn students have come to Philadelphia from all corners of the globe, and each hails from a unique background, socially and culturally.

When these students leave the confines of the Quad and College Green, they will be exposed to an even wider array of people in their professional lives.

It would serve Penn well to ensure that its students have the skills in hand to work with people of different cultures. In this vein, some form of cultural analysis included in the curriculum makes sense.

The issue has been heavily debated of late at Penn, and it now could find its way into the more overarching curriculum makeover slated for the College. That debate is merited, as the idea of cultural differences varies greatly depending upon who you talk to.

While it is difficult to agree entirely with the motivations that sparked the original push for a cultural requirement, what has emerged over the past year has potential. And if it is implemented the right way, it could be a positive addition.

This should not be Racial Sensitivity 101. Rather, such a requirement ought to be broad and draw from courses across many disciplines. There is nothing wrong with informed discussion about unfamiliar histories and cultures.

And while the thought of adding requirements to an already-convoluted scheme makes many shudder, the prevailing plan would allow scores of classes to be double-counted. The challenge for College administrators lies in making this addition compatible with the myriad requirements that students must meet in various majors. This shouldn't be that difficult, given that many courses in departments such as History deal with cultural issues. Wharton, for example, asks its students to take three classes that are international in scope to prepare them for business on a global level.

Essentially, a liberal arts education ought to broaden students' horizons. A curriculum that advocates an understanding of other cultures and societies would be one way to prepare Penn graduates for the future.

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