Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. What are the current Culture and Civilizations requirements?

A. Students are required to take four different courses in each of the following categories:

  1. AAL: courses that focus on some aspect of the cultures and civilizations of Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and the Caribbean.

  2. CMP: courses that focus on the process of comparison between and among cultures and civilizations, or courses that focus on the identity and experience of separable groups within cultures and civilizations.

  3. EUR: courses that focus on some aspect of European cultures and civilizations.

  4. NOR: courses that focus on some aspect of the cultures and civilizations of northern America (United States and Canada)

Q. Why is this a problem?

A. In the words of our SGA President Rachel Liddle, “Grouping Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and the Caribbean into one group while granting North America and Europe into their own categories promotes a Western-centric understanding of the world. It suggests that all non-Western thought can be aggregated because it is less important or essentially the same. This message is unacceptable.” Moreover, this geographical centralization within the curriculum subsequently diminishes any incentive to pursue academic understanding of other regions of the world. Further, Middlebury chooses to advertise itself as a global institution, fostering diversity and internationalism, and this is not reflected in the current categories. If this is the actual stance of the College, it should be reflected in all aspects of its functioning, especially in the curriculum.

Q. What is the alternative you propose?

A. We propose a more egalitarian and less Eurocentric alternative under which students would be required to take:

  1. Two courses, each of which focuses on the cultures and civilization of:

    1. AFR: Africa

    2. ASI: Asia

    3. LAC: Latin America and the Caribbean

    4. MDE: Middle East

    5. EUR: Europe

    6. OCE: Oceania

  2. NOR: one course that focus on some aspect of the cultures and civilizations of northern America (United States,Canada and Mexico)

  3. CMP: one course that focuses on the process of comparison between and among cultures and civilizations, or a course that focus on the identity and experience of separable groups within cultures and civilizations.

Q. How will this affect students’ education?

A. This change will provide greater educational opportunities for students. Students who wish to study non-Western regions of the world will have greater educational opportunities, while students who wish to pursue the study of Europe can still do so. This change will also meet Middlebury’s curricular goal of preparing students for an increasingly globalized world.

Q: Will this change the classes that are offered?

A: We hope that along with this change, faculty will be free to expand the number of classes under the categories of AFR: Africa, ASI: Asia, LAC: Latin America and the Caribbean, MDE: Middle East, and OCE: Oceania. However, there will continue to be ample opportunities to fulfill the EUR requirement.

Q: What is the process to achieve this change?

A. Essentially, the process to achieve the implementation of this demand is as follows:

  1. Educational Affairs Committee drafts legislation.

  2. The issue is put on the agenda to be presented at a faculty meeting.

  3. Legislation is presented at a faculty meeting.

  4. Faculty has open meetings to discuss legislation and propose amendment(s).

  5. The Faculty Council makes a final vote.