MLO 4: Secondary Cultural Knowledge
In addition to the Spanish language and Hispanic cultures, the student demonstrates a general knowledge of a sociocultural group other than a Hispanic one or mainstream American culture. The student develops a basic understanding of the ways of thinking (ideas, beliefs, attitudes, values, philosophies), the behavioral practices (patterns of social interactions) and the cultural products –both tangible and intangible (for example, art, history, literature, music) – of the second culture. There are two pathways by which this outcome can be fulfilled: The student completes at least one upper division course whose focus is a sociocultural group not reflected by a Hispanic culture. General areas to choose from are: literature, the social sciences (anthropology, geography, history, political systems), art history, music history and/or the second cultural group. With faculty approval, the student may opt for a more individual pathway, choosing to independently study, research and analyze the working components of the second culture.
I completed my MLO 4: secondary cultural knowledge through my study abroad program. I completed a course regarding the christian, Jewish, and Islamic religion during medieval times. I studied and did research on the beliefs of each of these religions during a different historical time and how this factor influenced there ideology and cultural practices. The course required reading materials gave insightful information on the historical context of the religions and the influences that have remained intact till today and other practices which have disappeared. While learning about each religion we also learned about the social cultural group that many people of each religion pertained to. The difference between the religions and cultures where evident and it was also evident to see that certain religions were considered better than others. The course presented a variety of digital material such as films, videos, and audio to support the claims made through our reading and it gave a better understanding of each religion as well.