Speciesism and General Education

• In Event: 40462 - Section on Animals and Society Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 2: Animals and Meaning

Abstract

Several years ago, a course on speciesism’s application for a diversity requirement designation in our general education curriculum was voted down at the Senate level of our university. The debate was heated, with the most vocal opposition coming from ethnic scholars. Consequently, the faculty member withdrew the request.
A review of the syllabi repository held by the Animals & Society Institute (https://www.animalsandsociety.org/resources/resources-for-faculty/has-syllabi/) indicates a wide variety of academic homes for animal and society studies. At this critical juncture in higher education, is there an optimal home for animal studies within general education for its future?
As a scholar of higher education who has worked in the fields of general education and DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging), it is important to consider questions such as these. This will help provide guidance to those developing new courses and certificates, and navigating local university and wider politics, to ensure that these courses and certificates have the greatest impact.

Author

• Norah Peters Shultz, San Diego State University