Janice: Title VII prohibits discrimination in employment based on race, color, national origin, and religion. (E-text). The requirement of a college degree does not fall within the above categories. However, if a person could prove that such a requirement had a significant adverse effect based on a protected class, it could subject the employer to liability for disparate impact discrimination ( e-text, p 23) unless the employer can show the requirement is job-related and is a business necessity. A landmark case that concerned educational requirements was the decision Griggs v. Duke Power Co., (1971) 401 U.S. 424, the Supreme court held that an employers highschool diploma requirements and minimum intelligence test was disparate impact on minorities,
