Class Descriptions

Contemporary Cultures in the United States

SW620

Pathway Associations

Course Description

This course will explore the origins and development of selected social variables characterizing the diversity dimensions (ability, age, class, color, culture, ethnicity, family structure, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), marital status, national origin, race, religion or spirituality, sex, and sexual orientation) in contemporary U.S. society. Social and behavioral science theories and research findings on the allocation of different roles, status, and opportunities to these populations will be studied. Students will use a multidimensional, social justice, and multicultural framework to examine power, privilege, discrimination, and oppression. This course will emphasize that effective social work practice with diverse cultural groups involves understanding professional ethics in the context of the values of both the dominant society and the ethnic community.

Objectives

1. Identify the historical, social, and political forces influencing the social constructions of diverse cultural groups in the United States by:
1.1 Evaluating social science frameworks for the discussion of culture
1.2 Applying knowledge about social group memberships and identities, their histories and meanings, how they interact with each other in people's lives and the larger society, and how they are affected by particular social contexts
1.3 reviewing one's own social group memberships and how they have influenced opportunities and challenges
2. Discuss the influences of discrimination, oppression, and privilege on life experiences of diverse cultural groups by:
2.1 Labeling forms of discrimination, prejudice, and oppression as these differentially affect U.S. cultural groups, including gay/lesbian/bisexual, racial/ethnic, gender, transgender, religious/spiritual, differently abled, and social class groups
2.2 Identifying sources of intragroup and intergroup conflict stemming from cultural group membership
2.3 Describing the forces that create and maintain individual, group, organizational, and community differences in power, privilege, and oppression
2.4 Demonstrating skills in negotiating differences and conflicts at system interfaces.
3. Review the characteristics of selected ethnic and racial groups in the United States and identify key variables to be considered by social workers attempting to work with these populations by:
3.1 Examining historical, social, and political forces influencing the construct of family for these groups;
3.2 Locating the intersections of race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, religion/spirituality, and ability status for these groups
3.3 Critiquing the social science literature on social identify groups
3.4 examining variables, such as immigration and migration, cultural norms and roles, acculturation and assimilation, help-seeking behaviors, employment and income, educational attainment, and the establishment off informal and formal institutions within these cultural groups

Course Competencies & Practice Behaviors