This course centers on the principles of diversity, inclusion, and social justice. Participants will create a framework for diversity and inclusion through engagement with the literature and theories on social identity in the historic context of America. We will examine how individual differences, institutional systems, and social assumptions contribute to or inhibit cultural pluralism. Major emphasis will be placed on building skills in critical analyses of social structures, interrogating our personal and professional praxis, and expanding our knowledge base to promote social justice.
There will be a whole-class and/or small group discussion topic to engage with most weeks.
Throughout this course, you will work toward a final project, an autoethnographic video story (due in Week 8). For this first assignment, you will write a short summary of how you plan to collect and track your data (e.g. field notes, personal journaling, interviews, social media analysis, etc.) for your autoethnographic video story throughout the term. You will not be asked to submit your raw data as part of your final project.
You will view a brief animated case study and submit a written assignment explaining and analyzing the social location dynamics that may have played a major role in the tension the students experienced.
You will be asked to write an op-ed to a local newspaper on power, privilege, oppression and social location. There is no requirement to submit this op-ed to any publication.
Based on presented course materials, you will submit a written assignment explaining the political, economic and socio-cultural factors resulting from oppression and power.
You will submit a written literature review of the scholarly sources you’ve collected for your final course project.
From the perspective of an organizational leader, you will submit a written list of programs you would develop to address socioeconomic inequities in your organization and provide a rationale for each activity.
You will document how the media and society represent and depict disabled people and summarize your observations and findings in a 3–4 minute video.
You will submit a written reflection to the concluding video lecture on inclusive excellence addressing your observations/takeaways and questions.
Based off of knowledge gained throughout the course and your own individual research, you will create and share with your classmates a 12 to 15-minute autoethnographic video story. The story will be a compilation of your introspection and self-reflection throughout the term and should address how your own identities, culture, and lived experiences shape and influence your view and interaction with the world.
Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:
Assignments | Points |
Discussions (7) | 25 |
Week 1: Data Collection Plan | 3 |
Week 3: "Controversy in the Capstone Crew" Case Study | 7 |
Week 4: Local Newspaper Op-Ed | 7 |
Week 5: Englewood Case Study | 7 |
Week 5: Literature Review | 12 |
Week 6: Socioeconomic Initiative Mandate | 7 |
Week 7: Disability Representation in Media | 7 |
Week 8: Reflection on Inclusive Excellence | 7 |
Week 8: Autoethnographic Video Story | 18 |
Total | 100 |
Grade | Points Grade | Point Average (GPA) |
A | 94 – 100% | 4.00 |
A- | 90 – 93% | 3.75 |
B+ | 87 – 89% | 3.50 |
B | 84 – 86% | 3.00 |
B- | 80 – 83% | 2.75 |
C+ | 77 – 79% | 2.50 |
C | 74 – 76% | 2.00 |
C- | 70 – 73% | 1.75 |
D | 64 – 69% | 1.00 |
F | 00 – 63% | 0.00 |
Week 1: Jun 28 – Jul 2
Week 2: Jul 3 – Jul 9
Week 3: Jul 10 – Jul 16
Week 4: Jul 17 – Jul 23
Week 5: Jul 24 – Jul 30
Week 6: Jul 31 – Aug 6
Week 7: Aug 7 – Aug 13
Week 8: Aug 14 – Aug 20
Week | Topic | Assignments |
1 | Introduction, Self Exploration, and Autoethnography |
Introductions due by Friday 11:59 PM ET, Responses due by Sunday 11:59 PM ET Discussion: Initial post due by Friday 11:59 PM ET, Responses due by Sunday 11:59 PM ET Data Collection Plan due by Sunday 11:59 PM ET |
2 | What Is Identity and Intersectionality? | Discussions (2): Initial post due by Wednesday 11:59 PM ET, Responses due by Sunday 11:59 PM ET |
3 | Intersectionality and Social Location in Society |
Discussion: Initial post due by Wednesday 11:59 PM ET, Responses due by Sunday 11:59 PM ET “Controversy in the Capstone Crew” Case Study due by Sunday 11:59 PM ET |
4 | An Awakening to Privilege, Power, and Oppression |
Discussion: Initial post due by Wednesday 11:59 PM ET, Responses due by Sunday 11:59 PM ET Local Newspaper Op-Ed due by Sunday 11:59 PM ET |
5 | Sources and Systems of Power – Race |
Englewood Case Study due by Sunday 11:59 PM ET Literature Review due by Sunday 11:59 PM ET |
6 | Sources and Systems of Power – Socioeconomic Status |
Discussion: Initial post due by Wednesday 11:59 PM ET, Responses due by Sunday 11:59 PM ET Socioeconomic Initiative Mandate due by Sunday 11:59 PM ET |
7 | “I wanted to be a part of the world, but I didn’t see anyone like me in it”: Discourse on Disability |
Discussion: Initial post due by Wednesday 11:59 PM ET, Responses due by Sunday 11:59 PM ET Disability Representation in Media due by Sunday 11:59 PM ET |
8 | Inclusive Excellence |
Autoethnographic Video Story – for instructor grading and peer feedback by Monday 11:59 PM ET, Peer responses due by Friday 11:59 PM ET Reflection on Inclusive Excellence due by Friday 11:59 PM ET |
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Questions? Visit the Student Support Education page
The Student Academic Success Center (SASC) offers a range of services to support your academic achievement, including tutoring, writing support, test prep and studying strategies, learning style consultations, and many online resources. To make an appointment for tutoring, writing support, or a learning specialist consultation, go to une.tutortrac.com. To access our online resources, including links, guides, and video tutorials, please visit:
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The College of Professional Studies uses Turnitin to help deter plagiarism and to foster the proper attribution of sources. Turnitin provides comparative reports for submitted assignments that reflect similarities in other written works. This can include, but is not limited to, previously submitted assignments, internet articles, research journals, and academic databases.
Make sure to cite your sources appropriately as well as use your own words in synthesizing information from published literature. Webinars and workshops, included early in your coursework, will help guide best practices in APA citation and academic writing.
You can learn more about Turnitin in the Turnitin Student quick start guide.
Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements
Course surveys are one of the most important tools the University of New England uses for evaluating the quality of your education, and for providing meaningful feedback to instructors on their teaching. In order to assure that the feedback is both comprehensive and precise, we need to receive it from each student for each course. Evaluation access is distributed via UNE email at the beginning of the last week of the course.
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Online students are required to submit a graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. If a student does not submit a posting to the graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm ET, the student will be automatically dropped from the course for non-participation. Review the full attendance policy.
The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.
Please contact your student support specialist if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. The last day to drop for 100% tuition refund is the 2nd day of the course. Financial Aid charges may still apply. Students using Financial Aid should contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing from a course.
The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit UNE Plagiarism Policies.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:
Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.