Course Description

GET THE SKILLS TO CREATE REAL CHANGE WITHIN YOUR COMMUNITY

This is an in-depth 11 week online course designed for professionals in the fields of social work, education, mental health, public policy, community program development and similar.

The course session begins  TUESDAY SEPT 8 2020


The goal of this course is to expose students to the historical events and policies which have lead to contemporary social problems and structural inequalities that continue to negatively impact African Americans. 

  • Multigenerational patterns of adaptive behaviors passed along through generations will be explored with an emphasis on assessment and interventions using evidence based, culture specific, and social justice models.

  • A relationship based approach will be presented as one method of intervention with a particular focus on culturally based strategies that include areas of spirituality, music, art and literature.

  • The course will provide practical tools that will inform practice at the five levels of service and empower individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities throughout the change process.


A crucial aspect of social work involves sensitivity and competence in working with African Americans as an underserved and vulnerable population. This course is designed to enable students to develop a knowledge base and critical awareness of issues specifically impacting African Americans in practice and policy. This course will include the development of techniques useful for practice.

PLEASE NOTE:

- Required Materials Not Included in Registration:

Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome, Revised Edition

Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome Study Guide


- Course Tuition and Payment Options
There are two options to pay for registration:

  • One time payment $795
    *Early Bird $495 - register by July 30th. 
    USE promo code: FALL20

  • Three payments over 3 months $900 ($300/month)

    Please scroll to the bottom to choose the 3 payment option.

Dr. Joy DeGruy

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Course Overview

  • 2

    Required Texts, Suggested Readings & Resources

  • 3

    Introduction

    • LIVE INTRODUCTION: by Dr. Joy DeGruy, Tuesday @ 4:30 Pacific Sept 8th GROUP A || Sept 15th GROUP B

    • RECORDING: GROUP A Sept 8th Intro

    • RECORDING: GROUP B Sept 15th Intro
  • 4

    Week 1

    • OUTLINE: Week 1

    • WATCH: Video Lecture Week 1

    • READING: White People Facing Race || Uncovering the Myths that Keep Racism in Place (Peggy McIntosh, Ph.D.) Article

    • QUIZ: Week 1

    • OPTIONAL READING: How Racism Works Handout

    • OPTIONAL READING: Diversity vs. Social Justice Handout: Diversity Training- Good For Business But Insufficient For Social Change

    • OPTIONAL READING: Internalized White Supremacy Handout

    • STUDENT DISCUSSIONS: Week 1
  • 5

    Week 2: I Don’t Even Notice Race

    • OUTLINE: Week 2

    • READING: Bicentennial Speech

    • READING: U.S. Resolution Apology Document

    • READING: Serial Forced Displacement Article

    • WATCH: Dehumanization & White Fear of Annihilation

    • QUIZ #2: Week 2 Content

    • QUIZ #3: Recorded Lecture: Dehumanization & White Fear of Annihilation

    • OPTIONAL READING: Cultural Genocide Article

    • OPTIONAL READING: Japanese Relocation (JARDA) Handout

    • OPTIONAL READING: Chinese Exclusion, Immigrant labor for Railroads Handout

    • OPTIONAL READING: Timeline of Agricultural Labor (The POC Experience)

    • STUDENT DISCUSSION: Week 2
  • 6

    Week 3: Crimes Against Humanity

    • OUTLINE: Week 3

    • WATCH: Video Lecture Week 3

    • READING: Dehumanizing Black Boys

    • READING: Bias isn’t just a police problem

    • READING: Serial Forced Displacement

    • READING: Color of Law Richard Rothstein Federal segregation

    • QUIZ #4: Week 3 Content

    • WATCH: When the Bough Breaks (From Unnatural Causes) (Quiz on this in Week 5)

    • WATCH: In Sickness and in Health (Quiz on this in Week 5)

    • OPTIONAL READING: White Boys to Terrorist Men

    • OPTIONAL READING: White Debt

    • STUDENT DISCUSSION: Week 3
  • 7

    Week 4: Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome

    • OUTLINE: WEEK 4

    • LIVE CHECK-IN Tuesday @ 4:30pm GROUP A Oct 6th || GROUP B Oct 13th

    • WATCH: Video Lecture Week 4

    • READ: Epigenetics

    • READ: Racial/Cultural Identity Development Chart + Dichotomous Logic Chart

    • READ: Families in Psychology

    • READ: Dichotomous Logic

    • QUIZ #5: Week 4 Content

    • OPTIONAL READ: Racial PTSD

    • OPTIONAL READ: The Origin of Others

    • STUDENT DISCUSSION: Week 4

    • LIVE RECORDING: Oct 6
  • 8

    Week 5: Models + Theories

    • OUTLINE: WEEK 5

    • VIDEO LECTURE: Week 5

    • VIDEO: Dr. Carl Bell's View on Youth Behavior

    • QUIZ #6: Week 5 Content

    • QUIZ #7: Unnatural Causes Videos (posted in Week 3)

    • READ: A Matter of Respect

    • READ: African American Adolescent Respect

    • READ: Building Children’s Brains Handout

    • READ: Learned Helplessness

    • READ: Fetal Alcohol Handout

    • READ: Racial/Cultural Identity Development Chart + Dichotomous Logic Chart

    • OPTIONAL READ: Apgar score Handout

    • STUDENT DISCUSSION: Week 5
  • 9

    Week 6 + 7: Slavery’s Children

    • OUTLINE: WEEK 6 + 7

    • LIVE LECTURE: Week 6 - Tuesday @ 4:30 pm GROUP A Oct 20th || GROUP B Oct 27th

    • VIDEO LECTURE: WEEK 7 Part 1

    • VIDEO LECTURE: WEEK 7 Part 2

    • READ: Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages

    • READ: Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development

    • READ: Prevalence of Neurodevelopmental Disorders v Bell _ Chimata

    • READ: Prevalence of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Bell - Supplemental

    • READ: Research on Social Respect A

    • QUIZ #8: Week 6 + 7 Content

    • QUIZ #9: Week 6+7 Content

    • OPTIONAL READ: Racial Respect

    • STUDENT DISCUSSION: Week 6 + 7

    • RECORDING LIVE MEETING: OCT 20th

    • RECORDING LIVE MEETING: Oct 27th

  • 10

    Week 8+ 9: The Science of Learning and Development

    • OUTLINE: WEEK 8 + 9

    • VIDEO LECTURE: WEEK 8 Part 1 of 3

    • VIDEO LECTURE: WEEK 8 Part 2 of 3

    • VIDEO LECTURE: WEEK 8 Part 3 of 3

    • LIVE MEETING: Tue 4:30 pm GROUP A Nov 10th || GROUP B Nov 17th

    • READ: SEI Standards Handout

    • READ: Victorious Minds (Rochester)

    • READ: The Philosophical Aspects of Cultural Difference

    • READ: The Relationship Model and Approach

    • READ: The Theory of Triadic Influence

    • READ: Restorative Justice Model

    • READ: Students Learn from the People They Love

    • WATCH: The Science of Learning and Development

    • QUIZ #10: Week 8 + 9 Content

    • QUIZ #11: Week 8 + 9 Content

    • OPTIONAL READ: The Stories That Bind Us Handout

    • Overview of Virtues Project Cards

    • STUDENT DISCUSSION: Week 8 + 9

    • RECORDING: Week 8+9 Meeting
  • 11

    Week 10: The Theory of Triadic Influence & Restorative Justice Model

    • OUTLINE: Week 10

    • LIVE MEETING: Tuesday @ 4:30pm GROUP A Nov 24th || GROUP B Dec 1st

    • QUIZ #12: Week 10 Content

    • STUDENT DISCUSSION: Week 10

    • RECORDING: Dec 1st Meeting
  • 12

    Final Assignment

    • ONLINE ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION AND GRADING CRITERIA

    • Suggested Readings

    • Final Assignment Submission

Pricing options

Explain how different pricing options might be valuable to different segments of your audience.