Course Description

This is an in-depth 10 week online course designed for professionals in the fields of social work, education, mental health, public policy, community program development and similar. 

The course begins JUNE 10, 2019 and there will be 4 interactive lectures (non-mandatory) held Mondays at 4:30pm Pacific:

  • Week 1 Mon June 10th
  • Week 6 Mon July 15th
  • Week 9 Mon August 5th
  • Week 10 Mon August 12th

PLEASE NOTE:

- Continuing Education
We are currently in the application process for 12-15 CE's from the National Association of Social Workers .

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

  • One time $795
    Register by May 24th and save $150 using promo code EarlySummer

  • Three payments over 3 months $930 ($310/month)
    Register by May 24th and save $150 using promo code EarlySummer
    Please scroll to the bottom to choose the 3 payment option.


Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions.

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.

Dr. Joy DeGruy

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Course Overview

  • 2

    Required Texts, Suggested Readings & Resources

    • REVISED Topical Outline (reduced required readings)

    • Required Texts

      FREE PREVIEW

    • Suggested Readings

    • Academic Honesty and Integrity & Copyright

    • Join the Facebook Group
  • 3

    Introduction

    • Introduction June 10th

    • LIVE INTRODUCTION: by Dr. Joy DeGruy, Monday June 10th, 4:30 pm Pacific

    • RECORDING: Live Intro June 10th
  • 4

    Week 1

    • OUTLINE: Week 1 June 17th

    • VIDEO LECTURE: 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

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

    • QUIZ: Week 1

  • 5

    Week 2: I Don’t Even Notice Race

    • OUTLINE: Week 2 June 24

    • POWERPOINT LECTURE: Dehumanization & White Fear of Annihilation

    • READING: Bicentennial Speech

    • 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)

    • READING: U.S. Resolution Apology Document

    • READING: Serial Forced Displacement Article

    • QUIZ #2: Week 2 Content

    • QUIZ #3: Powerpoint Lecture: Dehumanization & White Fear of Annihilation
  • 6

    Week 3: Crimes Against Humanity

    • OUTLINE: Week 3

    • VIDEO LECTURE: Week 3

    • READING: Dehumanizing Black Boys

    • READING: Bias isn’t just a police problem

    • OPTIONAL READING: White Boys to Terrorist Men

    • OPTIONAL READING: White Debt

    • 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)
  • 7

    Week 4: Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome

    • OUTLINE: WEEK 4

    • VIDEO LECTURE: Week 4

    • RECORDING: Live Check-In July 8th

    • READ: Epigenetics

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

    • READ: Families in Psychology

    • OPTIONAL READ: Racial PTSD

    • READ: Dichotomous Logic

    • OPTIONAL READ: The Origin of Others

    • QUIZ #5: Week 4 Content
  • 8

    Week 5: Models + Theories

    • OUTLINE: WEEK 5

    • VIDEO LECTURE: Week 5

    • READ: A Matter of Respect

    • READ: African American Adolescent Respect

    • READ: Building Children’s Brains Handout

    • READ: Learned Helplessness

    • READ: Fetal Alcohol Handout

    • OPTIONAL READ: Apgar score Handout

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

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

    • QUIZ #6: Week 5 Content

    • QUIZ #7: Unnatural Causes Videos (posted in Week 3)
  • 9

    Week 6 + 7: Slavery’s Children

    • OUTLINE: WEEK 6 + 7

    • LIVE LECTURE WEEK 6

    • RECORDING: WEEK 6 Live Lecture July 22nd

    • OPTIONAL READ: Racial Respect

    • READ: Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development

    • READ: Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages

    • READ: Prevalence of Neurodevelopmental Disorders v Bell _ Chimata

    • READ: Prevalence of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Bell - Supplemental

    • READ: Research on Social Respect A

    • VIDEO LECTURE: WEEK 7 Part 1

    • VIDEO LECTURE: WEEK 7 Part 2

    • QUIZ #8: Week 6 + 7 Content

    • QUIZ #9: Week 6+7 Content
  • 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 LECTURE: WEEK 9 Aug 12th

    • RECORDING: WEEK 9 Live Lecture Aug 12th

    • WATCH: The Science of Learning and Development

    • OPTIONAL READ: The Stories That Bind Us Handout

    • READ: SEI Standards Handout

    • 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

    • READ: Victorious Minds (Rochester)

    • Overview of Virtues Project Cards

    • QUIZ #10: Week 8 + 9 Content

    • QUIZ #11: Week 8 + 9 Content
  • 11

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

    • OUTLINE: Week 10

    • LIVE LECTURE: Week 10 Aug 19th

    • RECORDING: Live Lecture Week 10 Aug 19th

    • QUIZ #12: Week 10 Content
  • 12

    Final Assignment

    • ONLINE ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION AND GRADING CRITERIA

    • Final Assignment - please SUBMIT HERE
  • 13

    EXTENSION PERIOD - Sept 15th

    • Material Online Availability

Pricing options

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