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 March 11, 2019 and there will be 4 interactive lectures held Mondays at 4:30pm Pacific:

Week 1 Mon Mar 11th 

Week 3 Mon Mar 25th **CHANGED TO WEEK 6**

Week 9 Mon May 6th

week 10 Mon May 13th

PLEASE NOTE:

- We are currently in the application process for 20-30 CEU's from the National Association of Social Workers . 

- There is an option to pay for registration over 3 months. Please scroll to the bottom to choose this.

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

    Syllabus

    • African American Multi-Generational Trauma & Implementing Models of Change

    • Course Objectives

    • UPDATED SYLLABUS - MAR 11, 2019

    • Course Grading Criteria
  • 2

    Required Texts, Suggested Readings & Resources

  • 3

    Assignments and Grading

    • Assignments & Grading
  • 4

    Week 1: Introduction

    • Academic Honesty and Integrity & Copyright

    • UPDATED SYLLABUS - MAR 11, 2019

    • OUTLINE: Week 1

    • LIVE INTRODUCTION: by Dr. Joy DeGruy, Monday March 11th, 4:30 pm Pacific

    • RECORDING: Live Intro - recorded Mar 11th

    • READING: How Racism Works Handout

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

    • READING: Internalized White Supremacy Handout

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

    • QUIZ #1: Week 1

    • Join the Facebook Group
  • 5

    Week 2: I Don’t Even Notice Race

    • OUTLINE: Week 2

    • VIDEO LECTURE: Week 2

    • READING: Bicentennial Speech (Thurgood Marshall) Handout

    • READING: Cultural Genocide (Native American Indians) Article

    • READING: Japanese Relocation (JARDA) Handout

    • READING: Chinese Exclusion, Immigrant labor for Railroads Handout

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

    • READING: U.S. Resolution Apology Document

    • READING: Serial Forced Displacement Article

    • QUIZ #2: Week 2 Content

    • POWERPOINT LECTURE: Dehumanization & White Fear of Annihilation

    • 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 Article

    • READING: Bias isn’t just a police problem Article

    • READING: White Boys to Terrorist Men (Blazak) Article

    • READING: White Debt Article

    • READING: Serial Forced Displacement Article

    • 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 (from Unnatural Causes) (Quiz on this in Week 5)
  • 7

    Week 4: Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome

    • WEEK 4 OUTLINE

    • VIDEO LECTURE: Week 4

    • READ: Epigenetics (Memories pass between generations) Handout

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

    • READ: Families in Psychology Article

    • READ: Racial PTSD Article

    • READ: Dichotomous Logic

    • READ: The Origin of Others (Toni Morrison) Handout

    • QUIZ #5: Week 4 Content
  • 8

    Week 5: Models + Theories

    • WEEK 5 OUTLINE

    • WATCH: Week 5 Video Lecture

    • READ: A Matter of Respect

    • READ: African American Adolescent Respect Article

    • READ: Building Children’s Brains Handout

    • READ: Learned Helplessness

    • READ: Fetal Alcohol Handout: Prevalence of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Among Low-Income African Americans at a Clinic on Chicago’s South Side

    • 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

    • WEEK 6 + 7 OUTLINE

    • LIVE LECTURE LINK April 15TH @ 4:30pm

    • WATCH: Week 6 Lecture Recording April 15 || PART 1

    • WATCH: Week 6 Lecture Recording April 15 || PART 2

    • 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

    • WATCH: Week 7 Lecture Part 1

    • WATCH: Week 7 Lecture 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

    • WATCH: Week 8 Recorded Lecture - What is Working PART 1 of 3

    • WATCH: Week 8 Recorded Lecture What is Working PART 2 of 3

    • WATCH: Week 8 Recorded Lecture What is Working PART 3 of 3

    • WATCH: The Science of Learning and Development

    • 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

    • WATCH: Week 9 Meeting Recording May 6 - Part 1

    • WATCH: Week 9 Meeting Recording May 6 - Part 2

    • 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

    • WATCH: Week 10 Meeting Recording May 13 - Part 1

    • WATCH: Week 10 Meeting Recording May 13 - Part 2

    • QUIZ #12: Week 10 Content
  • 12

    Final Assignment

    • ONLINE ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION AND GRADING CRITERIA

    • FINAL ASSIGNMENT- Description and Submission Here
  • 13

    EXTENSION PERIOD - June 30th

    • Material Online Availability
  • 14

    EXTENSION JUNE 30TH

    • If you need longer...

    • And if you need even longer... :)

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