First Year Core

Human Diversity Requirement (SW)

Social workers understand how diversity characterizes and shapes the human experience and is critical to the formation of identity. The dimensions of diversity are understood as the intersection of multiple factors including age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, immigration status, political ideology, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation. Social workers appreciate that, as a consequence of difference, a person’s life experiences may include oppression, poverty, marginalization, and alienation, as well as privilege, power, and acclaim.

In keeping with the School’s mission and the commitment to educate students for practice in a heterogeneous society, curriculum content on human diversity is integrated into nearly every course. In addition, students are required to take two courses with a focus on diversity, oppression, and discrimination. The Crown Family School categorizes its diversity related courses as foundational or specialized. At least one of the two diversity courses must be from the foundational list. The requirements in human diversity are intended to provide students withan analytical framework to understand human behavior and political processes in the environment of a diverse society to satisfy the following five goals:

• To promote respect for ethnic and cultural diversity as an integral part of social work’s commitment to preserve human dignity.
• To foster knowledge and understanding of individuals, families, and communities in their socio-cultural and socio-economic contexts.
• To analyze the ethnic and political issues related to the patterns, dynamics, and consequences of discrimination and oppression.
• To develop skills to promote individual and social change toward social and economic justice.
• To provide students a theoretical framework for integrating an approach toward diversity within students’ own particular area of expertise (e.g., clinical, community, organization, management). 

Each year students will be provided lists of courses that meet the foundational and specialized diversity course requirements. Students who would like to substitute a course must obtain a copy of the syllabus for that course, and submit a written memo to the Dean of Students explaining why that course will meet the goals provided by the diversity requirements. Because the diversity requirements are intended to give students an analytical framework with which to integrate questions of diversity within their education at Crown, and to enhance the development of practice behaviors for work with diversity and difference in practice, no waivers of this course are considered.

Foundational Diversity Courses

Courses on this list are squarely focused on understanding oppression, discrimination, diversity, racism or difference, and/or how social workers intervene based on these understandings. The knowledge and skills conveyed in these courses should be applicable to a broad array of groups and social conditions. Students will not be able to waive this requirement based on previous coursework; it is assumed that with a variety of classes that meet the requirement, each student will be able to find one that adds to their previous knowledge and skill base. 

Specialized Diversity Courses

Specialized diversity courses need not have their sole focus on diversity, oppression, and discrimination, but these issues must constitute a substantial proportion of the class content. These courses may use a focus on (a) a vulnerable population, or (b) a setting or field of practice, or (c) a specific theoretical orientation, issue, or perspective to provide a context for discussions on diversity, oppression, and discrimination