Psychology of Race and Belonging

Catalog description

Considering the increasing diversity of the United States and a more interconnected world, this course has two aims. First, this course provides students with an understanding of why fostering belonging is necessary to create healthy and thriving diverse communities. Second, this course provides students with an understanding of how to create communities of belonging. Through a multidisciplinary lens, we will explore and discuss when, why, and how race was invented. Through the lens of psychology, we will explore how the invention of race and doing race lead to othering and maintain "us" versus "them" perspectives and structures in society. We will also use psychological concepts and theories to explore and discuss ideas for moving beyond racism, race, and othering to create communities of belonging. SJE