Course Syllabus
Lead Faculty Contact Information
This course was designed by Dr. Anthony Natale. There are numerous sections of this course with varying faculty. The lecture videos are from Dr. Natale, and therefore, the anecdotes presented are relevant to him and not necessarily your instructor. Your instructor is well-versed in the subject and will guide you through this course.
Instructor Contact Information
Course Details
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Prerequisites
The only prerequisite is graduate standing.
Course Materials
- Appleby, Colon, and Hamilton (2011) Diversity, Oppression, and Social Functioning: Person-In-Environment Assessment and Intervention (3rd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.
- American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association 7th Ed.
- Additional readings will be pulled from multiple sources and linked in the "Resources" page of each course module.
Social Work Competencies Alignment
| Competencies | Course Content |
Dimensions(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Competency 1: Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior |
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| Competency 2: Engage diversity and difference in practice |
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Grades
A student cannot complete the course assignments alone to earn a grade for the course.
To be eligible for a course grade, students must complete each course module including lecture videos, essential documents, additional course content videos, and the course discussion board as instructed. The highest course grade a student can make if they miss 4 modules is a C. Missing 5 or more course modules will result in an F.
Breakdown
| Activity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Discussion Board Engagement | 15% |
| Story of Self | 15% |
| Social Injustice Infographic | 20% |
| Implicit Bias Test and Plan | 25% |
| Practicing Cultural Humility | 25% |
| Total | 100% |
Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 91–100% | A | Excellent: Work exceeds course expectations |
| 81–90% | B | Good: Work meets course expectations |
| 71–80% | C | Fair: Work marginally meets course expectations |
| 65–70% | D | Poor: Work minimally meets course expectations |
| 64% or below | F | Failure: Work does not meet course expectations. |
Course Components
Discussion Board Engagement
For all discussion boards, students should submit their original post to the discussion board questions of the week by Friday, and responses/rejoinders are due by Sunday by midnight. The lowest three scores on discussion posts are automatically dropped in grade calculations. A reminder that you can miss a maximum of three discussion boards posts.
Live Sessions
There will be two Live Sessions over the duration of the course where participants will meet to receive and process course content and connect with other students. While these sessions are ungraded, your attendance is required. If you are unable to attend, you will review the recorded session and provide a three-page summary e-mailed directly to the instructor within one week of the Zoom video being posted.
Story of Self
A 9-10 page paper addressing your background, the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors towards diversity and difference of both yourself and your family, and a reflection that brings it all together.
Social Injustice Infographic
Small groups will create an infographic detailing 1 social, political, economic, or environmental injustice experienced by 1 vulnerable population featured in this course. Your group will also have 3-5 minutes to present the infographic during our 2nd Live Session.
Implicit Bias Test and Plan
A 9-10 page paper focused on a reflection of Implicit Association Tests. Using the IAT results, students will select two articles that address social work practice with a vulnerable population and write an analysis and reflection, and develop practical applications gleaned from the research.
Practicing Cultural Humility
Students will watch selected videos and write 9-10 pages responding to prompts surrounding cultural humility and actionable steps to recognize and develop cultural humility in social work practice.
All assignments are to be double-spaced in a readable 12 pt—font, with normal margins. You must use headings and subheadings throughout the assignments per the APA manual. Do not submit a cover page or abstract. Be sure to submit in a (.doc) or (.docx) format.
Course Policies
Communication
Students should use their OU e-mail or canvas to communicate with the instructor. They can expect a response usually within 48 hours Monday-Friday. For any reason communication will be delayed beyond that, it will be communicated to the students in advance. Professional communication is an expectation. Please take a moment to review these tips for communicating with your instructor.
Feedback
Students can expect feedback and grades on their activities and assignments within two weeks. Any exceptions to that will be communicated by the instructor in advance.
Late Policy
Students are expected to submit work by the due date stipulated in the course. Students who are unable to submit coursework by the due date because of an extenuating circumstance should contact their instructor prior to the due date to request an extension for the work. If it is not possible to contact the instructor prior to the due date, they should do as soon after the due date as possible. Instructors have the discretion to offer an extension or to accept late coursework without penalty based on their assessment of a student’s circumstance.
Plagiarism
The NASW Code of Ethics states: “Social workers should not participate in, condone, or be associated with dishonesty, fraud or deception.” One of the values on which the Code of Ethics is based is that of integrity and one of the ethical principles derived from this value is “Social workers behave in a trustworthy manner.”
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act Statement (HIPAA)
In line with the new HIPPA regulations concerning protected health information, it is important that you understand that any client information that you share, either verbally or written, will need to be de-identified. This means that any information that would allow another to identify the person needs to be changed or eliminated. This includes obvious things like names and birth dates but may also contain other information that is so unique to the person that it could allow for identification, including, but not limited to diagnosis, race/ethnicity, or gender. If diagnosis, race/ethnicity, or gender is directly related to the case presentation, it can be included if it will not allow for identification.
Course References
The resources on Course References page were used in the development of this course and are recommended supplemental reading for your professional practice.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Land Acknowledgement
Long before the University of Oklahoma was established, the land on which the University now resides was the traditional home of the “Hasinais” Caddo Nation and “Kirikirʔi:s” Wichita & Affiliated Tribes.
We acknowledge this territory once also served as a hunting ground, trade exchange point, and migration route for the Apache, Comanche, Kiowa and Osage nations. Today, 39 tribal nations dwell in the state of Oklahoma as a result of settler and colonial policies that were designed to assimilate Native people.
The University of Oklahoma recognizes the historical connection our university has with its indigenous community. We acknowledge, honor and respect the diverse Indigenous peoples connected to this land. We fully recognize, support and advocate for the sovereign rights of all of Oklahoma’s 39 tribal nations. This acknowledgment is aligned with our university’s core value of creating a diverse and inclusive community. It is an institutional responsibility to recognize and acknowledge the people, culture and history that make up our entire OU Community.
Course Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalog.
Student Handbook
Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.
Student Support Services
OU offers a variety of services to support students. For more information, please refer to the Student Support Module in your Orientation course.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.
Copyright Statement and Privacy Information
Sessions of this course may be recorded or live-streamed. These recordings are the intellectual property of the individual faculty member and may not be shared or reproduced without the explicit, written consent of the faculty member. In addition, privacy rights of others such as students, guest lecturers, and providers of copyrighted material displayed in the recording may be of concern. Students may not share any course recordings with individuals not enrolled in the class or upload them to any other online environment.
Academic Integrity
As a member of the OU community, it is your responsibility to protect your educational investment by knowing and following the rules. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity.
Academic honesty is incredibly important within this course. Cheating is strictly prohibited at the University of Oklahoma, because it devalues the degree you are working hard to get. Should you know of someone else engaging in academic misconduct, please report it to your instructor or directly to the Office of Academic Integrity. Your instructor has a professional obligation to report academic misconduct.
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.
Religious Observance
It is the policy of the University to excuse the absences of students that result from religious observances and to reschedule examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays, without penalty. [See Faculty Handbook 3.15.2].
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The Accessibility and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) is committed to supporting students with disabilities to ensure that they are able to enjoy equal access to all components of their education. This includes your academics, housing, and community events. Please review OU's Accessibility Policy.
If you are experiencing a disability, a mental/medical health condition that has a significant impact on one or more life functions, you can receive accommodations to provide equal access. Possible disabilities include but are not limited to learning disabilities, AD(H)D, mental health, and chronic health. Additionally, we support students with temporary medical conditions (broken wrist, shoulder surgery, etc.) and pregnancy.
To discuss potential accommodations, please contact the ADRC at 730 College Avenue, (phone) 405-325-3852, or adrc@ou.edu.
Title IX Resources
Anyone who has been impacted by gender-based violence, including dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, harassment, and sexual assault, deserves access to resources so that they are supported personally and academically.
The University of Oklahoma is committed to offering resources to those impacted, including: speaking with someone confidentially about your options, medical attention, counseling, reporting, academic support, and safety plans. If you would like to speak with someone confidentially, please contact OU Advocates (available 24/7 at 405-615-0013) or another confidential resource (see "Can I make an anonymous report?").
You may also choose to report gender-based violence and discrimination through other means, including by contacting the Institutional Equity Office (ieo@ou.edu, 405-325-3546) or the police (911).
Because the University of Oklahoma is committed to the safety of you and other students, I, as well as other faculty, Graduate Assistants, and Teaching Assistants, are mandatory reporters. This means that we are obligated to report gender-based violence that has been disclosed to us to the Institutional Equity Office. This includes disclosures that occur in class discussions, writing assignments, discussion boards, emails, and during Student/Office Hours.
For more information, please visit the Institutional Equity Office.
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office.
Mental Health Support Services
If you are experiencing any mental health issues that are impacting your academic performance, counseling is available at the University Counseling Center (UCC). The Center is located on the second floor of the Goddard Health Center, at 620 Elm Rm. 201, Norman, OK 73019. To schedule an appointment, call 405-325-2911. For more information, please visit the University Counseling Center.
Final Exam Preparation Period
Pre-finals week will be defined as the seven calendar days before the first day of finals. Faculty may cover new course material throughout this week. For specific provisions of the policy please refer to OU's Final Exam Preparation Period policy.
Required Policies for Students On Campus
Emergency Protocol
During an emergency, there are official university procedures that will maximize your safety.
Severe Weather: If you receive an OU Alert to seek refuge or hear a tornado siren that signals severe weather:
- Look for severe weather refuge location maps located inside most OU buildings near the entrances
- Seek refuge inside a building. Do not leave one building to seek shelter in another building that you deem safer. If outside, get into the nearest building.
- Go to the building’s severe weather refuge location. If you do not know where that is, go to the lowest level possible and seek refuge in an innermost room. Avoid outside doors and windows.
- Get in, Get Down, Cover Up.
- Wait for official notice to resume normal activities.
Additional Weather Safety Information is available through the Department of Campus Safety.
Severe Weather Preparedness Video
Armed Subject/Campus Intruder
If you receive an OU Alert to shelter-in-place due to an active shooter or armed intruder situation or you hear what you perceive to be gunshots:
- Avoid: If you believe you can get out of the area without encountering the armed individual, move quickly towards the nearest building exit, move away from the building, and call 911.
- Deny: If you cannot flee, move to an area that can be locked or barricaded, turn off lights, silence devices, spread out, and formulate a plan of attack if the shooter enters the room.
- Defend: As a last resort fight to defend yourself. For more information, visit:
OU's Emergency Preparedness site
Shots Fire on Campus Procedure
Fire Alarm/General Emergency
If you receive an OU Alert that there is danger inside or near the building, or the fire alarm inside the building activates:
- Leave the building. Do not use the elevators.
- Know at least two building exits
- Assist those that may need help
- Proceed to the emergency assembly area
- Once safely outside, Notify first responders of anyone that may still be inside the building due to mobility issues.
- Wait for official notice before attempting to re-enter the building.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|