Certificate of Graduate Study in Culturally Responsive Practices

Students must select one of the SEHD required courses to ground their understandings in pedagogical practices. Courses included in the 12-credit certificate program:

School of Education and Human Development
EDU 559: Aspects of Reading for Multilingual Learners (online)
EDU 562: Linguistic and Cultural Diversity in the Classroom (online)
EDU 610: Professional Teacher in a Democratic Society
HCE 507: Spirituality and Religion in Counseling
HCE 612: Multicultural Counseling: Family & Disability Issues
HRD 545: Gender and Learning (online)
HRD 643: Multicultural Adult Development (online)
HRD 646: Global Perspectives in Adult Education & Practices
HRD 664: Culture, Tradition, and Diversity (blended)
HRD 699: Independent Study (for matriculated degree students only)
SED 540:  Nature and Needs of Learners who are Exceptional (blended)

American and New England Studies
ANE 638: Reading the Cultural Landscape
ANE 641: Environment and Culture

Leadership and Organizational Studies
LOS 661: Ethical and Spiritual Dimensions of Leadership
LOS 670: Leadership Study Abroad

Muskie School
CPD 602: Sustainable Communities

Occupational Therapy
OTH 507: Social Issues and Ethics in Occupational Therapy

Social Work
SWO 501: Multicultural Social Work
SWO 502: Critical Thinking about Human Behavior I
SWO 583: Social Work with Immigrants, Refugees and Asylum Seekers

~Course Descriptions~

• School of Education and Human Development

EDU 559: Aspects of Reading for Multilingual Learners
This course examines the role of literacy for learners of linguistic and cultural diversity. The influence of first language on reading in another language, contrasting differences between first and second language reading, the role of vocabulary, and aspects of comprehension are among the topics of study. The differences between learning how to read in a second language for the first time and reading English with first language literacy are highlighted. Cr 3. (online)

EDU 562 Linguistic and Cultural Diversity in Classroom
This course examines second language and cross cultural communication and their role in the classroom. Second language acquisition principles and challenges, aspects of culture and multicultural education are among the topics to be studied. Specific emphasis is on how language and cultural diversity impact teaching and learning process. Cr 3. (online)

EDU 610: Professional Teacher in a Democratic Society
This is an introductory experience for the professional teacher in a democratic society strand of the educational leadership program. This course will focus each learner’s deliberate consideration on issues regarding teaching in light of educational aims in a democratic society. Cr 3.

HCE 507: Spirituality and Religion in Counseling
This course will address, in an ecumenical and inclusive format, the growing renaissance in the psychotherapeutic community and in the larger American society of the integration of spirituality and religious values. Various aspects of spirituality and religion will be explored as they relate to the counseling process. The course will seek to increase the awareness of counselors to potential areas of client concern, including spiritual journeys, early religious training, search for meaning, personal relationship with the divine, and death and bereavement. Participants will explore various religious and spiritual practices, including, but not limited to, Islam, Buddhism, Native American beliefs, Hinduism, Christianity, and Judaism. Cr 3.

HCE 612: Multicultural Counseling: Family and Disability Issues
This course will provide an in-depth analysis of the effects of disability on individuals and their families within the context of a pluralistic society. It will explore experiences of living with a disability relative to family dynamics and to the broader community and society. Students will consider multicultural issues relative to disability and rehabilitation. Cr 3.

HRD 545: Gender and Learning
In this course, we explore the multiple and complex relationships of gender and learning from diverse theoretical perspectives, including topics such as feminist theories and pedagogies, historical perspectives on gender and education, and identity development. Gender is analyzed from infancy through adulthood in connection with other aspects of identity that impact learning, including race, class, sexual orientation, disability, and ethnicity. Cr 3. (online)

HRD 643: Multicultural Adult Development
This course examines adult cognitive and psychosocial development theory and practice from a multicultural perspective. It considers multiple identities within different social and cultural populations, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, disability, socioeconomic class, religion), and presents an overview of the multicultural adult development literature intended for masters students preparing for work with young or middle-aged adults in educational, training, or supervisory settings. Cr 3. (online)

HRD 646: Global Perspectives in Adult Education and Practices
This course provides students with a broad overview of some of the historical roots and current practices of adult education internationally. It provides information about significant leaders and agencies, as well as subjects such as: women’s education, literacy,
peace and human rights, research, the environment, and new technology as they relate to adult education. Cr 3.

HRD 664: Culture, Tradition, and Diversity
This course focuses on developing multicultural awareness, understanding the role of culture and tradition in the life cycle, examining issues of diversity in human interactions, and exploring the attitudes and perceptions of diverse populations. The course surveys world views, values, and benefits of specific groups to better understand and appreciate diversity as it relates to professional applications. Cr 3. (blended)

HRD 699: Independent Study
This course provides students the opportunity to pursue a project independently, planning, and exploring a topic of interest within the field of human resource development. The project must be library-based, intellectually sound, and reflect a high caliber of performance. Specific content and methods of evaluation will be determined in collaboration with the instructor. An approved proposal is a necessary prerequisite to registration. Open to matriculated students only. Cr 1-6.

SED 540: Nature and Needs of Learners Who Are Exceptional
This course focuses on the unique characteristics and educational and social/emotional needs of children and youth who display a range of learning disabilities, mild forms of developmental delay, and mild to moderate forms of behavioral and adjustment problems. Cr 3. (blended)

• American and New England Studies

ANE 638: Reading the Cultural Landscape
This course will examine the New England and American human landscapes as texts which can be read to reveal cultural attitudes, values, priorities, and experiences. Emphasis will be on the analysis of ordinary landscapes of the sort which surround us every day. The course will focus on typical landscape “settings” or “compositions,” not necessarily on individual components within those landscapes: that is, domestic or residential landscapes, commercial landscapes, industrial landscapes, civic landscapes, historic landscapes, and so on. Cr 3.

ANE 641: Environment and Culture
This course is an interdisciplinary examination of the ways in which occupants of the North American continent, from the pre-contact period to the present, have conceived of and interacted with the natural environment. The history of human use of and attitudes toward the environment will be examined within a cultural context. Course materials will be drawn both from New England and from other regions of the country. Cr 3.

• Leadership and Organizational Studies

LOS 661: Ethical and Spiritual Dimensions of Leadership
What are the roles of ethics and spirituality in leadership? Where does ethics end and spirituality begin? This course approaches the study of leadership from the perspectives of meaning, values, and human connectedness. The hunger to understand our lives, be part of a larger whole, be complete, and serve are examined as they relate to the leadership process. Cr 3.

LOS 670: Leadership Study Abroad
Investigation of the study and practice of leadership in other countries. Students will travel to other countries and examine leadership issues in different contexts. Cr 6.

• Muskie School

CPD 602: Sustainable Communities
CPD 602 is designed for students who have previously been exposed to planning history and theory (CPD 601 or its equivalent). Its purpose is to introduce the student to one current approach to community planning, known as sustainable communities, which embraces a holistic approach to community development as a goal to be pursued in the complex interplay among natural, economic, and social systems. The course aims to establish command of the basic concepts, principles, policies, and obstacles associated with sustainable development, sustainable communities, and, as a practical example, smart growth. Prerequisite: CPD 601 or permission of the instructor. Cr 3.

• Occupational Therapy

OTH 507: Social Issues and Ethics in Occupational Therapy
This course is designed to assist students to understand the larger social, ethical, professional, and systematic issues that impact health care and occupational therapy practice. It will focus on ethical issues, dilemmas, and decision making, as well as the OT code of ethics. Sociopolitical pressures and legal issues, and their impact on ethical practice, will also be explored. Cr 3.

• Social Work

SWO 501: Multicultural Social Work
This introductory course provides content on culturally diverse populations and serves as the basis for the infusion of cultural diversity issues throughout the graduate curriculum. The premise of this course asserts that the United States is a multicultural society in which social work cannot function effectively unless there is an understanding of how diversity strengthens and enriches us all. Open to non-matriculated graduate students. Cr 3.

SWO 502: Critical Thinking about Human Behavior I
This course examines the theories which address human behavior in mezzo and macro systems. The cultural context of behavior at all levels is an integral and underlying theme of the course. Systems theories, conflict theories, and social constructionist theories are presented. Cr 3.

SWO 583: Social Work with Immigrants, Refugees and Asylum Seekers
This course is designed for upper level undergraduate and graduate students considering immigration issues and human services.  Students will gain a broad perspective of migration across the globe; causes of international migration and the process of migration. The course will introduce key concepts i.e. immigrants both documented and undocumented, migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. The course will focus on the history of migration and immigration policy in the United States and consider 'new' immigrant population groups in Maine. The course will have a community based learning and a social action component, with students learning about human service delivery systems with 'new' immigrants; exploring how immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers are integrating in US society and challenges in human service delivery for 'new' immigrants. Using an interdisciplinary lens to understanding immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers the course develops a critical framework of social work with ‘new immigrants’ through critical examination of ideologies of social work “helping”. Students are expected to engage these concepts: community social work, diversity, cultural competence, empowerment, anti-oppressive social work, critical multicultural social work and ‘best practices’. Cr 3.