This
Course aims at helping current and future ministers, pastors,
spiritual leaders and laypersons of various faith traditions in
understanding the multi-dimensions of diversity within one’s own
particular faith tradition as well as across religions, ethnicities,
cultures and traditions thus acquiring knowledge and skills necessary
to deal sensitively and effectively with diverse populations.
During the course of study, students will be introduced to
multicultural competency models and will be challenged to examine
their own prejudices and biases towards groups that are religiously
and/or culturally different. Various
models of Intercultural communication will be examined.
A survey of various world views in religion, cultures and
ethnicities will be introduced. Training
on practical skills of intercultural communication, conflict
management and resolutions as well as on counseling diverse
populations will be provided. Furthermore, specific issues that
pertain to various religious, ethnic and cultural groups in the United
States will be explored. In conclusion, this course will provide the
necessary theoretical knowledge, practical skills and effective
strategies to sensitively and successfully respond to religiously,
culturally and ethnically diverse populations as well as to issues
related to them.
Required
Textbooks:
- Larty,
E. (2003). In Living
Color: An Intercultural Approach to Pastoral Care and Counseling.
Kingsley, Jessica Publishers.
- McGoldrick,
M, Giordano, J. & Perce, J. (Eds.), (1996), Ethnicity and
Family Therapy. The
Guilford Press.
- Richards,
P. & Bergin, A. (1999): Handbook of Psychotherapy and
Religious Diversity. The
American psychological Association.
- Smart,
N. (2000), Worldviews: Cross Cultural Explorations of Human
Beliefs. Prentice Hall.
Recommended
Readings:
- Gellner,
E. (1992), Postmodernism, Reason and religion. Routledge.
- Levinson,
D. (1996), Religion: A Cross Cultural Dictionary. Oxford
University press.
- Ponterotto,
J., Casas, J., Suzuki, L & Alexander, C. (1995).
Handbook of Multicultural Counseling. SAGE Publications.
- Samovar,
L. & Porter (1991): Intercultural Communication. Wadsworth
Publishing Company.
Other
handouts and reading materials will be distributed and/or assigned.
Course
Requirements:
1.
Regular attendance and active participation.
In addition to physical presence in class during all times of
instruction, it includes initiating and participating in classroom’s
discussions. This component is worth 20% of the grade.
Unexcused
absences are not allowed.
2.
Final exam (40% total).
3.
One research paper of at least five pages (30%). Before you
begin the research and develop a topic, submit a proposal for my
approval.
4.
A daily journal in which you’ll write commentary and
analysis on both the readings and your experience in the class (10%).
I expect you to be as analytical and critical as possible. The
journals are due every day at the end of the class.
Extremely
Important:
- All
assignments are to be typed or printed and handed in on time.
Assignments must include references where appropriate and
bibliographies. It is
expected that you will proofread all your work before submitting
it.
- Required
readings for the day must be done in advance and prior to the day
in which it is listed.
- Food,
cell phones and beepers are prohibited during class.
Essential and needed rinks (e.g. coffee, soda, juice and
other non-alcoholic beverages) are allowed provided they do not
violate the college or facility rules or interfere with the
educational process.
Day
one (January 12, 2004)
1. Introduction and Organization.
2.
Ministry:
Definition,
role, scope of services and expectations from constituencies.
- World
views- religions-spiritual paths.
- Inter-Religious
or inter-faith interaction from various perspectives:
- Purpose
- Context
- Outcome
- Spiritual
leaders from the three major faith traditions will be invited to
speak of their own experiences and contextual settings:
- Define
your own role within your own congregation.
- Discuss
your own constituents’ expectations of your education-
expertise- services.
- Define
your own understanding of interfaith interaction.
- Discuss
your experience in interfaith.
- Discuss
the outcome of your interfaith experience.
- Have
you provided services to members of cultures other than your
own? What are they? What is the outcome of such experience?
- Students’
experiences:
Readings
for the day:
World
views: Cross Cultural Explorations of Human Beliefs.
In
Living Color: An Intercultural Approach to Pastoral Care and
Counseling.
Handouts.
Required work for the
day:
1. Commentary and critique of Living color.
2. Presentation in class about ministerial role in one’s own
tradition.
3. Journal entry.
Day
two (January 13, 2004)
- Culture:
- Definition:
- Demographic
trends for religious, racial and ethnic groups in the United
States:
- Challenges
posed by diversity.
- Intercultural
communication (Models and outcomes)
- Multicultural
competencies (Models- skills).
- Skills
for effective communication with the culturally different.
- Conflict
Management and Resolution.
Film:
Orientalism.
Students’
activities: group discussion and practice.
Readings
for the day:
1.
Worldviews: Cross Cultural Explorations of Human Beliefs.
2.
Crollius & Nkeramihigo : What is SO New About Inculturation?
(handout).
3.
Articles on Multicultural competencies and Skills of
Intercultural communication.
Required work for the
day:
1. Students’ research and presentation on the demography,
history, beliefs, practices and trends of immigration or growth within
the United States for one religious, cultural or ethnic group that is
different from his/her own. The
group must be discussed in both the global context as well as within
the United States.
2. Students’ practice of multicultural competency and
intercultural communication skills.
Day
three (January 14, 2004)
1.
Counseling.
2. Multicultural counseling.
3. Faith in counseling.
4.
Pastoral counseling.
5.
Counseling various ethnic groups.
Readings
for the day:
1. Ethnicity and Family Therapy
Required work for the
day:
1. Presentation in class of one or more ethnic group other than
one’s own, its issues, and most effective ways in dealing with them.
2. Discussion of one’s own experiences with a specific culture
and the learning outcome.
Day
Four (January 15, 2004)
1. Religious groups in therapy.
2. Refugees in the United States.
Readings
for the day:
1. Handbook of Psychotherapy and Religious Diversity.
Required work for the
day:
1. Presentation in class of one or more religious group other than
one’s own, its issues, and most effective ways in dealing with them.
2. Discussion of one’s own experiences with a specific culture
and the learning outcome.
Day
Five (January 16, 2004)
1.
Catching up
2.
Practical Skills.
3.
Presentations
4.
Locating resources
5.
Final Exam
6.
Evaluation of the course
7.
Conclusion
Required
work for the day:
Research
paper is due.
