Intergroup Relations (IG)

In intergroup/intragroup race dialogue, students learn about racial identity, conflict, community, and social justice in the United States. Trained peer-facilitators encourage dialogue about controversial social issues, such as affirmative action, immigration reform, and interracial relationships in a small classroom setting within the context of the relevant racial identity group(s). Working together with their peer-facilitators, student participants explore similarities and differences among and across groups and strive toward building a multicultural and democratic community. 

An examination of special topics, methods, and areas in intergroup relations. Specific topics vary by instructor and semester.

An examination of the concept of home as it relates to the historical and contemporary realities of Black people in the United States. Using the work of renowned scholars and writers such as bell hooks and Toni Morrison, students explore notions of home as a catalyst for (IGR) dialogue both within and between families and communities. Students interrogate their own experiences of home as they grow as a community of writers and critical thinkers.

An examination at the advanced level of special topics, methods, and areas in intergroup relations theory and praxis. Specific topics vary by instructor and semester.

An integration of sociological theory and praxis in a seminar that prepares students to facilitate dialogues on race. What factors hinder meaningful discourse about race? What skills promote interracial communication? How can we learn to engage more effectively in dialogue about race, power, and privilege in the United States? Through readings in racial identity theory, reflective and analytic writing, and experiential practice of dialogic communication skills, students learn to facilitate dialogues on controversial race-related topics, such as affirmative action, immigration reform, and interracial relationships. 

A course that helps students develop and improve their skills as dialogue facilitators. This will be done in the context of the belief that facilitation skills can be used throughout life to create social change. Good facilitators are social change agents. Moreover, by debriefing their actual dialogue experiences, facilitators can deepen their learning about racial identity, discrimination, privilege, and social justice. 

An intergroup or intragroup dialogue course in which students facilitate dialogues about racial identity, conflict, community, and social justice. 

A program of individual reading and research under the direction of the intergroup relations faculty.