Courses and Syllabi
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Foundations of social justice in clinical psychology: Applied analyses of oppression and privilege
This course explores culture, oppression, and privilege and their effects on psychological development, conceptualization of health and pathology, and applications. The course aims to develop the reflexive awareness and conceptual knowledge that are the foundations of liberatory practice (research, intervention/therapy, education, leadership) for clinical psychologists. Content examines personal, interpersonal, social, and structural meanings of multiple systemic variables such as race, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, sexuality, social class and disability with critical consideration of the complexities of in-group heterogeneity, intersectionality, and diverse sociohistorical experiences of racialization, culture, and diaspora. The development of critical thinking, emotional engagement, and relational accountability are central process goals.
Asian American Psychology
Grounded in a Transformative Education approach, this undergraduate course explores foundational concepts of culture, ethnicity, and race as they concern Asian Americans at multiple levels of analysis— individual/personal, relational, family, community, social/structural. The course considers how related values, meanings, and impositions affect self-concept, interpersonal interactions, mental health and illness, and interventions to promote health and well-being. The course emphasizes how we can promote positive mental health and justice for Asian Americans, in our own lives and through education and actions to affect the people and systems with which we interact. This course often includes action projects where students develop health promoting interventions.
Qualitative Methods
This course introduces students to qualitative methods used in psychological research. The course explores philosophies and foundations of qualitative methodology, and then builds upon this foundation to examine and explore both the conceptual foundations of qualitative approaches and the practical skills involved in developing and conducting a qualitative study. The course has a relative focus on grounded theory and phenomenology, while briefly surveying some of the other qualitative methodologies and analysis approaches used in the field. The primary goal of this course is to develop students’ ability to appropriately and effectively utilize the ways of thinking, data collection methods and procedures, and analytic frameworks and processes from qualitative methods to advance their own research and general professional goals and objectives.
Psychology and Activism for Social Justice
This course examines how applied psychology relates to activism for social justice, including connections between social justice and mental health/healing for individuals and communities, how psychological concepts can be applied to facilitate activism for social justice, and how activism for social justice may be enacted within psychological settings and organizations. The course considers meanings of social justice and activism, the differentiation of activism from ”helping,” and personal relational dynamics within activism (e.g. what prevents or facilitates personal motivations, challenges of interpersonal connections and coalition building that affect effective activism). This course is a student-centered discussion and skills oriented seminar, ultimately focused on the praxis of activism informed by psychological concepts and/or applied within psychology.
Prior Courses
Graduate:
- Social Construction of Self and Identities (Clinical Psychology)
- Practicum and Ethics Seminar and Supervision (Clinical Psychology)
- Capstone Seminar (Critical Ethnic and Community Studies)
- Professional Seminar (Critical Ethnic and Community Studies
Undergraduate:
- Race Culture and Relationships (Psychology)
- Multiracial Experiences (Asian American Studies)
- Asian American Community Internships (Psychology and Asian American Studies)
- Empowerment and Advocacy for Social Justice (General Education)
- Introduction to Asian American Studies
- Applied Research in Asian American Studies
- Psychology of Women
- Principles of Psychotherapy