GISD 609 - Cultural Competency: Impacts on Innovation and Model Development

3 Credit(s)

Description:
“Cultural competence is a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes and policies that come together in a system, agency or among professionals; enabling that system, agency or those professionals to work effectively in cross-cultural situation” (Cross et al., 1989). This course introduces students to the concepts of culture and cultural competency and examines the impact of cultural differences - due to age, gender, class, race, ethnicity, disability, religion, occupation, sexual orientation, and other factors - on access to programs, services, and resources. The course teaches students models for cultural competency as well as strategies for cross-cultural communication, conflict resolution, and organizational capacity building - essential knowledge and skills for future leaders in global inclusion and social development. Through a combination of lectures, guest speakers, assigned readings, and group discussions, students learn about cultural competency and its application to policy, practice, research, and professional training with a particular focus on healthcare, disability, and rehabilitation, as well as the global context. Master’s and doctoral students in global inclusion and social development can choose to take this course or the Ethics and Professionalism in Global Inclusion and Social Development course.

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