Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Explores different facets of identity development and how one's culture impacts one's workplace experience. Includes developing cultural humility, culturally responsive practices, and skills beneficial for success in a diverse workplace and a diverse society. Students participating in this course will study the history and impact of prejudice, discrimination and racism within the workplace. Students will learn the importance of relating to all segments of the population in a fair and unbiased manner, as well as the importance of trauma-informed legal services.

Upon completion of the course students will be able to:

1. Explain the meaning and characteristics of an inclusive legal workplace.
2. Identify and describe one's cultural identity.
3. Describe how one's identity may impact others in a legal workplace.
4. Evaluate how stereotypes, prejudices, discrimination, bias, and oppression affect human interaction with the law and in the legal workplace.
5. Demonstrate personal cultural self-awareness in interactions with others.

Flexible dependent on needs of student population and preferred teaching style of instructor, but may include reading assignments; videos; lectures; guest speakers; small group projects and discussions; independent research; analysis of hypothetical problems; written reports; and student presentations.

1.    Respond orally and/or in writing to course related assignments and discussion prompts.

2.    Research and report on concepts, themes, and issues.

4.    Reflect on personal experiences and reactions to course related topics in writing and/or orally. 

5.    Participate in class experiences and discussions.

Themes, Concepts & Issues

Diversity, pluralism, and social justice issues.

Power, privilege and oppression.

Cultural influences and implications of values, language, views, and opinions.

Cultural identity in the U.S. including: 

• race and ethnicity;
• gender and gender expression;
• sexual orientation;
• disability/ability;
• age; and
• religion.

Competencies & Skills

1. Identify one’s own culture
2. Develop an understanding of how identities intersect
3. Develop an understanding of how stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, bias  and oppression are interconnected
4. Develop an understanding that diversity and social justice education is a life long learning process
5. Recognize the impact of culture and identity on workplace relationships
6. Demonstrate cultural self-awareness in interactions with others
7. Recognize the importance of and learn the basic tenets of trauma-informed legal services.

Approved Texts

Choice of texts is at the discretion of each course instructor.