Intergroup Relations (IGR), Program on

 

Program on Intergroup Relations

3000 Michigan Union
530 S. State Street
734-936-1875 (phone)
734-647-4133 (fax)
www.igr.umich.edu
Monita C. Thompson & Kelly E. Maxwell, Co-Directors

The Program on Intergroup Relations (IGR) is a social justice education program on the University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus. As a joint venture of the College of Literature, Science, and Arts and the Division of Student Affairs, IGR works proactively to promote understanding of intergroup relations inside and outside of the classroom. Multidisciplinary courses offered by IGR are distinguished by their experiential focus, teaching philosophy, and incorporation of dialogical models of communication. On this site you will find information on academic and co-curricular initiatives, program history and philosophy, and resources related to social justice education.

The Mark Chesler Library Collection on Intergroup Relations is home to over 1000 books, videos, journals, and other materials covering a wide range of subjects related to social diversity and social justice. These materials are useful for conducting independent research, designing dialogue activities, enhancing curricular content or simply broadening horizons in many areas of interest. Topics found within the resource center include intercultural communication, social identity, multicultural education, facilitation techniques, social justice issues, intergroup relations, and many more. All students, faculty, and staff on campus are invited to use these resources, located in the IGR office, 3000 Michigan Union.

The Library of The Program on Intergroup Relations is named in honor of Mark Chesler, Professor of SOC Emeritus, who helped create IGR and whose professional and personal life exemplifies its mission "to pursue social justice through education".

The Intergroup Relations Course Sequence:

The course sequence in Intergroup Relations is designed for students with special interests in social diversity and social justice. Intergroup Relations courses offer experience in both analyzing and understanding issues of diversity and justice, and building practical skills to deal with these issues in the "real world."

Students may find this sequence useful in preparing for careers in social work, law, medicine, clinical psychology, education, business, and other diverse workplaces. Students may also use this sequence to enter graduate programs in social justice, become community organizers, or engage in other professions directly relevant to social action. Additionally, students study this sequence not merely for professional reasons, but also to refine and actualize their own values as individuals and community members.

For more information on the IGR Course Sequence, please contact The Program on Intergroup Relations. The following courses listed in the sequence below are examples of applicable Intergroup Relations courses and are recommended, but not required.

I. Introductory Course in Intergroup Relations (3 credits)

  • At least one introductory seminar from the "FIGS" Group.
  • If possible, this course should be taken during the first year. (Some, but not all, of these courses fulfill the University's Race and Ethnicity requirement.)
  • Examples of FIGS courses include:  
    • PSYCH 120/CAAS 103 I, Too, Sing America;
    • PORTUG 150 Breaking Gender & Racial Barriers in Brazil;  
    • PSYCH 120/CAAS 103 Challenges to Democracy;
    • SOC 105 Democracy, Diversity, & Community;  
    • PSYCH 120 Racism Underground: Prejudice in America;  
    • PSYCH 120/CAAS 103 Justice for All? Difference and Oppression in U.S. Society.

II. Intergroup Dialogues (2 credits)

  • PSYCH 122/SOC 122/122.
    • If possible, PSYCH/SOC 122 should be completed by the first semester of the sophomore year. A second dialogue, on a different topic, may be taken for two additional credits.
    • Examples of topics offered in recent semesters include: Race & Ethnicity; Gender; Sexual Orientation; Religion; Socio-Economic Class and International Students/U.S. Students.

III. Global Understandings (3 credits)

  • UC 178
    This course offers a unique opportunity for students to engage in intercultural communication with college students in other parts of the world without having to leave the classroom. Intercultural exchange is conducted using written communications (online chatting and collaborative paper assignments) and "face-to-face" real time group discussions via video conference. Students will learn about intercultural communication concepts and how social identities can influence communication. Students will discuss various topics with their non-UM partners such as: college life, culture/traditions, religion/spirituality, and stereotypes/prejudices.

IV. Foundations of Intergroup Relations (3 credits)

  • PSYCH 218
    This introductory course will examine identity development, intergroup and intercultural relations from social justice  framework, and challenge ourselves to think critically and creatively about social justice and worldviews. This course will also examine the history of various social identity groups, the theory behind how social identity groups form, intergroup conflict and coalition building. We will also explore how people develop an understanding of their own social identity group membership, how bias develops (prejudice, stereotyping, discrimination, and oppression), how groups are impacted by privilege and power dynamics, and how to develop advocacy for groups to which one does not belong.

V. Training and Practicum in Intergroup Dialogues (6 credits)

  • PSYCH 310/SOC 320/UC 320: Training Processes for Intergroup Dialogue Facilitation. (This course should be completed by the end of the junior year, and must be completed by the first semester of the senior year.)
  • PSYCH 311/SOC 321/UC 321: Practicum in Intergroup Dialogue Facilitation. (This course is usually taken the semester after  PSYCH 310/SOC 320/UC 320 is completed.)

VI. Capstone Course: Advanced Intergroup Relations (3 credits)

  • This course, offered periodically, will focus on social justice and social change in the United States and on individual participants’ own values, skills and future plans. By their senior year, many UM students committed to social change have managed to find places where they can learn about such work or even engage in it with allies on campus or the local community. But what about after graduation?  This course seeks to address this question and consider social change and social justice in the real world.
  • The course will explore alternative meanings of social justice, theories and strategies of social change, roles of change agents in traditional career environs, the costs and benefits of careers of social activism, including opportunities for career choices in these arenas and the assessment of personal skills and resources, discussions with local social justice advocates and organizational representatives, and practice in multicultural teamwork and coalition building.

VII. Elective Courses in Intergroup Relations. A partial list of courses suggested as electives for further study in Intergroup Relations includes:

  • PSYCH 405. Social Psychology in Community Settings (offered in winter semesters).
  • UC 170. UC Special Topics: Faith Identities and Your Campus Experience. 
  • UC 170. UC Special Topics: World, Community, and Self.
  • PSYCH 120. First-Year Seminar in Psychology as a Social Science. Racism Underground: Hidden and Not-so-Hidden Prejudice in America.
  • PSYCH 305/AMCULT 309. Practicum in Multicultural Communities.
  • PSYCH 315/CAAS 327. Psychological Aspects of the Black Experience.
  • PSYCH 316/CAAS 331. The World of the Black Child.
  • PSYCH 317/AMCULT 306. Community Based Research.
  • PSYCH 319/AMCULT 319. Empowering Families and Communities.
  • PSYCH 411/WOMENSTD 411. Gender and Group Process in a Multicultural Context.
  • SOC 105. First Year Seminar in Sociology. Class, Race, Gender, and Modernity.
  • SOC 202. Contemporary Social Issues: Social Inequality.
  • SOC 204/LHSP 189. Intergroup Relations and Conflict.
  • SOC 205. Poverty, Race, and Health.
  • SOC 303/CAAS 303. Race and Ethnic Relations.
  • SOC 323/CAAS 321. African American Social Thought.
  • SOC 404/AMCULT 404. Hispanic-Americans: Social Problems and Social Issues.
  • SOC 410. The American Jewish Community.
  • SOC 412. Ethnic Identity and Intergroup Relations.
  • SOC 434/CAAS 434. Social Organization of Black Communities.
  • SOC 435. Urban Inequity and Conflict.
  • SOC 447/WOMENSTD 447. Sociology of Gender.
  • SOC 490/REES 490/WOMENSTD 492. Women and Islam: A Sociological Perspective.
  • SOC 424. Social Stratification.
  • SOC 521/CAAS 521. African American Intellectual Thought.
  • RCSSCI 381. Unteaching Racism.
  • ECON 325/POLSCI 439. Inequality in the United States .
  • WOMENSTD 250. Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies.
  • OBHRM (Business) 326. Workforce Diversity.