Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2019 - EDUC 837 G001

Seminar in Education, Equity, and Social Theories (5)

Class Number: 1104

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2019: Mon, 4:30–9:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An in-depth study of selected topics in education, equity, and social theories.

COURSE DETAILS:

Prerequisite: Enrolment in the Equity Studies in Education Master's program or permission of instructor.

This course will introduce students to key theories in equity approaches to education. These theories are organized into subfields including: social justice education, critical multiculturalism, critical pedagogy, whiteness studies, critical race feminism, anti-racism education, post/neo-colonialism/White Settler society, Indigenous education, and anti-oppression theories.

Students will read a range of works in order to understand and develop an academically informed common language with which to articulate key concepts that are central to equity studies. These concepts include: socialization, structural oppression, privilege, internalized oppression/ internalized dominance, intersectionality, among others. In bridging the political with the personal, students’ own racial, gender, class, and other identities will also be a point of critical examination.

Note: Examining and understanding course concepts does not require that you “agree with” each text we will study. However, students are expected to move beyond the simple sharing of opinions and demonstrate a capacity to grapple with challenging scholarship. This may require that we not only tackle difficult texts, but also practice critical self-reflection and a willingness to examine one’s own socialization and knowledge.  

The course will be organized into three macro units of study:
Unit 1: Identity
Unit 2: White settler society/ colonialism
Unit 3: Intro to select equity theories (developed with Ss in relation to their interests)

Grading

  • Graded Learning Activities:
  • Participation, in class activities, homework 25%
  • Assignment 1: Personal Identity Map (due Mon, Oct 7) 25%
  • Assignment 2: Paper Proposal (due Mon, Nov 18) 25%
  • Assignment 3: Final Course Paper (due Mon, Dec 09) 25%
  • Other details TBA; please see Canvas page for details

NOTES:

Students in all Faculty of Education courses are responsible for knowing policies pertaining to academic integrity available on the website: http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student.html
What is academic integrity?  Check out http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html

REQUIREMENTS:

Students in graduate studies must maintain a cumulative B grade (B = 85% 3.0)

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

(in the order they’ll be taken up in the course)  
Sensoy, Ö. & DiAngelo, R. (2017). Is everyone really equal? An introduction to key concepts in social justice education, second edition. NY: Teachers College press. 
 
Lowman, E.B. & Barker, A.J. (2015). Settler: Identity and colonialism in 21st century Canada. Halifax: Fernwood Publishing.  

King, T. (2012). The inconvenient Indian: A curious account of Native people in North America. Toronto: Random House.    

Further readings will be required, but available via the SFU Library databases. Please check Canvas. 

RECOMMENDED READING:

TBA; please see course Canvas page for details

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS