I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Racial and Ethnic Awareness for Minnesota Peace Officers

2. Course Prefix & Number:
CRJU 2126

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 4

Lecture Hours: 4

Lab Hours: 0

4. Course Description:

The purpose of the course is to provide students with the knowledge and skills that will allow them to be more culturally competent and better able to provide criminal justice services in a multicultural society. The course will explore the changing dynamics of the U.S. population with a special emphasis on major ethnic and minority groups in the United States. Topics that include race, ethnicity, culture, stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, racism and intergroup relations will also be addressed.

5. Placement Tests Required:

Accuplacer (specify test):

No placement tests required

Score:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:

Minnesota State University, Mankato, LAWE 310 Policing in a Diverse Society, 3 credits
Metropolitan State University, CJS 360 Diversity in Criminal Justice, 4 credits

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course is required for the following program(s):

Criminal Justice A.A.S. Degree
Natural Resources Law Enforcement  A.A.S. Degree

 

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Demonstrate oral communication skills	Students will present an oral presentation for the class on the topic of race and ethnicity at the end of the semester.
Demonstrate interpersonal communication skills	Students will be given scenarios to discuss in small groups that contain instances of systemic racism, racial profiling, or discrimination. They will then be required to analyze the scenario, and come up with possible solutions that will prevent future occurrence.
Apply ethical principles in decision-making	Students will be able to discuss the concept of White Privilege.
Discuss/compare characteristics of diverse cultures and environments

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• Explain the social construction of race;
• Define how resistance and change occur in racial and ethnic relations;
• Recognize the importance of the proper use of words in the development of good rapport and cooperation in diverse communities; 
• Create and present a PowerPoint presentation on an ethnic or racial group and present it to the class;
• Demonstrate what part the "Law Enforcement Code of Ethics" plays in ensuring that the rights of all citizens are protected regardless of race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation;
• Explain how contemporary federal policies affect Native Americans;
• Identify present concerns about the criminal justice system with respect to African Americans;
• Describe the social circumstances of contemporary Mexican Americans;
• Identify how prejudice and discrimination against Chinese and Japanese Americans persist;
• Describe the concept of stereotyping;
• Define racial profiling; and
• Understand how the use of words can de-escalate or escalate a volatile situation.

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. Perspectives on Racial and Ethnic Groups
• An exploration of race and ethnicity
• Prejudice
• Discrimination 
2. Ethnic and Religious Sources of Conflict
• Immigration 
3. Ethnicity and Religion
• German American
• Irish Americans
• Italian Americans
• Polish Americans
• Religious Puralism
4. Major Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups in the United States
• Native Americans: The First Americans
• African Americans
• Latinos: Growth and Diversity
• Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans
• Muslim and Arab Americans
• Asian Pacific Americans
• Chinese Americans and Japanese Americans
• Jewish Americans 
5. Other Patterns of Dominance
• Women: The Oppressed Majority
• Overcoming Exclusion
6. Law Enforcement Diversity Issues
• Stereotyping and Profiling
• Gender and Sexual Preference
• Encountering Other Cultures
• Why Did You Choose This Profession?
• The Use of Words