Curriculum

During this six-week online certificate led by Jarvis Sam, Professor of the Practice at Brown’s School of Professional Studies, you and your peers will learn best practices in DEI that will help you create a more inclusive culture within your team and organization. You will examine diversity initiatives as it relates to race, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious beliefs, nationality and disability status.

You will be immersed in a highly-interactive learning environment featuring cutting-edge case studies, lectures, discussions and peer-to-peer collaboration. 

Week 1: Understanding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

  • Introduction to key concepts and definitions related to DEI, such as identity, privilege, and intersectionality
  • Exploration of the benefits of diversity and inclusion for individuals and organizations, such as increased creativity, innovation, and productivity
  • Analysis of the challenges and barriers to achieving DEI in the workplace, such as unconscious bias, microaggressions, and discrimination

Week 2: Cultural Competency and Inclusive Communication

  • Examination of cultural differences and their impact on communication and collaboration, such as high-context vs. low-context communication styles
  • Development of strategies for effective cross-cultural communication, such as active listening and asking open-ended questions
  • Exploration of ways to promote a culture of inclusion and respect in the workplace, such as creating safe spaces for dialogue and feedback

Week 3: Addressing Implicit Bias

  • Identification of implicit biases and their impact on decision-making and interactions, such as affinity bias and confirmation bias
  • Development of skills to recognize and mitigate unconscious bias, such as using data to make objective decisions
  • Exploration of ways to promote inclusive practices and decision-making, such as diversifying hiring panels and conducting anonymous reviews

Week 4: Managing Diversity and Conflict

  • Analysis of conflict and its impact on diversity and inclusion in the workplace, such as power struggles and misunderstandings
  • Development of conflict resolution skills and strategies for effective communication and negotiation, such as active listening and mediation
  • Examination of ways to promote a culture of collaboration and mutual respect, such as team-building activities and cross-functional projects

Week 5: Promoting Structural Equity

  • Examination of the impact of systemic and structural inequalities on diversity and inclusion, such as the gender pay gap and the lack of representation in leadership
  • Development of strategies for addressing systemic and structural inequalities in the workplace, such as implementing diversity and inclusion metrics and conducting pay equity analyses
  • Exploration of ways to promote equitable opportunities and practices for all employees, such as providing flexible work arrangements and offering training and development programs

Week 6: Leading for Diversity and Inclusion

  • Examination of the role of leadership in promoting diversity and inclusion, such as modeling inclusive behaviors and setting DEI goals
  • Development of leadership skills and strategies to promote DEI, such as creating a DEI task force and conducting regular check-ins with employees
  • Exploration of ways to foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement, such as offering ongoing DEI training and engaging in feedback loops with employees