UWM course: Education & Integration of Refugees in Urban America

Published on by Kate Wodyn

uwm-imageBelow is a description of a UW-Milwaukee course titled Education and Integration of Refugees.  For more information, please contact the instructor directly.

Title: Education and Integration of Refugees in Urban America: EDPOL 579

Course: EDPOL 579                  Instructor: Kalyani Rai, Ph.D.

Credit: 3 G/U                              Office: Enderis Hall # 519                  Office Hours: By Appointment    

Spring Semester 2017              Email: kalyanir@uwm.edu                  Phone: 414-229-2587(office)

HYBRID Class: Two (3hrs. each) Face-to Face Saturday meetings; Enderis Hall

Weekly online discussions

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Educators and social service practitioners find themselves increasingly called upon to work with refugees and immigrants from around the world. This course will provide an inter-disciplinary approach to understanding the issues related to refugees and how these issues might influence theories and practices of education, including PK-12 and postsecondary education. It will also examine community education and engagement as a mechanism for facilitation of social and economic integration of refugees. In this course, we will gain an understanding of the refugee and immigrant experience and of the continuum of the acculturation and integration process. We will learn about the potential problems facing these individuals and families as they seek to rebuild their lives. We will learn to recognize and utilize their strengths, cultural resources and natural support systems. We will increase our cultural competence by learning skills for culturally responsive relationship building. Students will leave the course with a better understanding of issues related to refugees and the strategies for increasing effectiveness and cultural competencies in working with refugee population locally and globally.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, the students will demonstrate the following knowledge and skills:

  • Ability to identify and critically analyze current immigration policies, regulation and legislative initiatives in the global context.
  • Understanding of the current U.S. immigration policies and how it impacts the social and economic issues affecting refugees
  • Understanding of acculturation and integration theory.
  • Ability to integrate a multicultural perspective in community education and engagement to address issues affecting refugees and immigrants.
  • Understanding of key issues of family dynamics, mental health and education related to refugees.
  • Understanding an overview of practice with selected refugee populations in Milwaukee, Wisconsin..
  • Familiarize with the current research on educational practice with refugees and immigrants.
  • Ability to assess and professional credibility and competencies in refugee and immigrant work.

KEY COURSE CONCEPTS

Overview of the historical, geographical, political and globalization context of the refugee resettlement. Migration within global context: History of refugees in the U.S.; Refugee policies of receiving country/countries, regulations and legislative initiative; including the immigration and welfare reform; country of origin for refugees; Forced migration and displacement; Status of Refugees; International human rights standards and UN regional system for refugees.

Contemporary issues of education and integration of refugee population. Immigrants and refugees in American: Demographic overview of current refugees in the U.S; Country of origin; diversity of ethnicity/languages: socio-economic status; refugee family structures:  Refugee resettlement agencies; Social service and mental health services; and Wisconsin Office of Refugee Resettlement.

Theories of Refugee Resettlement: Process of resettlement and integration of refugees into the mainstream society; issues of language acquisition and cultural identity; Economic and social self-sufficiency goals: mental health and issues related to victims of war and torture; exploration of differences based on national origin, time of settlement, levels of acculturation, and integration and legal status in the U.S.

Cultural Competence: culturally competent practices with refugees, similarities between refugees and immigrants. Education and community building in newcomer communities: Refugees as English Language Learners; Patterns of resettlement; Role of providers of resettlement services; Host countries’ attitude towards refugees and immigrants; Refugees perceptions of services; Service delivery systems for refugees; Effective case management with refugees;  Educational Experiences of Refugee children; Contemporary challenges facing schools in educating refugees and immigrants. Practical community owned solutions for refugees.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK

Eaton, Susan. 2016. Integration Nation: Immigrants, Refugees, and America at its Best.  The New Press: New York & London.

Class Grading Criteria: Class participation; 2. Two Written Assignments; and Class Presentation.  Dates, time, and Rm # for the face-to-face meetings TBD.