Difference, Power, and Discrimination Course Requirements
FOR PROPOSED BA 461: Organizational Behavior
Criteria and Outcomes for DPD Courses:
1. DPD Courses engage students in the intellectual examination of the structures, systems, and
ideologies that create and sustain discrimination and the unequal distribution of power and
resources in society.
Within the framework of particular disciplines and course content,
students will be able to identify specific cases of unequal distribution of
power and resources and to present a structural understanding of the
sources and ideological bases of discrimination.
2. DPD Courses review the effects of unequal distribution of power and discrimination within the
framework of particular disciplines and course content.
Students will demonstrate an ability to analyze the effects of
discrimination from the perspective of marginalized groups.
3. DPD Courses provide an opportunity to examine the contributions of underrepresented
groups within the framework of particular disciplines.
Students will be able to give examples of the contributions to society of
underrepresented groups within the framework of particular disciplines
(examples include: creative, cultural, literal, economic, historical, and
political contributions).
For DPD Course Approval:
Syllabi must include DPD outcomes (see above), method of assessment, and approximately how
much time is devoted to DPD concepts. Programs who are using multiple courses must submit
their courses as a package so as to determine that the total coverage meets the DPD criteria
and outcomes and is at least the equivalent to what a student would experience in a 5 credit
course.
Once a course is approved as a DPD course, it must be taught as such regardless of who is
teaching it or what modality they are using (onsite, online, or on campus). Programs should
commit to reviewing courses on a regular basis to ensure that the criteria and outcomes are
being met.
Program faculty and/or course instructors should engage in regular communication amongst
themselves in order to ensure that the language and approach to teaching diversity is
consistent across multiple courses so that students can transfer knowledge and achieve some
depth of understanding of DPD issues in the discipline. This dialogue will create overt linkages
to make it easier for students to recognize and grasp the common thread.
Approved Faculty Senate 5.4.10
Discrimination, Power and Diversity (DPD) Course Evaluation Form
Using the evaluation criteria for DPD course consideration, please provide the following
information and justification for meeting each of the DPD outcomes using specific examples
from your syllabus and course.
Does this course primarily address DPD outcomes? X YES
NO
(That is, does the course spend a majority of time addressing these outcomes.)
Describe how this course will engage students in the intellectual examination
of the structures, systems, and ideologies that create and sustain
discrimination and the unequal distribution of power and resources in society.
The course includes the following course outcomes that meet these
requirements.
1. Define organizational behavior and examine the multiple perspectives of a
diverse workforce.
2. Analyze theories of corporate culture, organizational change, ethics, and social
responsibility in today's organizations, incorporating the impact of social,
economic, political, and cultural trends.
3. Define and apply the managerial implications of attitudes, values, power, and
ethics in the workplace.
4. Analyze and apply a variety of employee motivational theories within
multicultural organizations.
5. Examine how managers deploy decision-making actions and how organizations
may identify potential problems and subsequent solutions.
6. Describe team methodology and the nature of conflict within organizations
including the structures, systems, and ideologies that contribute to differing
outcomes.
7. Analyze the use of power and politics within organizations and explain the
relationship of individual and organizational power, identify the causes and
effects of the unequal distribution of power that create conditions for potential
discrimination.
8. Define leadership and shared leadership. Identify the main competencies of
effective leaders.
9. Describe how the integration of strategy, structure, and the individual will lead
an organization to higher levels of effectiveness and efficiency.
Students of organizational behavior examine the impact that individuals, groups, and
structures have on behavior within organizations and, as open systems, on society. This
course engages students in an intellectual examination of difference, power, and
discrimination as it looks at the integrative nature of various functional areas within
organizations. A system of vertical and horizontal units results in struggles over power
and politics. The resulting conflicts and clashes are studied using a variety of lenses
including stakeholder, ethical, community, economic, and individual perspectives. These
Approved Faculty Senate 5.4.10
discords are accentuated by organizational culture as well as individual and societal
cultures. Students wrestle with these competing viewpoints as they attempt to balance
employee and organizational rights.
Describe how this course will review the effects of unequal distribution of power
and discrimination within the framework of particular disciplines and course
content.
The course includes the following course outcomes that meet these
requirements.
1. Define organizational behavior and examine the multiple perspectives of a
diverse workforce.
2. Analyze theories of corporate culture, organizational change, ethics, and social
responsibility in today's organizations, incorporating the impact of social,
economic, political, and cultural trends.
3. Define and apply the managerial implications of attitudes, values, power, and
ethics in the workplace.
4. Analyze and apply a variety of employee motivational theories within
multicultural organizations.
5. Examine how managers deploy decision-making actions and how organizations
may identify potential problems and subsequent solutions.
6. Describe team methodology and the nature of conflict within organizations
including the structures, systems, and ideologies that contribute to differing
outcomes.
7. Analyze the use of power and politics within organizations and explain the
relationship of individual and organizational power, identify the causes and
effects of the unequal distribution of power that create conditions for potential
discrimination.
8. Define leadership and shared leadership. Identify the main competencies of
effective leaders.
9. Describe how the integration of strategy, structure, and the individual will lead
an organization to higher levels of effectiveness and efficiency.
Students in BA 461 tackle issues such as both surface and deep-level diversity, work life
balance, corporate social responsibility, stakeholder rights and influences, migration of
labor, employee versus organizational rights and duties. The effects of these tensions
are found in employee stress, issues of work life balance, cognitive dissonance, conflict,
power struggles, discrimination, and lack of empowerment. These organizational strains
affect individuals' well being but also can lead to negative employee attitudes and
behaviors which are often correlated with decreased employee performance and
productivity. During the length of this course, students will be asked to grapple with
recognition and reconciliation of the needs of the individual, group, organization, and
society.
Approved Faculty Senate 5.4.10
Describe how this course will provide an opportunity to examine the contributions
of underrepresented groups within the framework of particular disciplines.
The course includes the following course outcomes that meet these
requirements.
1. Define organizational behavior and examine the multiple perspectives of a
diverse workforce.
2. Analyze theories of corporate culture, organizational change, ethics, and social
responsibility in today's organizations, incorporating the impact of social,
economic, political, and cultural trends.
3. Define and apply the managerial implications of attitudes, values, power, and
ethics in the workplace.
4. Analyze and apply a variety of employee motivational theories within
multicultural organizations.
5. Examine how managers deploy decision-making actions and how organizations
may identify potential problems and subsequent solutions.
6. Describe team methodology and the nature of conflict within organizations
including the structures, systems, and ideologies that contribute to differing
outcomes.
7. Analyze the use of power and politics within organizations and explain the
relationship of individual and organizational power, identify the causes and
effects of the unequal distribution of power that create conditions for potential
discrimination.
8. Define leadership and shared leadership. Identify the main competencies of
effective leaders.
9. Describe how the integration of strategy, structure, and the individual will lead
an organization to higher levels of effectiveness and efficiency.
In organizational studies, students explore the impact of varied people and groups on
each other, the organization, and society. In BA 461 this takes place through case
studies, guest speakers, personal research, role playing, and facilitated discussion.
These are enriched by students' own experiential stories and encounters.
Approved Faculty Senate 5.4.10