VVR 603 Vulnerability and Violence: Theory and Practice

This course is designed to provide students with advanced learning opportunities intended to increase students’ knowledge of how to apply different theories and intervention strategies to the assessment and response to experiencing homicide, state sanctioned and structural violence for diverse marginalized global communities. Using ecological, social justice, trauma and coping theories, this course will prepare students to: identify and critically examine the root causes and psychosocial consequences of experiencing chronic homicide, state sanctioned and structural violence; understand their intersectional and traumatic impact on communities; and explore culturally responsive intervention methods for helping communities cope and thrive after experiencing such tragedy. In addition, the impact of working with communities exposed to violent traumatic events for the researcher/ provider will be explored with recommendations for self-care. 

The applied portion of the course uses specific case studies to demonstrate the student’s ability to apply theory to practice through the development and application of culturally responsive intervention approaches to program development and practice.