PSYD 574 Spiritual and Religious Diversity in Professional Psychology: An introduction to the development and teachings of the major religions of the world. Elements shaping multicultural understandings of God, humanity, the world, and the purpose/goal of life will be explored with special attention given to how professional psychologists can be sensitive and effective in dealing with clients who hold various religious views, concerns, and practices. The class is based on the learning model that involves awareness, knowledge, and skills, and fulfills the diversity competency in the curriculum.
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand basic elements of major contemporary non-Christian religious faiths including Indigenous Religions, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism.
- Gain an appreciation for spiritual and religious diversity and understand its relevance to clinical practice
- Better understand how to do psychotherapy effectively with patients from a variety of religious backgrounds.
- Demonstrate empathy, respect, and appreciation for clients from diverse spiritual, religious, or secular backgrounds and affiliations
- Better understand the relationship between religious diversity and other aspects of diversity (gender, race, ethnicity etc.).
- Gain skills and knowledge from interactions with people from various religious backgrounds to better understand the building of relationships and appropriate interventions in clinical work.
- Recognize that these various world religions exist with historical, theological, psychological, anthropological, and sociological dimensions.
Mission and Methodism 