Belonging and the brain: Understanding self and others in academic, work, and social environments

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

What happens in our brains when we experience inclusion and exclusion? What does it mean to have a sense of belonging and why does it matter? What attitudes, skills, and knowledge do we need to develop to cultivate more inclusive workplaces, classrooms, and societies? This course explores how our brains process information and develop, which in turn impacts our attitudes and behaviors in various intercultural situations. We will explore experiences of belonging, inclusion, and exclusion using frameworks and concepts from neuroscience, intercultural communication, and educational and social psychology to examine these and other related questions. This course is designed to facilitate students’ reflection and development of skills and knowledge to effectively and appropriately interact with individuals from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. We will engage in various immersive learning activities that challenge our ways of thinking, seeing, hearing, doing, feeling, and even tasting. These activities are designed to help us better understand ourselves and others and to develop our capacity to facilitate belonging in the workplace and post-secondary classrooms.