We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Daniel Francis Sullivan

This course provides an introductory overview of investigative, administrative, and judicial processes involved in the private enforcement of civil rights laws in the United States. Lectures further introduce participants to the network of nonprofit organizations, law firms, administrative agencies, federal agencies, and courts that work together to advance civil rights through enforcement. This course is designed to provide information to participants interested, personally or professionally, in the protection of their own and others' civil rights. Participants will develop civil rights resource guides unique to their jurisdictions: guides to local, state, and federal civil rights protections and enforcement mechanisms. The primary objective of this course is for participants to complete it with a basic but firm grasp of how civil rights enforcement works, coupled with the desire to become involved in local and nationwide civil rights enforcement efforts.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • An introduction to techniques and procedures for private civil rights investigations and enforcement.
  • An overview of civil rights laws that may be privately enforced by individuals and organizations.
  • Information about the network of attorneys, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies that assist with the investigation related to and enforcement of civil rights laws.
  • The basic elements of civil rights testing, or "secret shopping for civil rights," a controlled, covert type of investigation.
  • Basic guidelines for conducting private civil rights investigations and engaging in subsequent enforcement activity if unlawful discrimination is uncovered.
  • Show more
  • Show less

Syllabus

This lecture discusses a covert method for conducting a civil rights investigation, known as "testing."

Introduction

This lecture introduces students to the curriculum and lecture sequence for this class in Civil Rights Enforcement. Please note that each lecture is accompanied by downloadable materials for reference.

Read more

This lecture focuses on providing an overview of civil rights laws in the United States.

This lecture provides an overview of the basic elements of a professionally executed civil rights investigation.

This concluding lecture covers civil rights enforcement processes and networks of resources available to potential victims of discrimination.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Provides an overview of civil rights laws, which is helpful for those seeking to understand their rights and protections under the law
Explores investigative techniques and enforcement procedures, which are essential for effective civil rights advocacy and legal action
Examines the network of organizations and agencies involved in civil rights enforcement, which is valuable for research and understanding the civil rights landscape
Teaches civil rights testing, which is a specialized investigative technique used to uncover discriminatory practices in various settings
Focuses on private enforcement of civil rights laws, which may require learners to seek legal counsel or representation on their own

Save this course

Save Civil Rights Enforcement to your list so you can find it easily later:
Save

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Civil Rights Enforcement with these activities:
Review Landmark Civil Rights Cases
Familiarize yourself with key legal precedents that shaped civil rights law. Understanding these cases provides a strong foundation for understanding current enforcement efforts.
Show steps
  • Identify five landmark civil rights cases.
  • Summarize the facts, legal issues, and holding of each case.
  • Explain the impact of each case on civil rights enforcement.
Read 'Just Mercy' by Bryan Stevenson
Explore the challenges of achieving justice for marginalized communities through the lens of a legal professional. This book provides critical context for understanding modern civil rights challenges.
Show steps
  • Read the book 'Just Mercy'.
  • Identify the key themes and arguments presented by the author.
  • Reflect on how these themes relate to civil rights enforcement.
Read 'The New Jim Crow' by Michelle Alexander
Gain a deeper understanding of systemic racism and its impact on civil rights. This book provides critical context for understanding modern civil rights challenges.
Show steps
  • Read the book 'The New Jim Crow'.
  • Identify the key arguments presented by the author.
  • Reflect on how these arguments relate to civil rights enforcement.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Write a Blog Post on a Civil Rights Issue
Deepen your understanding of a specific civil rights issue by researching and writing about it. Creating content helps solidify learning.
Show steps
  • Choose a civil rights issue that interests you.
  • Research the issue and gather relevant information.
  • Write a blog post that explains the issue and its impact.
  • Share the blog post on social media or other platforms.
Volunteer at a Civil Rights Organization
Gain practical experience in civil rights enforcement by working directly with an organization. Volunteering provides valuable hands-on experience and allows you to put your knowledge to use.
Show steps
  • Identify a local civil rights organization.
  • Contact the organization and inquire about volunteer opportunities.
  • Participate in volunteer activities, such as assisting with investigations or outreach.
Create a Civil Rights Resource Guide
Develop a practical resource for individuals seeking to understand and enforce their civil rights. This project directly aligns with the course objective of creating resource guides.
Show steps
  • Research local, state, and federal civil rights laws.
  • Identify relevant agencies and organizations that provide assistance.
  • Compile the information into a user-friendly guide.
  • Share the guide with community members or organizations.
Prepare a Presentation on Civil Rights Enforcement
Synthesize your knowledge of civil rights enforcement by creating and delivering a presentation. This activity reinforces understanding and communication skills.
Show steps
  • Choose a specific topic within civil rights enforcement.
  • Research the topic and gather relevant information.
  • Create a presentation with clear and concise slides.
  • Practice delivering the presentation to an audience.

Career center

Learners who complete Civil Rights Enforcement will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Civil Rights Investigator
A civil rights investigator conducts inquiries into potential violations of civil rights laws, often working for nonprofit organizations or government agencies. This course directly supports this career path, as it introduces investigative techniques, the landscape of civil rights laws, and the network of organizations involved in enforcement. This course is particularly relevant because it provides training in 'testing,' a covert method of investigation. The course also helps provide an understanding of the legal framework and resources available for civil rights enforcement, foundational knowledge for any investigator in this field.
Legal Advocate
A legal advocate supports individuals or groups navigating the legal system, particularly in civil rights matters. The course provides an overview of civil rights laws, enforcement mechanisms, and networks of support. This overview can prove crucial for a legal advocate seeking to guide clients through complex legal processes. Specific to the course, the creation of resource guides will give a legal advocate practical tools to work with. This course helps build a foundation for a successful career in advocacy.
Equal Opportunity Specialist
An equal opportunity specialist works to ensure fair treatment and equal access in various settings, including employment and education. This course may be useful for the equal opportunity specialist. The course provides a relevant overview of civil rights laws, investigative procedures, and enforcement processes. This course will prove beneficial for equal opportunity specialists, and it can help provide them specific tools in their work, including the course's resource guide.
Nonprofit Program Manager
A nonprofit program manager oversees projects and initiatives within an organization, often focused on specific social issues such as civil rights. This course may be useful for a program manager, as they often need to be knowledgeable about civil rights laws and enforcement processes. This course especially helps to build an understanding of the civil rights landscape in the United States, including relevant organizations and agencies. This knowledge can help a program manager effectively design and implement programs that advance civil rights.
Compliance Officer
A compliance officer ensures that an organization adheres to all applicable laws and regulations, including those related to civil rights. This course can be helpful for a compliance officer, because they need a working knowledge of civil rights laws and enforcement procedures. The course's overview of civil rights laws in the United States and enforcement mechanisms will help any compliance officer. The development of civil rights resource guides may be useful for the work they do.
Community Organizer
A community organizer works to mobilize and empower communities to advocate for their rights. This course may be useful for a community organizer, who should be familiar with the legal framework and enforcement mechanisms for civil rights. This course can help provide them the necessary understanding of civil rights protections, and the course's focus on enforcement strategies will help in their work. The development of civil rights resource guides can also help in their work.
Paralegal
A paralegal assists lawyers with legal tasks, including research, investigation and document preparation, essential for civil rights litigation. This course may be useful to a paralegal, as it provides an overview of civil rights laws, enforcement mechanisms and investigative techniques. The emphasis on civil rights investigation skills and the development of resource guides may make them more effective in their tasks. This course will help a paralegal be better prepared to assist in civil rights cases.
Public Policy Analyst
A public policy analyst researches and evaluates policies, often with a focus on their social impact. This course may be useful to a public policy analyst, especially one working in the area of civil rights. The course introduces the network of organizations that advance civil rights, and how enforcement works. This course especially helps an aspiring policy analyst with a background in civil rights. This broad understanding can help them analyze the effectiveness of policies designed to protect civil rights.
Human Resources Specialist
A human resources specialist works within an organization to manage employee relations, and ensure compliance with employment laws, including those related to civil rights and anti-discrimination. This course may be useful for a human resources specialist. The course can help build an understanding of civil rights laws and enforcement processes, especially with respect to employment practices. The creation of civil rights resources may also be relevant in the development of company policies.
Social Worker
A social worker helps individuals and communities access necessary resources and support, often including legal protections. This course may be useful for a social worker, as it provides an understanding of civil rights laws and the mechanisms for enforcement. This course can help social workers to advocate for their clients' rights, and be able to guide them towards necessary resources and support. The creation of civil rights resource guides can also be of significant benefit to a social worker.
Investigative Journalist
An investigative journalist conducts in-depth research to uncover stories of public interest, including those related to civil rights violations. This course may be useful for an investigative journalist, as it introduces civil rights laws, investigative methods, and enforcement mechanisms. This course in particular can help an journalist understand how investigations of civil rights matters are conducted, from the theoretical to the practical. The knowledge of civil rights resources may also assist a journalist.
Victim Advocate
A victim advocate provides support and resources to individuals who have experienced harm, which can include civil rights violations. This course may be helpful for a victim advocate, especially one that is interested in working with victims of discrimination. The course may help a victim advocate understand the mechanisms and resources available for enforcement of rights, so they can better guide clients. The course's overview of networks and resources will help a victim advocate connect their clients with necessary support.
Diversity and Inclusion Officer
A diversity and inclusion officer develops and implements strategies to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within an organization. A firm understanding of civil rights laws and the mechanisms for violations is a necessary foundation for this role. While this course may be useful in such a role, the course's direct focus on enforcement may not be relevant to every task. However, the development of a civil rights resource guide could be of value to an officer in this role.
Lobbyist
A lobbyist advocates for specific legislation or policies, often working with civil rights organizations and other advocacy groups. A lobbyist needs a solid understanding of civil rights laws, their enforcement, and the relevant political landscape. This course, while not directly focused on this role, can be helpful. It lays a suitable foundation of knowledge regarding civil rights and the network of professionals dedicated to protecting them. This fundamental knowledge may prove valuable as a lobbyist.
Political Campaign Staffer
A political campaign staffer works to support the election of a candidate. This can include working on issues such as civil rights. This course may be helpful for a campaign staffer, particularly if the candidate or campaign is focused on issues of civil rights. An understanding of such laws and the framework for enforcement may prove useful. The course on enforcement may help campaign staffers be better prepared to advocate for their candidate's policies.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Civil Rights Enforcement.
Explores the racial biases embedded within the criminal justice system. It provides a critical perspective on how mass incarceration disproportionately affects minority communities. Reading this book will provide a deeper understanding of systemic discrimination and its impact on civil rights enforcement. It is valuable as additional reading to provide depth to the existing course.
Recounts the author's experiences as a lawyer defending wrongly convicted individuals. It highlights the flaws in the criminal justice system and the importance of equal justice under law. Reading this book will provide a powerful and personal perspective on civil rights enforcement. It is valuable as additional reading to provide depth to the existing course.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Similar courses

Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser