DIFFERENCE, POWER, AND OPPRESSION PROGRAM
The Difference, Power, and Oppression (DPO) Program works with faculty across all fields and disciplines at Oregon State University to develop inclusive curricula that addresses institutionalized systems of power, privilege, and inequity in the United States. DPO courses provide in-depth examination of how systems of power manifest and operate in the context of the United States, while providing active learning opportunities for students to engage with each other and course content. In doing so, these courses provide students a space to develop vital critical thinking, problem-solving, social, and cross-cultural skills, helping to prepare students to meet the needs of the 21st century.
Faculty Development
DPO’s signature faculty development program is the DPO Academy. This in-depth educational program helps to prepare faculty to design and teach DPO courses as part of Oregon State’s Core Education curriculum. The DPO Academy is offered at two levels – Foundational and Advanced – and is designed to facilitate focused and productive engagement with contemporary, multidisciplinary scholarship on difference, power, and oppression, critical pedagogies, and curriculum transformation. Explore our website to learn more about our Academy and teaching resources.
Curriculum Development and Core Education
The DPO requirement is a signature component of Core Education at Oregon State University. Core Education is OSU’s state-of-art, 21st century-focused general education program. DPO courses are offered at the foundational and advanced level. Learn more about the process of proposing a DPO course.