Fundamentals of Diversity (Coursera)

Offered by IE Business School,
Fundamentals of Diversity (Coursera)

In this course, we will arrive at the first port of our Diversity Inclusion and Belonging Journey, the Fundamentals of Diversity. The course will provide you with the basic tools to be able to navigate diversity. The course will bring you an understanding of the fundamental categories of diversity, and will particularly focus on demographic diversity including gender, ethnicity, race, disability, aging or physical appearance. it will also help you to identify the challenges posed by diversity, and finally you will gain a working knowledge of how to manage diversity in organizations and teams.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

This course is designed for all: students and young professionals, as well as older and senior professionals looking for a better understanding of what diversity is and the role it plays in the organization.
Course 1 of 4 in the The Journey to Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Specialization.

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Introduction to Diversity: Who's With Me On This Journey?
In this module, we'll examine different types of diversity and why they are essential to any organization. We'll also explore the roles that gender, culture, and disability play within diversity and how to manage these aspects of identity within organizations. Moreover, we'll analyze some vulnerabilities within certain categories of diversity.

WEEK 2
Understanding Gender
After exploring the three main types of diversity and how they affect organizations, we will now discuss the concept of gender in depth. We will analyze key terms such as gender expression and sexual orientation and identify the main challenges LGBTI+ communities face in today's world.

WEEK 3
Intercultural Communication
In module 3, we'll explore how culture can impact our companies and the world around us. We will also discuss the origins of intercultural communication as well as the description of race, ethnicity, and racism.

WEEK 4
Age and Disability as Part of the Fundamentals of Diversity
In the last module of the course, we will discuss age in the context of diversity. We'll also focus on an exploration of how people with physical, intellectual, or sensory disabilities can have equal participation in society.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Intercultural Communication and Conflict Resolution (Coursera) Coursera
University of California, Irvine

Intercultural Communication and Conflict Resolution (Coursera)

Intercultural Communication and Conflict Resolution is a growing area of importance considering the pace and volume of global transactions. The ease of global communication using technology, the abundance of cheaper transportation costs, and the frequency of businesses using cross-border talent is fostering millions of interactions a day between people of different cultures. Examine how the process of communication can be further complicated during interactions between people of different cultures. The topics of stereotypes, generalizations, communication styles, communication strategies, and communication orientations will be explored.

Jun 22nd 2026
3 Weeks
Gender Analytics for Innovation (Coursera) Coursera
University of Toronto

Gender Analytics for Innovation (Coursera)

Gender Analytics is a way to analyze your products, services, processes and policies with a gender lens to uncover hidden opportunities for innovation and effectiveness. We'll answer questions such as: Why are women 47% more likely than men to be injured when they get in a car accident? Why do financial products fail to meet women’s needs across their life cycles? Why will automation and AI be more likely to impact women than men? Why are gender-neutral policies are not necessarily gender-equal? This is the introductory course in the 5-course Gender Analytics Specialization offered by the Institute for Gender and the Economy (GATE) at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management.

Jun 15th 2026
4 Weeks
Our World and How to Accept It (Coursera) Coursera
University of Colorado Boulder

Our World and How to Accept It (Coursera)

Thriving organizations strive for equity at all levels. Dynamic global DEI initiatives strengthen connectivity within individual teams and foster cross-cultural collaboration and mutual understanding while encouraging the inclusion of employees from all regions. Broader global relations aside, there also exist country-specific ethnic dynamics that make DEI a critical conversation. Global dynamics present a possible risk (and opportunity) for organizations. In this course, we will focus on how successful DEI initiatives advance business goals, the historical context for DEI work, and definitions of several key terms and concepts.

Jun 22nd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Storying the Self: Telling our Stories (Coursera) Coursera
University of Colorado Boulder

Storying the Self: Telling our Stories (Coursera)

Ask for and give constructive feedback on your work, and consider venues for sharing your stories as both a leader and creator. In leadership contexts, this translates to authentic purpose, vision, and values. You’ll engage with a creative assignment with the intention of creating and polishing a story from your life that can be shared, reflecting on how stories evolve over time, through different media, and through retellings for and with different audiences.

Jun 22nd 2026
4 Weeks
Queering the Schoolhouse: LGBTQ+ Inclusion for Educators (Coursera) Coursera
University of Colorado System

Queering the Schoolhouse: LGBTQ+ Inclusion for Educators (Coursera)

In this course, you will learn about the history of LGBTQ+ issues in education and develop strategies for building more inclusive learning environments for students, teachers, and community members. This course will provide you with insights and equip you with strategies for exploring inclusion for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning learners in your specific professional context.

Jun 15th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Storying the Self: How Stories Shape our Identities (Coursera) Coursera
University of Colorado Boulder

Storying the Self: How Stories Shape our Identities (Coursera)

Explore how artists have come to understand their identities over time, through creative media and scholarly discussions. You will connect with your own sources of creative inspiration, and revisit a major moment in your life that has shaped who you are and how you understand yourself, with the invitation to engage with this story through literary analysis and creative expression. Discover how these themes and theories help leaders understand their own and others’ identities across the full range of human diversity, as they show up in workplaces and relationships.

Jun 22nd 2026
4 Weeks
Liderança Criativa e Inclusiva (Coursera) Coursera
FIA Business School

Liderança Criativa e Inclusiva (Coursera)

Nossas boas-vindas ao Curso Liderança Criativa e Inclusiva. Neste curso, você aprenderá sobre conteúdos de liderança, bem como do pensamento criativo e inclusivo. Serão apresentados os conceitos básicos de liderança e as bases teóricas do processo criativo baseado na neurociência, ferramentas de desbloqueio criativo e como é possível trabalhar seus hábitos mentais.

Jun 22nd 2026
4 Weeks
Sports and Society (Coursera) Coursera
Duke University

Sports and Society (Coursera)

Sports play a giant role in contemporary society worldwide. But few of us pause to think about the larger questions of money, politics, race, sex, culture, and commercialization that surround sports everywhere. This course draws on the tools of anthropology, sociology, history, and other disciplines to give you new perspectives on the games we watch and play.

Jun 15th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Assessing Cultural Climate (Coursera) Coursera
Rice University

Assessing Cultural Climate (Coursera)

Assessment is an integral part of any strategic effort. This course provides a familiarization of assessment practices and provides learners with various traditional and nontraditional methods of measurement to assist in making informed improvements to their DE&I initiatives. You will also expand your knowledge in creating bias-free and inclusive evaluation tools with special emphasis placed on assessing organizational climate and culture.

Jun 22nd 2026
5-12 Weeks