PSYC 142Psychology of Oppression and Liberation
Provides theoretical frameworks for understanding interlocking systems of oppression from the perspective of "the oppressed" as well as "the oppressor" nationally and internationally. Goes beyond mainstream (traditional) psychology and emphasizes critical psychological perspectives that include micro- and macro-level theories of oppression; importance of ideology in oppressive systems; and theories of social change and liberation across contexts.
Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 or feminist studies, sociology, community studies, or politics majors
- All students: If you completed the prerequisites but get an error message, email your proof of prerequisite material to the department at psyadv@ucsc.edu for approval to enroll.
- From the Instructor: This course is not your typical psychology course. This course draws on a value-oriented branch of psychology: Liberation Psychology. We draw on liberation psychology to understand how systems of oppression, like settler colonialism, white supremacy, heteropatriarchy, and capitalism take new shapes throughout history, along with how communities resist and heal from their effects.
Find a section and add it to your scheduleLive seat counts, time-conflict checks and the walk from your previous class.
When it runs
Summer 2026Open Summer 2026
| Section | Type | When | Where | Instructor | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Lecture | Mon Wed 1:00pm–4:30pm | Online | A. E. MacDonald | Open 34/36 |
Fall 2025Open Fall 2025
| Section | Type | When | Where | Instructor | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Lecture | Tue Thu 8:00am–9:35am | Steven Acad 150 | R. D. Majzler | Closed 99/0 |
Who teaches it
| Instructor | Rating | Difficulty | Would take again | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Majzler | 4.7 / 5 | 1.9 / 5 | 95% | 39 |
From RateMyProfessors, which is student-submitted and not a survey. Small review counts move a long way on one bad quarter.
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