Diversity Literacy Certificate

Program Description
The Certificate in Diversity Literacy will provide a unique opportunity for students who have already earned bachelor’s degrees to enhance their knowledge and skills of the theory and practice of inclusion and equity, including what diversity means, what its personal and social effects are, and how it shapes lives, workplaces, and pedagogy.  This knowledge base and skill set will allow, for example, educators to become more inclusive in their pedagogy, employees to work more effectively in multicultural teams, and managers to become better supervisors by better understanding their cultural assumptions and those of their employees.

What is Diversity Literacy?
Individuals who are diversity literate value difference, recognize the effects of difference on individuals’ lives, and understand how to intervene to reduce the impact of structural barriers that stand in the way of inclusion and social equity.  Those who have achieved competency in diversity literacy are able to “read” the social landscape in terms of social difference and to recognize the impacts of those differences on intersubjective and group interactions.  Students who complete this certificate will possess a critical understanding of diversity and know how to put that understanding into practice.  The deeper understanding and enhanced skills acquired through this certificate will allow students to achieve a greater degree of excellence and success in their field of work or study.

Program Requirements
The curriculum will consist of 15 total hours, structured as follows:

  • PHIL 690 (Philosophical Foundations of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion)
  • 3 diversity-focused electives
  • PHIL 691 (Capstone in Diversity Literacy)

The capstone and many electives are available as Distance Education courses, so the program allows for significant flexibility, so it is not difficult for students to do 12 of the required hours online. However, the core Foundations course meets in-person, typically one evening a week in the fall semester.

Who Should Apply?
All who have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and who want to enhance their knowledge and skills in understanding how diversity impacts individuals, affects lives, and shapes workplaces.  Education in diversity literacy, for example, will prepare educators to become more inclusive in their pedagogy, employees to work more effectively in multicultural teams, and managers to become better supervisors by better understanding how diversity impacts the work environment.

The following materials will be necessary to apply:

  1. Official transcripts of prior undergraduate and graduate work;
  2. Two letters of recommendation;
  3. A 2-3 page essay describing the applicant’s interest in the program and how it will benefit their course of study and/or career path.

Students are admitted to the program on a rolling basis. Deadlines depend on the session in which you plan to enroll:

  • Application Deadline for Fall admission: July 1
  • Application Deadline for Spring admission: November 15
  • Application Deadline for Summer admission: April 1.

Further details about the program and how to apply are available here.

Questions?  Contact or 502-852-0448