University Introduces DEI Certificates for Undergraduate and Graduate Students

Rockhurst University will begin enrolling students in certificate programs for diversity, equity and inclusion at both the graduate and undergraduate level in fall 2023, offering students a curriculum that will prepare them to lead confidently and compassionately in a multicultural world.

Growing from Rockhurst’s Jesuit mission and its call to stand with and aid the marginalized, both certificate programs are designed to give students the opportunity to explore DEI concepts and social justice through coursework and by applying their knowledge in hands-on projects.

The certificates are also designed to be flexible and fit most students’ current program of study. The 12-credit-hour graduate certificate can be completed online within a year and includes a service or research-based capstone project. The undergraduate certificate program consists of 15 credit hours of coursework that also includes a three-hour capstone. Up to six hours of the undergraduate coursework can may be used to fulfill requirements in a student’s major.

With a long list of possible courses available to fulfill those requirements, students can choose their own path based on their interests or their potential career. The graduate DEI certificate can also be earned as part of the University’s new Stackable MBA program or as a complementary credential to a M.Ed., M.A. in Organizational Leadership, and Ed.D. degree.

“This certificate enhances the value of virtually any degree program at the University,” said Nilufer Guler, Ph.D., associate professor of education and director of the Ed.D. program. “The skills that students acquire as part of this DEI coursework, in particular a deeper sense of appreciation for others’ experiences and the ability to holistically address the challenges facing the world today, are invaluable.”

More info about undergraduate certificate, including how to apply, is available here. Information on the graduate certification is here.