The focus of the graduate certificate in Studies in Equity and Social Diversity in the U.S. is to (1) increase understanding of the meaning of social diversity and equity (DE) in the United States and (2) consider the application of this knowledge to real world situations such as workplace bias and fairness, teaching environments, youth sports and recreation activities, work with and for community nonprofit agencies, and more. Through interdisciplinary coursework, the main objective is to offer graduate students and working professionals the necessary tools to supplement their degrees and professional positions with a stronger understanding and historical background of core domains relevant to social differences and their meanings. These domains include but are not limited to intersectional identities of race, ethnicity, gender identities, gender expressions, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, age, disabilities, religion, regional background, veteran status, citizenship status and nationality. Select courses will be offered with multiple partners across the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and School of Education.
Admission to Graduate Studies
An applicant seeking to pursue graduate study in the College may be admitted as either a degree-seeking or non-degree seeking student. Policies and procedures of Graduate Studies govern the process of Graduate admission. These may be found in the Graduate Studies section of the online catalog.
Please consult the Departments & Programs section of the online catalog for information regarding program-specific admissions criteria and requirements. Special admissions requirements pertain to Interdisciplinary Studies degrees, which may be found in the Graduate Studies section of the online catalog.
Graduate Admission
Any applicant seeking to pursue a graduate certificate in Studies in Equity and Social Diversity in the U.S. must submit the application for graduate study. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
New Applicants
Applicants who are not already enrolled in a KU graduate program must have completed a bachelor’s degree. Applicants should include the following materials in their application to the certificate program.
- A statement of purpose outlining their interest in the Studies in Equity and Social Diversity in the U.S. graduate certificate
- Copy of official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
Non-native speakers of English must meet English proficiency requirements.
Current KU Graduate Students
Applicants already in a KU graduate program must be in good standing with their home department to be eligible for admission the certificate program. Current KU graduate students should include the following materials in their online application:
- A statement of purpose outlining their interest in the Studies in Equity and Social Diversity in the U.S. graduate certificate
- A letter of support from their faculty advisor or the Director of Graduate Studies in their home academic unit
Contact
Visit the Institute for Leadership Studies website for more detailed information about the application process.
Graduate certificate coursework focuses on the experiences of U.S. racial/ethnic minorities (e.g. African American/Black, Native American/Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, Latinx) and on U.S. marginalized populations (e.g. gender, gender expression, sexuality, disabilities). Students must take a total of 12 graduate credit hours of coursework. Courses for this certificate are categorized into three areas of focus.
Area of Focus 1: US Race and Ethnicity
Area of Focus 2: Women, Gender and Sexuality
Area of Focus 3: US Social Differences
Students must develop a plan of study in consultation with and approved by a faculty advisor. This plan of study must include at least 6 credit hours of coursework in one of the three areas of focus. At least one course (3 credit hours) must be taken in an area other than the selected focus area. At least 50% of coursework counted towards the certificate must be 700 level or above.
Elective options:
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| The Civil Rights Movement | |
| History of the Black Power Movement | |
| The Civil Rights Movement | |
| The Black Power Movement | |
| Research Seminar in: _____ | |
| Jazz and American Culture | |
| Directed Readings | |
| Multicultural Education | |
| Foundations of Multicultural Education | |
| Theories of Race and Performance | |
| Women and Violence | |
| Gender and Politics | |
| Gender, Sexuality and the Law | |
| Gender, Culture, and Migration | |
| Love, Sex, and Globalization | |
| Feminist Contemporary Political Theory | |
| Seminar in: _____ | |
| History of Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies | |
| Feminist Theory | |
| Feminist Methodologies | |
| The Civil Rights Movement | |
| The Black Power Movement | |
| History of American Women--Colonial Times to 1870 | |
| History of American Women--1870 to Present | |
| Jazz and American Culture | |
| Directed Readings | |
| Studies in: _____ | |
| Theorizing America | |
| Multicultural Education | |
| Foundations of Multicultural Education | |
