Certificate Diversity Studies Certificate

Jessica Huffman, Coordinator

This interdisciplinary certificate program offers a focus on diversity and addresses relationships between majority and minority groups throughout multiple societies around the globe. Class, social structures, cultural differences and related topics will be explored, along with ways to promote understanding and acceptance among those who differ in race, religion, culture, ethnicity, or other characteristics. Humanities, public administration, psychology and other courses are available to students who obtain the certificate. Graduates will gain a heightened understanding of the diversity among various people from differing countries, cultures, religions, genders and/or ethnicities, thus enhancing their approach to those who differ in various aspects of humanity. This program will serve such completers in multiple work settings, regardless of career selection.

Requirements

Students will be required to take three courses that cover areas of diversity from among the following lists. The required course, SOC 320 Social Inequality, introduces students to differences in stratification and social class both in the U.S. and throughout the world. Other classes may be selected based on student interest in the focus areas. After taking the courses required for the certificate, the student should send the coordinator a portfolio including at least one assignment from each class and their response to the following question: “Based on what you learned in the three courses you took for the diversity certificate, how will you interact with people differently in your chosen career?”

Requirements for the award of the certificate are an overall grade point average of 2.0 or above in all courses specified as a requirement for the certificate and completion of a minimum of six hours in upper-level courses required for the certificate through courses offered by Old Dominion University.

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Required
SOC 320	Social Inequality	3
Restricted Electives
Select two courses from two different areas:		6
AAST 410	Africana Intellectual Thought and Economic Development
AAST 420W	African American Political and Social Thought
COMM 400W	Intercultural Communication
CRJS 450	Blacks, Crime and Justice
CRJS 452	Diversity in Criminal Justice Organizations
ENGL 371W	Language and Culture
GEOG 325	Ethnic Minorities
GEOG 412	Cities of the World
HIST 475	Global Africa
HLSC 405	Interprofessional Study Abroad on Global Health
HMSV 346	Diversity Issues in Human Services
NURS 458	Studies in Professional Nursing
PAS 409	Leadership and Cultural Competence
PHIL 381	Buddhist Traditions
or PHIL 482	Chinese Religion and Philosophy
or REL 352	Islam
POLS 309	Race, Culture and Public Policy
PSYC 420	Cross-Cultural Psychology
SOC 203S	Diversity and Society
SOC 323	Sociology of Minority Families
SOC 343	Sexualities in Society
SOC 426	Minority Group Relations
WCS 312W	Writing Around the World
WCS 323	World Cultures and Contexts
WCS 400	Global Cultural Studies
WGS 302W	Dimensions of Diversity: Intersectionality Among Women
WGS 303	Queer Studies
WGS 390T	Women, Gender, and Technology Worldwide
Total Credit Hours		9