Diversity Studies, Certificate

Indiana Tech’s Certificate in Diversity Studies begins with the foundational course PSY 2000: Understanding Diversity, providing a theoretical basis within the field of Psychology. Then, in a selection of four additional classes, students will explore their own individual-level identities as well as their own lived or witnessed experiences with inclusion, exclusion, belonging, bias, harassment, ally support, bystander actions/inactions, etc. Students may also choose courses that provide the history and experiences of groups with differing identities and social positions. Finally, students will take a capstone course embedded within our Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and designed to synthesize theory and practice into a final project. With this series of courses, students will practice applying developmental theories to themselves and teams in order to facilitate diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in personal and professional spaces.

Given its range of courses, Indiana Tech’s Certificate in Diversity Studies can focus on identifying and building theoretical models of equity, diversity, and inclusion for dynamic implementation in existing organizations. Some of these models include recognizing unconscious biases, promoting behavioral change, redefining leadership, valuing and promoting multiple dimensions of diversity, and reinforcing patterns of (dis)engagement. 

By completing this certificate, students will be able to: 

1. Explain how psychology provides a theoretical basis for understanding diversity. 

2. Describe experiences of inclusion, exclusion, belonging, bias, harassment, ally support, and bystander actions/inactions. 

3. Describe histories of exclusion within the United States. 

4. Synthesize diversity theory and with experiential learning. 

5. Facilitate strategies for diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in personal and professional spaces