Available Online.¹ The Graduate Certificate in Social Justice is intentionally designed in direct consultation with the “best practices” of community-based organizations. It prepares people for faith-based leadership in social advocacy, community and labor organizing, and systemic social change. The program combines theoretical and practical learning in social justice and activism.

The certificate program is specifically designed for:

1. students who have completed an undergraduate degree and wish to deepen their understanding of social justice;
2. students in graduate programs who wish to add an advanced certificate in social justice;
3. professionals whose work in the field would be enhanced by a graduate-level credential.

This Certificate can be applied toward to the requirements of an MA degree at IPS, in whole or in part depending on the requirements of the MA in question.

To learn more about the Graduate Certificate in Social Justice, please fill out our request for information form or attend an information session.

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Please Note: If the coursework is planned strategically and only online classes are chosen, this certificate may be completed entirely online. However, this may result in the certificate taking more time to complete based on available online course rotation.

CURRICULUM

Five courses (15 credit hours) from the Social Justice curriculum (shown here), chosen in consultation with the advisor, make up the certificate. The Social Justice Certificate can be applied to the MA in Social Justice.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
IPS 610	Foundations of Social Justice	3
IPS 551	Social Ethics in the Catholic Tradition	3
IPS 532	Social Context of Ministry	3
IPS 615	Liberation Theology	3
IPS 620	Diversity and Equity	3
IPS 625	Social Ethics: Politics and Global Economics	3
IPS 635	Community Organizing and Community Development	3
IPS 660	Leadership in Social Justice Organizations	3
Total Hours		24

Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations

Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The Certificate in Social Justice is comprised entirely of elective courses, all chosen from within the curriculum of the MA in Social Justice. The learning outcomes of the Certificate, therefore, are determined by the collection of courses chosen by the student.

At a general level, students will be able to demonstrate:

• An understanding of theories and perspectives on social justice, with special attention to Biblical traditions of justice and modern Catholic social teaching;
• An understanding of the histories, movements, theories, and practices studied in chosen elective courses.