Program Overview

K–12 Equity and Inclusion, Graduate Certificate

The graduate Certificate in K–12 Equity and Inclusion requires 12 semester hours of credit and is offered with hybrid and conventional courses. Students must maintain a grade-point average of at least 2.50 in work for the certificate. They must earn at least a grade of C in each course required for the certificate. All courses must be taken on a graded basis.

The certificate program is open to students enrolled in University of Iowa graduate degree programs and to individuals who are enrolled in the Graduate College as nondegree students.

This certificate program encourages the development of the knowledge and skills necessary to meet standard 3 (equity and cultural responsiveness) of the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders, adopted by the School Administrators of Iowa. Course offerings contribute to the development of competencies in the areas of research, policy, practice, and student advocacy. These competencies are essential for effectively dismantling educational disparities for pre-kindergarten to grade 12 students from historically marginalized backgrounds (including race, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic class, immigration status, language spoken at home, and disability status).

The Certificate in K–12 Equity and Inclusion requires 12 semester hours of coursework from two categories: practice and policy. Participating students must choose at least one course from each category. The remainder of the courses may be from either category.

The certificate program recommends that students focus course-specific content on a problem of practice related to equity, inclusion, anti-racism, and/or anti-oppression. Students work with the certificate advisor to devise a specific program of study and develop appropriate course-related projects.

Course Requirements

The Certificate in K–12 Equity and Inclusion requires the following coursework.

Practice

• At least one of these:
  • EPLS:5240: Topics in Education (when topic is critical conversations) - 3 hours
  • EPLS:6242: Research for Effective School Leaders - 3 hours
  • EPLS:6266: Program Evaluation - 3 hours
  • EPLS:6321: Social Advocacy Summit - 1 hour
  • EPLS:6329: Legislative Summit - 1 hour
  • EPLS:7432: Strategies for Inclusive Leadership - 3 hours

Policy

• At least one of these:
  • EPLS:5123: History of Ethnic/Minority Education - 3 hours
  • EPLS:5126: Twentieth-Century Educational Movements - 3 hours
  • EPLS:6222: Introduction to Educational Policy - 3 hours
  • EPLS:6238: Gender and Education in Historical Perspective - 3 hours
  • EPLS:6239: LGBTQ History in Education - 3 hours
  • EPLS:6270: Policy and Politics - 3 hours
  • EDTL:7040: Advanced Topics in Teaching and Learning (when topic is disability studies perspectives in education) - 3 hours