School and community leaders increasingly seek to address racial and social justice challenges in classrooms, organizations, schools and neighborhoods.

A wide range of organizations are looking for people with the knowledge to improve equity.

But many do not fully understand the histories of racial and other oppression in the U.S., or the ways social, economic, and other forces continue to harm people from different groups.

In the Certificate in Racial and Social Justice in Education, you will join a diverse group of students who are working together to make sense of these challenges and develop strategies to address them. Our highly qualified faculty will guide you on this journey.

Students Will Learn

• The history and sources of racial and other oppression in the U.S.
• How these oppressive forces affect schools and communities today
• Strategies to confront and change structures, attitudes, and patterns

Why Choose Our Program?

• Diverse faculty with deep understandings of racial and social justice
• Diverse student body from a wide range of educational and community backgrounds
• Unique focus combining education and community contexts
• Flexible program tailored to student interests
• Available fully online, partially face-to-face/hybrid, and on evenings and weekends

Lower Tuition Option for Online Out of State Students

Are you an online, out of state student? Out of state graduate students who take online courses (only) within the department are charged a “fee-in-lieu-of-tuition” that is largely the equivalent of in-state tuition. So, if you are out of state and are interested in attending the Racial and Social Justice in Education program online, don’t let the out-of-state tuition cost stop you from applying.

The Certificate Can Be Completed

• Fully online
• Mostly face to face/hybrid (evening and weekend classes)
• In combination

Program Requirements

Racial and Social Justice in Education Academic Catalog Requirements

Academic Catalog Requirements Sheet

• Visit the Academic Catalog webpage linked above, then click on the Print Options link in the lower right hand column
• Click the Download Page (PDF) link
• Print or save the condensed program requirements document

Program Admission Criteria

• You must complete a bachelor’s degree prior to admission, have a minimum 2.75 cumulative undergraduate grade point average, and declare your intent to pursue the certificate before completing six credits in the certificate sequence.
• If you have a graduate degree, you must have a minimum 3.00 graduate grade point average.
• If you are not already admitted to the Graduate School, you must complete the UWM Graduate School Online Admission Application. Select “Graduate courses for personal/professional enrichment” as your reason for applying.

Program Information

For general information or questions about the program, contact:

Dr. Aaron Schutz
Professor & Program Coordinator
schutz@uwm.edu