Restorative justice is a global social movement with growth in a variety of settings including K-12 schools, higher education institutions, workplaces, community organizations, and criminal justice agencies. There is a growing need for skilled practitioners who understand the philosophical underpinnings of restorative justice, its varied applications, and self-reflective, nuanced practice. The certificate combines an academic understanding of restorative justice with experiential learning to ensure skillful facilitation.
This three-course certificate provides a comprehensive introduction to restorative justice facilitation and leadership through both online coursework and a skill-building intensive workshop held at the University of San Diego’s campus*.
* EDU-X786R is offered in person or fully online depending on which cohort you sign up with. Please check the schedule before enrolling to see which cohort is in the modality you are wanting.
The Restorative Justice Facilitation and Leadership Certificate is offered by the USD Center for Restorative Justice, housed in the Leadership Studies Department in the School of Leadership and Education Sciences and facilitated by the Division of Professional and Continuing Education. The certificate is designed for professional practice with the goal of building a new generation of restorative justice leaders.
Click here for more information on scholarships available for the next term. Any questions about the scholarship program can be directed to Justine Andreu Darling at [email protected].
Complete the requirements below to earn a professional certificate in Restorative Justice Facilitation and Leadership. The certificate can be completed in less than 9 months. Read Certificate Benefits and Policy.
C = Classroom; OFD = Online Fixed-Date
This seven-module asynchronous online course introduces the history, philosophy, theory and practices of restorative justice. Participants will be introduced to the ethical framework that guides restorative approaches and a variety of applications within the criminal justice system, educational settings, and community organizations.
This is the first of three courses in the Restorative Justice Facilitation and Leadership Certificate program offered to higher education administrators and staff that focuses on dealing with campus sexual harm misconduct policy and procedures.
This course is an intensive skill-building workshop in restorative practices. The focus is developing facilitation skills necessary for hosting restorative dialogues. Participants will develop skills for both “restorative circles” and “restorative conferences,” two distinct and commonly used restorative practices. The course is highly experiential with intensive role play and debriefing.
This is an online live course that provides an opportunity to put theory and skills into practice. The focus is on implementing restorative practices through the development and delivery of restorative programs or series of facilitated dialogues. Students will propose a project, deliver it, and write a final report summarizing their success.
Online Fixed-Date: Online fixed-date courses offer a convenient, yet rigorous style of learning that enables you to collaborate with your instructor and other students in a shared, online learning environment. These courses have fixed start and finish dates, but as an online student you will have 24/7 online access to your classroom assignments, syllabus and course resources. Our online fixed-date courses allow you to work on your assignments anytime, although you are required to complete the assignments by specific dates.
How is the learning structured? In an online fixed-date course, you and your classmates will proceed through the curriculum together, collaborating in a shared learning experience. Each online fixed-date course is asynchronous, meaning that you can work on your assignments anytime, although required to complete the assignments by specific dates. The course is designed with learning modules where all of the content is grouped into weekly assignments. Each module covers one or more topics. Within each of the learning modules, you can expect the following components:
These on-campus courses are offered in a traditional classroom where you can connect with your instructor and classmates in a live setting. This learning environment facilitates communication in real time, enables immediate feedback and fosters face-to-face interaction with the instructor and classmates. Classroom courses have a scheduled start and finish date, and students are expected to attend all course sessions.
Enroll in this certificate program, by enrolling in the first course, EDU-X785R or EDU-X779R (choose one), offered each Fall and Spring term, to earn graduate-level extension credits. Online courses (EDU-X785R, EDU-X779R and EDU-X786R) are typically scheduled each semester. EDU-X786R is currently offered in both online and in-person, one week intensive face-to-face workshop that spans five days, held at the University of San Diego campus typically in January. Check each cohort before signing up, for the instructional format for EDU-X786R that you prefer and the dates, as they vary.
This certificate program is for people wishing to deepen their understanding of restorative justice, become skillful restorative facilitators, and lead efforts to implement Restorative Justice programs and policies. This includes K-12 educators, and those working for higher education institutions, workplaces, community organizations, and criminal justice agencies. There is a growing need for skilled practitioners who understand the philosophical underpinnings of restorative justice, its varied applications, and self-reflective, nuanced practice.
The courses in this certificate program receive graduate-level extension credits from the University of San Diego. These credits are designed for professional growth and salary advancement (if applicable) and are not accepted toward a degree program at the University of San Diego. USD Undergraduate/Graduate Students: If you are interested in taking graduate-level courses in Restorative Justice to be applied toward a USD degree program, please contact the Center for Restorative Justice for more information.
To receive information on USD’s Center for Restorative Justice and receive email notifications, please visit the Center for Restorative Justice.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to regulations from the U.S. Department of Education, the University of San Diego is unable to enroll students in its online programs who reside in Alabama, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Georgia, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin. If you are from one of these states/districts, please contact Professor Justine Darling ([email protected]) for advice about our program.
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