Classroom Management and Discipline: Creating Equitable and Restorative Learning Environments

3 Units
Online Self-Paced

Course Description

Foster a Classroom Culture that Encourages Growth

Bring Inclusion to Your Classroom with Classroom Management and Discipline: Creating Equitable and Restorative Learning Environments. This course is designed to empower K-12 educators with the strategies and tools needed to create an inclusive, supportive, and positive classroom and school environment. This course will focus on restorative practices, trauma-informed approaches, and culturally responsive practices to help educators break the cycle of punitive discipline that disproportionately affects marginalized students and contributes to the school-to-prison pipeline. Educators will learn how to foster a classroom and school-wide culture that encourages growth, equity, and academic success for all students through actionable techniques and reflection.

Final submission for all sections is due on or before September 7, 2025. Transcripts will be issued no sooner than 7 days AFTER  September 7, 2025.

Course Details

Number or Units: 3.0 graduate level extension credit(s) in semester hours

Who Should Attend: This course is designed to benefit a wide range of professionals involved in the education system including K-12 educators, administrators, counselors and support staff in the field of education, with a specific focus on classroom teachers of all grade levels and subjects.

Course Format: Online Self-Paced, within given dates*. The course starts on Monday, July 7, 2025 and should be completed on or before Sunday, September 7, 2025

*Online Self-Paced courses are a perfect blend of accessibility, convenience and flexibility for you to control your learning pace. Your instructor will provide feedback via written responses on your submissions and final project. Grades are based on assignments and completed projects. You have until Sunday, September 7, 2025 or sooner to complete the course. Please pace yourself to allow for instructor responses. Course completion date will reflect September 7, 2025 on the transcript for all participants that successfully meet the completed course work deadline.

Technical Requirements

Instructors: Various experienced and qualified K-12 educators. See individual course sections

We highly recommend that you view the entire course upon enrollment (or beginning July 5, 2025 when it becomes available for student view), including instructor announcement regarding their grading schedule to help you successfully pace yourself.

Course Options

Course Date Units Price

What You Will Learn

  • Analyze the impact of disciplinary practices on student outcomes and the perpetuation of the school-to-prison pipeline
  • Evaluate restorative justice approaches and their effectiveness in addressing behavioral issues in the classroom
  • Examine existing biases and disciplinary practices to develop more empathetic and fair approaches to classroom and school-wide management
  • Design culturally responsive classroom and school-wide management strategies that promote equity and inclusion
  • Apply trauma-informed strategies to create a supportive and safe learning environment for all students

Instructors

Professional development courses offered by the University of San Diego’s Division of Professional & Continuing Education are taught by faculty that possess a depth and breadth of academic and real-world professional experience.

Why USD?

The Professional and Continuing Education program nurtures key partnerships on the local, national, and international level. The goal is to better serve working professionals who seek to enhance or build their careers and help achieve their highest value and potential. Contact us today to learn more.

Informative Stats and Facts

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Learning Method Information

Courses offer a convenient, yet rigorous style of learning that allows you to structure your education to suit your schedule while keeping you on pace toward achieving your educational.

Online Self-Paced

Our online self-paced courses are similar to online fixed-date courses, but are designed to give you a six-month period from time of enrollment to complete all assignments. Your instructor will provide feedback via written responses on your assignments and exams. Grades are based on completed projects, assignments and exams.

How is the self-paced course structured? Like fixed-date courses, online self-paced courses are asynchronous meaning that you can work on your assignments anytime; the difference being there are no assigned due dates in self-paced courses. The content is divided into learning modules. Each module will cover one or more topics. Within each of the learning modules, you can expect the following components:

  • Module introduction that outlines what you can expect to learn in the module.
  • Required readings (textbook, articles, journals, websites, etc.) and presentations (audio and/or video).
  • Assignments (which may include: written assignments, quizzes, blogs, etc.) based on the readings and presentations.
  • Module conclusion to review the topics and what you should have learned.
  • Typically, there is a final project, paper, or exam due in the last module that culminates all of the topics covered in each of the learning modules. You’ll find that the design of the learning modules has a rhythm to help you manage your time in the course.

Key Benefits of Educator Courses

A World of Choices

With hundreds of courses across a range of education-related topics, there’s a strong chance we have the ideal class for you!

Small Class Sizes

Small class sizes with real-world educators are an important part of the USD experience.

Work-Life Balance

Our educator courses offer flexible course formats and class times to help you balance your work, USD studies, and family life.