Post-Master's Certificate in Cultural Foundations and Social Justice Education

The Post-Masters Certificate in Cultural Foundations and Social Justice Education provides students with a broad understanding of the cultural, social, political, and ideological forces that shaped — and continue to shape — education in the U.S.

Building on this knowledge the certificate introduces UNC Greensboro students to pedagogical traditions related to quest for more socially just institutions and social structures. They learn about the movements, both political and intellectual, that have been instrumental in this quest. The required courses give them a broad, interdisciplinary exposure to the rich scholarly and research traditions shaping studies in the cultural foundations of education and social justice.

The certification helps graduates who want to teach in higher education or develop a Cultural Foundations and Social Justice Education program.

Certificate in Cultural Foundations and Social Justice Education Program Distinctions

Students earning their P.M.C. in Cultural Foundations and Social Justice Education study in the School of Education’s Department Educational Leadership and Cultural Foundations (ELC). The department seeks to prepare thoughtful, effective leaders across disciplines. Its courses and community partnerships expose students to questions of moral concert, the cultural context of education, and a reconstructive vision for excellent schooling.

ELC houses various community-oriented partnerships and programs aimed at improving educational access in and around Greensboro:

• Principal Preparation for Excellence and Equity in Rural Schools (PPEERS): A partnership amongst rural school districts and UNCG to recruit and retain effective high school principals.
• Brock’s Critical Conversations Conference: An annual dialogue addressing the United States’ current socio-political climate. The conference promotes a central goal for participants to walk away with a set of pedagogical tools they can put to practice.
• Rebecca Carver Institute on Experiential Learning (RCI): Scheduled learning events about implementing experiential education within their learning environment. Previous conferences engaged participants on topics such as:
  • Nurturing Young Minds Through Experiential Education
  • Experiences are Stronger When Shared
  • Enacting Belonging and Mattering in Experiential Education
  • Experiential Education vs. Experiential Learning

Most non-tenure track positions require either a master’s degree or 18 credits in the area of specialization. Cultural Foundations courses either fulfill an entire program of study or provide service courses to a variety of programs.

The Certificate in Cultural Foundations and Social Justice Education Student Experience

A P.M.C. in Cultural Foundations and Social Justice Education can be completed with 12-18 credit hours. Students will complete the following:

• At least six credit hours in Pedagogy and Curriculum
• At least six credit hours in Cultural Foundations
• Up to two courses from ELC’s graduate-level course catalog or other department with advisor’s approval

Students engage with faculty and peers who care deeply about social justice education. Faculty bring years of expertise in educational reform, urban schools, principals and school administration, intercultural and multicultural education, sociology of education, community engagement via research and partnerships, disability studies, critical theory, school resource officers, educational policy, gender studies, UDL, and arts and performance-based studies.

After Receiving a Certificate in Cultural Foundations and Social Justice Education

The program helps students who wish develop a specialized area in Cultural Foundations and Social Justice Education within their program of study. Other graduates go on to teach as adjuncts in two- and four-year higher education institutions.

The certificate provides a mechanism through which students can gain additional credentials to adjunct or teach in community colleges, colleges, or universities.

How to Apply for a P.M.C. in Cultural Foundations and Social Justice Education

Applications for the P.M.C. in Cultural Foundations and Social Justice program are reviewed twice per year. Deadlines fall on Dec. 1 and April 1.

UNC Greensboro’s School of Education and Graduate School specify the following requirements for the Post-Masters Certificate program:

• A master’s degree from an accredited institution
• A GPA of 3.0 or higher in the master’s degree

Admissions decisions are based on an applicant’s full set of application materials. Admissions decisions will consider the above criteria along with the following:

• Work experience
• Letters of reference and recommendations
• Personal statement

In certain cases, applicants may be granted provisional admission, with a stipulation that they will be granted full admission upon successfully completing a specified number of coursework credits in the program. Faculty members engage in a collaborative, rigorous review of applicants.

ELC requires the formal admission requirements for a post-masters certificate:

• Three letters of recommendation from people who can speak to the applicant’s academic abilities
• Transcripts from all universities the applicant has attended
• 2-3 page personal statement describing why you wish to pursue this program. Applicants should explain how it connects with their personal and professional goals, and what prerequisites prepare them for this program.

Please note that although “Apply Yourself” may indicate your application has been submitted, this does not mean it is complete. All application materials must be completed in Apply Yourself before the materials will be released to the department for review.