Expanding Understanding: University of Idaho’s Certificate in Diversity and Stratification

by Jean Beaman, Academic and Professional Affairs Office

In an increasingly changing social world, understanding diversity and stratification processes in our society becomes more important. The interdisciplinary University of Idaho Certificate in Diversity and Stratification responds to this growing need. The program is designed for students, professionals, and community members to obtain diversity education and training through academic study and applied learning.

“An interdisciplinary approach best facilitates diversity education, as students can draw from the varied experience of many disciplines,” explained Professor John Mihelich, one of the coordinators of the program. “Our program is founded on the insights of anthropology and sociology, but draws from history, psychology, communication studies, law, and others.” The Certificate program, which is housed in the Sociology and Anthropology Department, is based on a broad conception of diversity, including race, gender, class, age, abilities, culture, religion, sexual orientation, and other characteristics.

According to Mihelich, “The goal of diversity interaction is not necessarily to reach consensus on all issues but to attain understanding, cooperation and effective, productive interaction directed toward equality . . . . In the realm of education, this is accomplished through providing a diversity of experience, cultivating the study of diversity as a phenomenon, and applying the learning as skills for effective diversity-competent interaction.”

Students complete 12 academic credits consisting of an academic exploration component and an applied component. The academic exploration element, consisting of at least two courses, provides perspectives and frameworks for understanding diversity and inequality. All students are required to take Introduction to Diversity and Stratification. Other courses include Sociology of Gender, Intercultural Communication, Peoples of the World, and Human Rights. The applied element consists of workshops and experiential learning. This allows students to directly apply their knowledge, explained Mihelich. For example, a workshop on conflict management addressed cultural differences and communication challenges in the workplace. Students can also arrange internships.

Upon completion of the program, students receive a certificate acknowledging their competency in understanding diversity issues. Among the many benefits of this program are the fact that it is easy to complete in a short period of time (because it requires only 12 credits), and the certificate program provides a valuable credential to employers interested in employees who can work in a diverse workplace and respond to a diverse clientele and customer base.

“It challenges participants to reflect on and evaluate their own social behavior and conceptions concerning diversity while providing new knowledge to do so. It allows them to learn from the experience of a diverse group of other participants,” commented Mihelich.