Multicultural Certificate—Recognizing the Value
of Diversity in Persons, Perspectives

The College of Education is teaming up with The University of Iowa School of Social Work to offer an interdisciplinary multicultural education certificate for graduate students.

The Multicultural Education and Culturally Competent Practice Certificate will signify that students chose to take courses with a multicultural focus and will demonstrate students’ commitment to culturally competent practices as they enter the professional world.

Counseling Psychology Professor William Ming Liu was involved in planning and proposing the certificate. He said the certificate provides a response to changing demographics in the United States.

“The demographic changes are not only racial and ethnic, but also include gender, social class, age, and sexual orientation,” he said. “It’s not to say this diversity never existed, but rather to say that people are more open about their identities and our interactions will be more explicit.”

Liu said that the certificate reflects the College’s and University’s commitment to diversity and multiculturalism and also reflects well on students who choose to pursue it.

“This will not only make them more effective teachers, psychologists, counselors, administrators, and other professionals, but will also open them up to be more effective global players,” he said. “It demonstrates to others that this person has taken ‘extra’ time to learn and develop these competencies.”

Other College of Education faculty members involved in conceptualizing the certificate included professors Carolyn Colvin, Linda Fielding, Sherry Watt, Tarrell Portman and Kathy Whitmore. Katrina Sanders will coordinate the certificate for the College. The Office of Graduate Teaching Excellence will manage day-to-day operations.

Associate Dean David Bills said the certificate cements relationships across campus and contributes to a positive University community.

“It lets us reach across the whole campus in ways we haven’t been able to do before,” he said.
Students interested in pursuing the certificate can sign up starting in fall 2010.