Certificate in Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Executive Certificate in Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Create strategic value by mastering the skills needed to develop a sustainable approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion management.

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21 Mar 6-7:30pm ET
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11 Apr 6-7:30pm ET
Drivers of Geopolitical Insecurity Seminar Series: Energy and Natural Resources  
30 May 6-7:30pm ET
Drivers of Geopolitical Insecurity Seminar Series: Economic Transitions  

The Executive Certificate in Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion prepares you to analyze, diagnose, and address diversity, equity, and inclusion issues within organizations. As a student in the program, you’ll gain the leadership skills and insights needed to support a strategic, sustainable approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion management while utilizing knowledge of yourself as an agent of change in the workplace.

Led by academics and experienced practitioners, this professional development certificate emphasizes the contemporary best practices and latest academic research in cultural competency and diversity, equity, and inclusion. By the end of the program, you’ll be positioned to lead HR and talent management initiatives, implement long-term strategies, and effect change within organizations.

  • Ideal for
    Managers & Executives

  • Duration
    6 courses over 6 months

  • Tuition
    $8,490

  • Format
    Online & On-Campus

  • Enrollment
    All day, 3 weekdays, once a month

  • Semester of Entry
    Fall & summer

Upon successful completion of the certificate program, you will be able to:

  • Identify differences among various models of group identity
  • Utilize yourself as an agent of change within a complex organization or system
  • Apply diversity, equity, and inclusion best practices through a systems-thinking approach
  • Illustrate the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives for organizations and employees
  • Implement a real-world diversity and inclusion initiative within a client organization
  • Execute diversity, equity, and inclusion change strategies
  • Measure and report on impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion training initiatives
  • Demonstrate the competencies of emotional and cultural intelligence

Curriculum & Schedule

You must complete the six required courses for a total of 11.7 Continuing Education Units (CEUs), which is equivalent to 117 contact hours. The program must be completed in sequence as a cohort over six-months. The DEI Summer cohort sessions are held Monday-Wednesday; 9 AM (EDT) - 4:30 PM (EDT) on the SCS Campus in downtown Washington, DC. The DEI Fall cohort sessions are held from Thursday-Saturday; 9:30 AM (EDT) - 5 PM (EDT) and are delivered in a live-online format via Zoom Conferencing. Full attendance for each class session and the Polarities Workshop (delivered live-online via Zoom conferencing) is mandatory to successfully complete this Executive Certificate Program.

For more information on course schedules, please see the 2024 Cohort Schedule.

  1. Theoretical Foundations of Diversity & Inclusion (1.95 CEUs)
  2. Cultural and Social Group Identities: Expanding Self-Awareness (1.95 CEUs)
  3. Resistance and Renewal: D & I Change Initiatives (1.95 CEUs)
  4. A Systems Approach to D & I Measurement (1.95 CEUs)
  5. Workplace Applications A: Leading and Influencing (1.95 CEUs)
  6. Workplace Applications B: Leading and Influencing (1.95 CEUs)

What Is Live Online Learning?
Live online instruction is enhanced by incorporating various instructional practices and technology tools. Features such as Zoom video conferencing, breakout rooms, and chat allow for real-time interaction and collaboration among learners. Tools like Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, and Canvas Groups facilitate teamwork and information sharing within the learning community. Polling, surveys, and threaded discussion boards promote active engagement and the expression of opinions. It is important to foster social respect, privacy, and incorporate Jesuit values to create a supportive and inclusive online environment. By utilizing these practices and tools effectively, live online instruction can be engaging, interactive, and conducive to meaningful learning experiences.

Faculty

Jacqueline Blount

Jacqueline Blount is a passionate diversity and inclusion practitioner with over 13 years of experience in developing inclusion based initiatives, change management and HR. Currently, she is the Diversity and ...
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Jacquelyn Bsharah

Jackie Bsharah is a goals-oriented, results-focused executive coach, with a proven track record of helping clients achieve desired, sustained change. She integrates her knowledge of leadership, adult learning and development ...
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Michael Ciszewski

Michael is Managing Partner and founder of Campden Hill International, a consulting practice working with teams to help them develop habits of reflective learning as a core capability   I ...
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Matthew Dawson

Matthew is Organization & Leadership Development expert with a background in applied learning and behavior science.   He has spent the last decade developing and managing workforce learning and transformation ...
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Chanatip Fallon

Tip focuses on advancing equity through coaching, consulting, and community-building.   Tip Fallon (he, him, his) focuses on advancing equity through coaching, consulting, and community-building. Tip grew up in a ...
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Nakia Green

Nakia is a cisgender Black woman. She is a heterosexual millennial living with a disability and some degree of socio-economic privilege. She is a Christian who believes in creating space and ...
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Rick Huntley

Rick Huntley is a highly skilled leadership and change consultant, author, coach, facilitator, and teacher with demonstrated ability to successfully facilitate learning and skill development using group development theory, experiential ...
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Marcia McKinzie

Marcia McKinzie is an HR Consultant at Capital One providing internal consulting services for the US Card business. Previously, Marcia has provided consulting to multiple functions across the enterprise including ...
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Sukari Pinnock

Sukari Pinnock-Fitts, MSOD, PCC, is a seasoned Organization Development consultantand PCC-level ICF-certified Coach, specializing in Cultural Competency, Leadership andExecutive Development, Organization Transitions and Team Building. Her Master'sdegree in Organization Development ...
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Paco Valencia

Paco brings over 25 years of Organization Development experience to his work with military, government agencies, and the private sector.   By using behavioral science theory and practices, Paco has ...
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How to Apply

Application Dates

Fall Cohort

Application Opens—Jan 1

  • Deadline—Jul 15

Summer Cohort

Application Opens—Sep 1

  • Deadline—Feb 15

Program Prerequisites

Students must have at least five years of experience in a government, private sector, or nonprofit organization and be open to feedback, have the capacity for self-examination, and be willing to challenge her or his own beliefs and biases.

Please review the refund policies in our Student Handbook before completing your registration.

Degree Requirement

You must hold a bachelor's degree or the equivalent in order to enroll in our certificate programs. For each cohort, an application review committee offers admission to a diverse group of students to enrich the classroom experience.

Tips for the Online Application

  • Our online application securely stores your information and saves your progress so you can update and complete your information at your convenience
  • Click the “SAVE” button at each stage of the application process to ensure that your work and documents are uploaded

Tips for Your Letter of Recommendation (not required for all programs)

  • Your recommender is notified when you submit your online application
  • Notify your recommenders ahead of time and submit your application at least one week prior to the deadline to allow time for them to complete and submit your recommendation
  • A personal email address for your recommender works best
  • Government, military, and corporate email servers often have filters that delay or prevent messages from being delivered

International Students

International students who enter the U.S. on a valid visa are eligible to enroll in certificate courses. However, Georgetown University cannot sponsor student visas for noncredit professional certificate programs.

A TOEFL examination is not required for non-native speakers of English but students are expected to read, write, and comprehend English at the graduate level to fully participate in and gain from the program.

Students from most countries may register for our online certificate programs, however, due to international laws, residents of certain countries are prohibited from registering.

Tuition & Funding

Tuition

Tuition for each course is $1,415. Total program tuition for all 6 courses is $8,490. Most course materials are included.

Funding

Noncredit professional certificates do not qualify for federal financial aid, scholarships, grants, or needs-based aid. However, several finance and funding options do exist, as listed below.

Employer Education and Training Budgets

Some employers offer funding for employee education or professional development. If an employer guarantees payment for employee education and training, Georgetown will accept an Intent to Pay form. If you are using employer sponsorship or training authorizations, you must submit an Intent to Pay form with your registration.

If your employer will pay for your tuition, select “Third-Party Billing” as your method of payment when you register for courses online. Please submit an Intent to Pay form indicating that your employer or another third party should be billed for tuition. Invoices will not be generated without this form on file.

Federal Agency Training Funds*
  • According to the Federal Employees Almanac 2014, federal agencies may:
    • Pay training and education expenses from appropriated funds or other available funds for training needed to support program functions
    • Reimburse employees for all or part of the costs of training or education
    • Share training and education costs with employees
    • Pay travel expenses for employees assigned to training
    • Adjust an employee's normal work schedule for educational purposes not related to official duties

Georgetown accepts Standard Form-182 (SF-182) for training authorizations from the federal government.

*Federal employees should ask the appropriate budget officer about training budgets available.

Georgetown Employee TAP Benefits

Eligible Georgetown employees may use their Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) benefits to fund 90% of the certificate program tuition—employees will be invoiced for the remaining 10% of tuition and must pay any other charges associated with their certificate program. Employees using TAP benefits may work directly with the HR Benefits Office to ensure payment prior to the start of any course. This payment option is only valid if registration occurs at least 10–14 business days prior to the start date of the first course. Any fees incurred due to course withdrawal are the student’s responsibility and are not funded by Georgetown University TAP. For questions regarding TAP benefits, please contact the HR/Benefits Office at tapbenefits@georgetown.edu or (202) 687-2500.

GoArmyEd.com for Active Duty, National Guard,
Army Reserve Soldiers, and Army Civilians

SCS is registered with GoArmyEd.com to accept SF-182 training authorization forms. GoArmyEd.com is the virtual gateway for all eligible active duty, National Guard, and Army Reserve soldiers to request Tuition Assistance (TA) online. GoArmyEd.com is also the virtual gateway for Army Civilians to apply for their Civilian education, training, and leadership development events.

Interest-Free Payment Plan

The professional certificate programs offer an interest-free payment plan for certificate programs that are more than one month in duration and for which the total tuition is greater than or equal to $4,000. The payment plan is structured in the following manner:

  • Payment #1: A down payment of 25% of the total tuition balance must be paid online (within 72 hours after you register and select Payment Plan) via the Noncredit Student Portal. Please submit your down payment as soon as possible.
  • Payments #2, #3, and #4: Your remaining balance will be due in three (3) equal monthly installments beginning 30 calendar days after your down payment is processed. Your monthly payments must be paid via credit card in the Noncredit Student Portal. You will be able to access each invoice and payment due date in your student account.
  • PLEASE NOTE: Automatic Payment Service is not available. You must make each subsequent payment via the Noncredit Student Portal.

Military Benefits/GI Bill®

A number of tuition benefits are available through the Department of Veterans Affairs and under various parts of the GI Bill®. Please visit the Resources for Military Students page for additional information and instructions.

Private Education Loans

Some students choose to finance certificate programs with private education loans. Students are responsible for contacting lenders directly to find out if a noncredit professional certificate program is eligible for a loan. While Georgetown University will not recommend specific lenders, it will certify loans for eligible programs from approved lenders.

For eligible noncredit professional certificate programs, Georgetown University will certify loan amounts up to the full cost of tuition for the program. Tuition does not cover books, travel, or living expenses. Please see individual program pages for tuition rates.

Georgetown University has a unique campus code for Sallie Mae. Our Sallie Mae branch code is 001445-99.

You must be approved for a loan before registering for courses. Follow these steps to pursue a loan option:

  1. Check the list of lenders that have offered private education loans in the past to Georgetown University students.
  2. Contact the lender and confirm your program is eligible for a private education loan.
  3. Obtain the necessary paperwork and apply for the loan.
  4. Georgetown will certify loan amounts based on the information below. Please note that our branch code is 001445-99.
  5. If approved, register for courses:
    • Payment sent to Georgetown: Select “Third-Party Payment” at the time of registration if the lender is sending funds directly to Georgetown.
    • Enter the information about the lender and then contact Noncredit Student Accounts at noncreditaccounts@georgetown.edu.

Note: It is your responsibility to contact Georgetown University Noncredit Student Accounts at noncreditaccounts@georgetown.edu to ensure that your loan is processed.

Tuition Discounts

Only one tuition discount may be applied at the time of registration. Tuition discounts cannot be combined. Tuition discounts are not applied retroactively. Please contact pdcprograms@georgetown.edu with any questions.

GU Alumni 10% Discount

Georgetown University alumni and SCS certificate completers are eligible to receive a 10% tuition discount for many certificates offered within SCS’s Institute for Transformational Leadership (ITL) portfolio. When registering for an eligible certificate through the SCS website, you will see the "10% Georgetown Alumni Discount" as an option. The Enrollment Team will then verify your eligibility status as a Georgetown University alumnus or certificate completer.

OPM Federal Scholarship Alliance 10% Discount

Eligible federal employees across the country receive a 10% scholarship applied to the current tuition rate for all SCS degree programs and professional certificate programs each academic semester. Please contact pdcprograms@georgetown.edu for steps to be added to this discount group.

Contact Us

Still Have Questions?

Certificate Admissions and Enrollment
Email: pdcprograms@georgetown.edu
Phone: (202) 687-7000

Student Accounts
Email: noncreditaccounts@georgetown.edu
Phone: (202) 687-7696

Certifying Military Benefits
Email: pdcvabenefits@georgetown.edu
Phone: (202) 784-7321

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