Skip to content
Menu Open Search

University of Southern California

Certificate Programs

Certificate in Social Justice

The Graduate Certificate in Social Justice is for students interested in understanding the set of factors that contribute to a broad range of disparities (or inequities) and the challenges that exist when managing, planning and policy making among diverse populations. The course work in this certificate focuses on the theories and analytic tools that are needed to assess issues in social justice.

The certificate in Social Justice consists of 12 units of graduate course work.

Core Courses (8 units)

Students will take two core courses.

  • PPDE 664 Seminar in Social Justice and Public Policy Units: 4
  • PPD 616 Participatory Methods in Planning and Policy Units: 4 or
    PPDE 661 Methods for Equity Analysis Units: 4

Elective Course

Students select one 4-unit elective course from the following:

  • AMST 560 Readings on Race and Ethnicity Units: 4
  • AMST 580 Readings in Cultural Studies Units: 4
  • COMM 653 Research, Practice and Social Change Units: 4
  • PPD 606 Urban Health Policy Units: 4
  • PPD 616 Participatory Methods in Planning and Policy Units: 4 *
  • PPD 617 Urban Demography and Growth Units: 4
  • PPD 618 Housing Facilities and Community Development Units: 4
  • PPD 628 Urban Planning and Social Policy Units: 4
  • PPD 686 U.S. Immigration Policy Units: 4
  • PPD 690 Alternative Dispute Resolution Units: 4
  • PPDE 636 Urban Spatial Ethnography and Critical Cartography Units: 4
  • PPDE 661 Methods for Equity Analysis Units: 4 *
  • PPDE 663 Media for Policy Change Units: 4
  • SOCI 642 Sex and Gender in Society Units: 4

*Note: Students will take PPD 616 or PPDE 661 as their methodology course for the certificate. They may select the alternate course to satisfy the elective requirement but can not double count either course for this program.

Admission Requirements and Application Procedures

Current USC Graduate Students — Applicants for the Certificate in Social Justice who are currently enrolled in a graduate program at USC (and are in good standing with a 3.0 GPA) need only submit the appropriate paperwork for adding the certificate program, which may be obtained from the student services advisor in RGL 102.

Prospective Applicants — Applicants for the Certificate in Social Justice who have not matriculated at USC must make a formal application at the USC Graduate Admission website.
Applicants must submit the following items:

  • Official transcripts from ALL institutions attended must be sent directly to [email protected].
  • Resume (upload via online application)
  • A Letter of Recommendation (uploaded via online application)

Deadlines:
November 1 – Spring Semester
April 1 – Summer Semester
July 1 – Fall Semester

Please contact the USC Price Office of Admissions at [email protected] for more information.

In this section: