Inclusive Excellence, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate

About the Program

As part of the the Office of Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs (OIGP), in collaboration with the American Studies program, has designed a certificate program that targets Purdue University graduate students to help them develop capacities to work across difference and to create diverse and inclusive professional and non-professional communities.

Increasingly, institutions of higher learning develop different efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in all aspects of their work. This commitment involves introducing and fostering diversity and inclusion in the academic curriculum, organizational leadership, faculty, and administration and student body. At the same time, various institutions in public and private sectors seek leaders with a skillset to foster a diverse and inclusive work environment in creative and effective ways. In response to such cultural changes in professional settings, today’s students recognize that as future leaders they must be prepared to work in and create diverse and inclusive spaces.

Office of Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs website

Inclusive Excellence Program Website

Program Requirements

9 Credits Required

Program Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• Advance understanding of the role that graduate students play in fostering a more diverse and inclusive workplace and other environments.  
• Expand understanding of situations that may hinder the formation of inclusive and diverse communities.
• Enhance awareness of how to develop policies and practices that will enable students to promote diversity and inclusion in professional institutions and other settings.  

Additional Information

Through Experiential Learning course students will have the opportunity to apply their knowledge acquired in the Inclusive Excellence Certificate Program required and elective courses. Specifically, students will be required to work to explore and assist various organizations in fostering diversity and inclusion in their professional communities and beyond.

Over one semester, students will assist an organization (office, program, initiative) to assess, design, or implement projects that foster diversity and inclusion in their professional or non-professional communities. Students will be expected to work approximately 9 hours a week with an organization of their choice. For example, students may choose to work with the following offices and programs at Purdue:

• College of Agriculture - Office of Multicultural Programs
• College of Engineering - Minority Engineering Program
• College of Health and Human Sciences - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Purdue Polytechnic Institute- Office of Recruitment, Retention, and Diversity 
• Graduate School- Office of Graduate Diversity Initiatives
• Alliance for Graduate Education & Professoriate
• Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

The Office of Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs will assist students in finding an organization that would be interested in working with graduate students. At the end of the semester, students will provide a written report and oral presentation in which they will describe their experiences and analyze how their work has helped an organization to promote diversity and inclusion. The presentation could be at the OIGP Spring Reception, a relative conference, or possibly a website resource development.

Graduate Programs Disclaimer

• The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements. Students should consult with their advisor/department for more information.
• Not all graduate programs may be actively recruiting students and course modality availability may vary. 
• Please refer to the Explore Graduate Programs website for a list of currently available graduate programs.
• Transfer credit policy: Credits earned for graduate study at other universities (both domestic and international) may be applied toward an advanced degree. Only credit hours associated with graduate courses for which grades of B- or better were obtained will be eligible for transfer. Any additional conditions under which credit transfers may be made are determined by the various departments.
• Comparative information about Purdue University and other U.S. educational institutions is also available through the College Navigator tool, provided by the National Center for Education Statistics, and through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.