Certificate in Diversity Studies

American society is becoming increasingly diverse. Misunderstanding across racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual lines contributes to social and political tensions, injustice, and even acts of violence in American society. The Certificate in Diversity Studies program will help students foster an understanding of and respect for the diverse expressions of race, ethnicity, religion, gender and sexuality in society today. Promoting greater understanding and respect across these various groups can be an asset for navigating relations and more effectively communicating in our multi-faceted culture, and thus beneficial to 

students seeking careers in a variety of fields such as business, communication, criminal justice, education, history, psychology, and religion.

Students earning a Certificate in Diversity Studies will:

• Identify, define, and apply basic concepts related to the study of racial, ethnicity, gender, sexual, and religious diversity.
• Explain how racial, ethnic, gender, sexual, and religious identities shape, and are shaped by, social interactions – both generally and in specific examples.
• Explain the historical and current discriminatory privileges of some racial, ethnic, gender, sexual, and religious identities over others.
• Develop respect and appreciation for persons expressing diverse racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual identities.
• Develop an ability to identify basic forms of prejudice and intolerance.

Certificate in Hospitality Management

Certificate in Interfaith Studies

The religious character of American society is becoming increasingly diverse. Adherents to major religious traditions other than Christianity are growing. There are rising numbers of individuals and groups practicing various forms of spirituality unconnected to a major tradition. And an expanding segment, including many younger Americans, claim no religious affiliation or interests. Becoming more aware of the religious landscape of America and developing a proficiency in interfaith understanding can benefit students in a variety of fields. It can also help students become more conscientious American and global citizens, as religious misunderstanding and intolerance fuel prejudice and acts of injustice here in America and around the world. Such misunderstanding also complicates or prevents religious and non-religious communities from working together for the common good.

Students who have successfully completed a Certificate in Interfaith Studies will develop:

• An understanding of several major religious traditions, including their history, essential beliefs, and contemporary manifestations.
• An understanding of the diverse religious landscape of American society and various forms of spirituality.
• An ability to identify forms of religious prejudice and intolerance.
• An appreciation of religious diversity and respect for people of faith.

Certificate in Public History

The Certificate in Public History allows Lakeland students to gain practical and professional experience in a variety of public history institutions, such as libraries, museums, archeological sites and archives. The program is open to all students.