Restorative Justice Proficiency Certificate

About This Program

Gain skills that empower you to build community, uplift others and address harm—transform relationships by promoting accountability and healing.

This first-of-its-kind undergraduate certificate is designed for new students pursuing a certificate, current students in a related degree program and practitioners seeking further restorative justice training. Consider enrolling in this program if you seek to deepen your understanding of restorative justice, become a skillful facilitator of restorative processes, and contribute to efforts to implement restorative justice programs and policies.

Restorative Justice Information Sessions and Application Workshops

Please join us for an information session about the Restorative Justice proficiency certificate program. Information sessions will last for one hour. After the information session, you are invited to stay for an application workshop if you’d like help completing the College and program applications.

• Friday, November 1 at 3 p.m. on Zoom
• Thursday, November 7 at 6 p.m. at the Career and Advanced Technology Center, 4750 Market Street, Room 243
• Wednesday, November 13 at 4 p.m. at Main Campus, 1700 Spring Garden Street, Library and Learning Commons, Room L1-17

RSVP for an Information Session

Program Benefits

• Learn justice and interpersonal communication skills of benefit to students in all fields, especially criminal justice, education, behavioral health/human services, and psychology
• Equip yourself to facilitate community-building and harm-response processes in settings such as youth diversion programs, school-based programs, and community organizations
• Get certified in a field growing in demand in Philadelphia and around the country
• Scholarship funding available

Program Information

The program will focus on restorative justice principles and their application in the criminal legal system, and disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline. It includes three new restorative justice courses and two electives:

• Two are 15-week, in person courses at the Career and Advanced Technology Center
• One community practicum course will allow you to apply what you’ve learned at a local school or organization
• Two additional elective courses that will best fit your career or personal goals

Certificate Structure

This certificate is a cohort model where you will build community and collaboration. Courses include:

• Introduction to Restorative Justice—gain a broad overview of scholarship and practice in the field
• Restorative Justice Facilitation—practice facilitating processes to build community and respond to harm
• Restorative Justice Practicum—apply your knowledge and training at a community site
• Related electives—choose from criminal justice, human services, psychology, sociology, Black studies and more

Program Entry Requirements

New students are required to apply to the College and complete the College's placement test prior to their enrollment. In addition, students must also complete a program application and attend an information session or individual interview with the program coordinator to obtain approval to register for this program.

Justice-impacted individuals and survivors are strongly encouraged to apply.

Complete the Restorative Justice Program Application

The development of this program is funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance and is a collaboration between Community College of Philadelphia, the University of San Diego, and the National Center on Restorative Justice.