The Social Justice certificate helps students understand relationships of vulnerability, power inequity and institutions of change, and provides tools needed for informed and effective participation at all levels of community. This certificate complements most majors offered at SOU and provides a powerful vehicle for developing the constructive critical perspective on which a liberal arts education is grounded. The Social Justice certificate is designed to serve students interested in social justice, approached from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Students working toward a certificate in Social Justice are required to register with a Social Justice advisor. To be awarded the Certificate in Social Justice, students must be in one of the following categories: a) current SOU students who are meeting the requirements for the BA or BS degree, b) students who already have a BA or BS degree (post-baccalaureate), or c) students who have completed approximately two years of college coursework or have at least three years of significant professional work experience and meet the prerequisite for admission to certificate program.

The Social Justice certificate consists of four core courses (4 credits each) and three elective courses (4 credits each) for a total of 28 credits. Students must complete 20 of the final credits of the certificate at SOU. Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.7 or higher in certificate courses and earn a C- or better in all certificate courses.