California State University Fullerton’s Graduate Certificate in Teaching Secondary Ethnic Studies is a professional certificate program that prepares educators to design, teach, support and assess secondary ethnic studies courses. Students examine curricular and pedagogical aspects of teaching ethnic studies at the secondary level, create and evaluate secondary ethnic studies curriculum, and deepen their own fluency in secondary ethnic studies content.
Six of the required 9 units may be applied towards EDSC’s MS in Transformative Teaching in Secondary Education.
Why earn a Graduate Certificate in Teaching Secondary Ethnic Studies?
Beginning in 2029-2030, all California high school students will be required to take one semester of ethnic studies prior to graduation. This certificate is designed for educators who teach or are preparing to teach ethnic studies at the middle or high school level, or who want to expand their knowledge of ethnic studies content or pedagogy.
Certificate benefits:
- Explore diverse approaches to creating, implementing, and assessing ethnic studies curriculum for middle and high school students.
- Expand your professional network by collaborating with ethnic studies teachers and scholars within and beyond your district.
- Earn graduate credits that can be applied towards your salary scale and/or a graduate degree.
Required Courses
As part of the Graduate Certificate in Teaching Secondary Ethnic Studies, students will take 2 courses in education and 3 units of graduate coursework in Ethnic Studies. These courses may be taken in any order, but must be completed within a 2 year period.
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EDSC 539: Conceptual Foundations in Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Teaching: Course explores historical and contemporary approaches to culturally and linguistically sustaining curriculum, pedagogy, and policy, with a focus on applications in secondary and single-subject education. (3 units; fully online.) - Scheduled for Fall 2026
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EDSC 537: Ethnic Studies Pedagogies in Secondary Classrooms: Contextualize and explore the prospective applications of ethnic studies frameworks, pedagogies and practices in secondary schooling contexts. Analyze foundational ethnic studies pedagogical principles. Apply ethnic studies pedagogies using interdisciplinary strategies. Review existing research of ethnic studies in public schools. (3 units; fully online) - Scheduled for Summer 2027
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3 units of graduate coursework in Ethnic Studies (African American Studies, Chicana and Chicano Studies, Asian American Studies or Native and Indigenous Studies). Prospective courses include the following; other 400/500 level graduate courses considered with advisor approval (3 units; offerings and modalities vary).
African American Studies:
- AFAM 405 - Black Representations in Film (3)
- AFAM 408 - The Black Athlete (3)
- AFAM 410 - Language and Power in African American Culture (3)
- AFAM 463 - Black LGBT Experience (3)
- AFAM 476A - African American History: 1619 to 1863 (3)
- AFAM 476B - African Americans since 1863 (3)
- AFAM 477C - American Immigration History (3)
Chicana and Chicano Studies:
- CHIC 450 - Seminar in Contemporary Chicana/o Issues (3).
- CHIC 459 - Art History of the Ancient Americas (3)
- CHIC 460 - The Chicano and Politics (3)
- CHIC 462 - Latin American Art History: 1400 - Present (3)
- CHIC 471 - Obesity, Policy and Hispanic Communities (3)
- CHIC 477C - American Immigration History (3)
- CHIC 480 - Chicanas/os and Immigrants (3)
- CHIC 500 - Chicana/o Studies Paradigms and Traditions (3)
- CHIC 506 - Latinx Cities and Storytelling (3) - Scheduled for Spring 2027
