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Social Justice in the Information Professions, Advanced Certificate

The certificate equips you with skills, knowledge, and practical approaches to address the needs of the collective well-being of people in an information society.

Expand your knowledge of social justice and advocacy with an Advanced Certificate in Social Justice in the Information Professions from St. John’s University online! 

You can complete the fully online Advanced Certificate in Social Justice in the Information Professions at St. John’s as a stand-alone degree or concurrently with the Master of Science program in Library and Information Science. The certificate equips you with skills, knowledge, and practical approaches to address the needs of the collective well-being of people in an information society. Our program features a unique focus on social justice, responsibility, and ethics. 

This certificate program helps you explore theoretical and practical topics such as information access, social action and rights, community engagement, systemic social change, and information literacy through the lenses of an information professional. You also examine equity and inclusion practices within information professions, promote social justice awareness, actively address misinformation, and bring together the two disciplines of information science and social work. Although the skills you gain in this certificate program translate to any type of information environment, the curriculum focuses on civic engagement and humanitarianism within the sector. 

You can complete the advanced certificate in one year. Please note that no federal aid is available to students who complete the certificate as a stand-alone degree.

APPLY
Degree Type
Adv Cert
Area of Interest
Social Sciences
Associated Colleges or Schools
Program Location
  • Online
Required Credit Hours
12

Contact

James Vorbach, Ph.D.

Associate Professor and Director, Library and Information Science

Admission

All applicants to the program must meet the requirements for admission into graduate programs in St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. These requirements include 

  • A minimum grade point average of 3.0 for the most recent degree earned
  • Completion of a master’s degree in Library and Information Science (or its equivalent) from an accredited institution
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • A 300-word statement of professional goals
  • Official transcripts from each postsecondary institution attended
  • A résumé or curriculum vitae 

Office of Graduate Admission
718-990-1601
[email protected]

 

Courses

Courses that apply to the certificate include 

  • LIS 222 Materials and Services to Diverse Populations
  • LIS 275 Cultural Competence for Information Professionals
  • LIS 283 Social Justice in the Information Professions 
  • LIS 320 Fake News and Misinformation

Career Outcomes

Current employment trends indicate that employers increased their library and information science recruiting and job opportunities by 46 percent in 2021 for candidates to work with or serve a diverse public, build inclusivity, and implement systematic and structural changes. There is also an increased demand for social workers, or librarians with social work knowledge, in public libraries. With this certificate, you can follow several different career paths within the information professions, including 

  • Community service and outreach 
  • Health and human services
  • Public education
  • Social work and diversity services 

Online Learning

Earn Your Degree Online

Pursue your St. John’s degree entirely on your computer. Our fully accredited Online Learning programs allow you to take courses electronically. Log in at your convenience to enter our virtual classrooms, learn from our accomplished faculty, and engage with classmates.

Our online courses offer the same superior academic quality that students experience on campus. Professors deliver lectures and post assignments via Canvas, our learning management system. Students use it to attend virtual classes, share documents, take exams, and exchange ideas with faculty and classmates.

A Fully Academic Experience 

You also enjoy the outstanding services available to all St. John’s students. For example:

  • Tuition and fees identical to those for on-campus courses
  • Access to library collections, career services, mentoring, and other academic resources.

Interested in Social Sciences, but not sure if Social Justice in the Information Professions, Advanced Certificate is right for you?