Diversity and Inclusion Leadership
Organizations are increasingly looking for chief diversity officers, diversity managers, consultants, educational administrators, human resources, and/or college admissions professionals that can transform their communities. At Tufts, you’ll become the strong, informed, skilled leader that can help create more inclusive organizations. Featured on CNN Money, this interdisciplinary program prepares students for careers in a variety of industries and professional sectors.
Our master's program is available either as a full-time program or in a part-time format designed for working professionals. This residential program features both courses held in-person and online (synchronous).
Our four-course certificate is available fully online or in a hybrid format (with both online and on-campus courses).

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Program Overview
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MA Full-time and Part-time Tracks
- Faculty
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Application Requirements
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Contact Information
Questions about your application?
Contact us:
Office of Graduate Admissions
Bendetson Hall
Medford, MA 02155
(617) 627-3395
gradadmissions@tufts.edu
MA in Diversity and Inclusion Leadership
To be an effective leader in diversity, equity and inclusion, you must understand the social contexts and psychological processes that result in implicit bias, discrimination, and marginalization. In this program, you will learn the scholarly theories and practical tools to implement institutional changes that promote diversity and foster inclusivity.
You will join students from a variety of backgrounds and scholarly fields, all united in their desire to explore diversity in interdisciplinary contexts. Upon completion of the Diversity and Inclusion Leadership master’s program, you will be capable of:
- Engaging in organizational observation using appropriate methods
- Implementing necessary changes to enhance equality and prevent marginalization
- Prioritizing these changes based on the culture and needs of the organization
- Designing and evaluating programs to enact these changes
- Leading organizations through sustainable transformation
Degree Requirements / Timelines
This master's program requires 11 total courses across four core curricular areas.
Students pursuing the MA full-time typically complete the program in 12 months to two years, depending on academic and summer course loads. Part-time students typically take courses in the evening, on the weekend, and online, allowing for completion of the program in less than 2 years.
Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion Leadership
Students in the Diversity and Inclusion Leadership certificate will explore the tools and concepts for successfully leading strategic organizational change as well as the history and ethics of law and policy as it applies to issues related to diversity, equity and inclusion. Students can choose to complete the program entirely online or in a hybrid format with both online and on campus courses. Synchronous courses, both online and in person, are offered in the evenings and on weekends making the program ideal for working professionals. Students who complete this certificate program may decide to continue on and apply to the MA in Diversity and Inclusion Leadership. If accepted into the master’s program, the credits earned toward the completion of the certificate will automatically be counted toward the master’s program.
Degree Requirements / Timelines
The certificate requires three core courses and one elective, which students can select based on their area of interest.
Visit the Diversity and Inclusion Leadership program website
Full-Time MA Track
Students in the full-time track of the Diversity and Inclusion Leadership MA are required to take 11 total courses across four core curricular areas. Full-time students typically complete the program in 12 months to two years, depending on academic and summer course loads.
Part-Time Track for Working Professionals
Using a trimester format for graduate coursework, the part-time MA in Diversity and Inclusion Leadership allows working professionals to work full-time while attending courses in the evening, on the weekend, and online, allowing completion of the program in less than 2 years. Requirements are the same as the full-time track; students are required to take 11 total courses across four core curricular areas.
Sample Part-Time Schedule*
Term
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Courses
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Offered
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Summer Session | DLS 206: Critical Histories of U.S. Education | Evening |
Fall Semester | DLS 205: Anthropology and Sociology of the School Core Seminar |
Evening Evening |
Spring Semester | DLS 265: Program Evaluation Core Seminar |
Evening Evening |
Summer Session 1 | UEP: Negotiations & Conflict Resolution | Evening |
Summer Session 2 | Elective | Evening, Weekend, Online |
Fall Semester | UEP: Quantitative Reasoning Elective |
Saturdays Evening, Weekend, Online |
Spring Semester | Teaching for Democracy Equity and Inclusion Capstone Project |
Saturdays Saturdays |
*This is a sample schedule. Course offerings and schedule are subject to change.
Faculty
The Diversity and Inclusion Leadership program is committed to holistically reviewing all applications. This means that each application will undergo a balanced review across all components to assess the student's fit with the program.
MA Application Deadlines
Fall: February 15
Fall Round 2 Deadline: May 15
Spring: October 15
Fall Part-time Track for Working Professionals: August 1
Spring Part-time Track for Working Professionals: December 15
MA Application Requirements
> Application fee
> Resume/CV
> Personal statement
> GRE scores are not required
> Official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test, if applicable
> Transcripts
> Three letters of recommendation
View all general application requirements
Certificate Application Deadlines
Spring: September 15 (international applicants) and December 15 (domestic applicants)
Fall: June 1 (international applicants) and August 1 (domestic applicants)
Certificate Application Requirements
> Application Fee
> Resume/CV
> Personal Statement
> Official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test, if applicable
> Transcripts
> One Letter of Recommendation
For more information, email certificates@tufts.edu.
For questions about your application, contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at 617.627.3395 or gradadmissions@tufts.edu.
To connect with faculty and current students in this program, please email gsas@tufts.edu.