Diversity and Inclusion Leadership
In the interdisciplinary Diversity and Inclusion Leadership program, you will learn to lead, create, and assess inclusive organizational change.
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Program Overview
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Curriculum
- 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
M.A. in Diversity and Inclusion Leadership
In the Diversity and Inclusion Leadership program, you will learn the scholarly theories and practical tools to implement institutional changes that promote diversity and foster inclusivity. To be an effective leader in diversity and inclusion, you must understand the social contexts and psychological processes that result in implicit bias, discrimination, and marginalization. 
Organizations are increasingly creating roles such as 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.
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
Our Approach
Since this program is truly interdisciplinary in nature, you may choose from a suite of courses designed and inspired in part from the suggested training goals of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE).
Students may complete the program in one to two years depending on academic and summer course load.
Two-year plan – Individuals in the standard track of the program take two courses per semester and have the opportunity to write a thesis in the second year of this track.
One-year plan – Individuals in this track should have several years of work experience before attempting the program. Students will need to take to an average of three courses per semester (including summer) and take an internship, practicum, or civic engagement project over the summer.
There are a variety of courses available that allow you to tailor your program to best suit individual goals. The program includes four knowledge components, comprising of one core course and your choice of an elective. The final component consists of a capstone project with thesis or civic engagement/internship options.
View all DLS courses. Not all courses offered every year, please check SIS for current offerings and descriptions.
I. Individuals, Groups, & Society
This course is a year-long interdisciplinary introduction into the program. It is taught by at least two faculty members from participating departments. It provides an introduction and detailed examination of the key theoretical foundations in contemporary ideas about diversity and inclusion.
This elective provides a contextual and theoretical foundation to core issues in diversity and inclusion.
This elective involves learning about cultural perspectives, understanding biases, and acquiring the skills and cultural humility necessary to succeed in diverse environments.
II. Organizational and Interpersonal Leadership
This course provides leadership skills necessary to be successful in diverse contexts and how to promote organizational change.
This elective provides information concerning how to manage and resolve conflicts and influence
III. Research Design, Measurement, & Analytics
This course provides information on the measurement and evaluation of programs and policies and the legal context of these programs.
This course will provide the modern digital, statistical, and visual tools available to administrative leaders.
IV. Integrative Capstone Experience
An important part of students’ academic and professional development is a practical experience that integrates and synthesizes their knowledge within the areas studied above. Two options are available to meet this requirement:
This is a one-semester project involving an internship-like experience. This activity and will require a written summary at completion. This document should focus on the integration of theoretical and conceptual ideas from coursework with applied experiences–enabling the student to demonstrate understanding and application of critical concepts. The second 3-credit activity could be a second semester of an internship or related experience, or a companion elective course suggested by the student or a listed course from one of the three components above. This course-oriented option is for individuals attempting to complete the course of study in a single year, where an extended experience would not be possible.
The thesis option is an integrative one-year activity available only to individuals taking two years to complete the degree. It consists of standard thesis requirements with both a written document and oral presentation of an original scholarly idea to a faculty committee. The thesis option would be strongly encouraged for those students thinking of using the program as a foundation for further Ph.D. studies.
Each cohort will have an annual presentation day to share their integrative capstone to promote a unified experience and sense of community to this interdisciplinary program.
Faculty
The application deadline is February 15 for fall enrollment, and October 15 for spring enrollment.
Competitive applications will be considered on a space-available basis after the deadline.
For questions about this program, contact Dean Robert Cook, interim program director, and Ariana Hajmiragha, program administrator.
For questions about your application, contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at 617.627.3395 or gradadmissions@tufts.edu.