About Art and Restorative Justice Certificate at CSUSB
What It Is & Why It’s Beneficial
Open to anyone, CSUSB’s Art and Restorative Justice Certificate explores the powerful role that the arts can play in healing, conflict resolution, and community transformation. This interdisciplinary program blends creative practice with restorative justice principles to prepare students to use artistic expression as a tool for dialogue, reflection, empowerment, and social change.
Students engage with visual arts, storytelling, performance, and community-based art-making while learning restorative frameworks such as mediation, circle processes, trauma-informed practice, and culturally responsive facilitation. Coursework emphasizes hands-on creative work, collaborative projects, and strategies for engaging individuals and communities affected by conflict, trauma, or systemic inequities.
Ideal for students in the arts, human services, education, community engagement, and social justice fields, this certificate equips learners with both the creative and relational skills needed to support restorative practices in diverse settings.
Why This Certificate Is Beneficial
✔ Combines creative practice with restorative justice principles
Students learn how art can be used to foster empathy, build community, and support healing.
✔ Builds skills for community engagement and facilitation
Participants gain tools for leading restorative dialogues, collaborative art projects, and trauma-informed activities.
✔ Addresses growing demand for restorative and arts-based programming
Schools, nonprofits, correctional facilities, and community organizations increasingly seek trained practitioners.
✔ Supports culturally responsive and equity-centered work
The program emphasizes inclusive practices that honor diverse identities, experiences, and storytelling traditions.
✔ Complements many majors and professional pathways
Useful for students in art, social work, psychology, education, sociology, criminal justice, and community leadership.
Careers in Art and Restorative Justice Certificate
Potential Careers
Graduates of the Art and Restorative Justice Certificate often pursue roles such as:
- Community Arts Facilitator
- Restorative Justice Program Assistant
- Arts in Corrections or Rehabilitation Support Staff
- Youth Arts or After-School Program Leader
- Community Outreach or Engagement Specialist
The certificate also strengthens preparation for graduate study in art therapy, social work, counseling, community arts, or restorative justice fields.
Sample Courses
Art and Activism
Students will reflect on their own experiences and design and facilitate a collaborative project with the campus or larger community applying learning about the theories and practices of art and activism.
Art and Restorative Justice
This course will introduce restorative justice and investigate the theoretical and practical applications of the arts in building awareness and impacting communities. Students will apply learning in the field through a pedagogical or social practice project and will participate in a related Service Learning project.
Positive Psychology
Exploration of theories and empirical research related to positive psychology. Topics include values, human strengths, health, positive thinking, happiness, gratitude, and close relationships.
In Summary
CSUSB’s Art and Restorative Justice Certificate empowers students to use the arts as a catalyst for healing, connection, and meaningful social change. Through interdisciplinary coursework and hands-on creative practice, the program prepares graduates to support restorative processes, strengthen communities, and lead arts-based engagement in a wide range of professional settings.
Similar to Art and Restorative Justice Certificate
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