Program Overview

SDSU is one of the most diverse and inclusive universities in the nation. The commitment to diversity is even more apparent with the creation of the first Cultural Competency Certificate Program in the California State University system. Offered through the Division of Student Affairs, the Cultural Competency Certificate Program consists of cultural diversity workshops, seminars, and service learning opportunities available to all members of the SDSU community.

The Cultural Competency Certificate Program links the diversity of the university’s student population, creating an experiential shift in values, attitudes and behaviors that will result in a fully engaged workforce. Upon completion of this program, you will be able to leverage your cultural competencies in order to better access new and emerging markets.

Developing the Culturally Competent Individual

Being culturally competent means having the ability to recognize and respond to the diversity of the world around you and to make better decisions based on that understanding. The Cultural Competency Certificate Program explores cultural assumptions, teaching you to look beyond someone’s race, ethnicity, gender, orientation, family status, or disability. Ultimately, becoming culturally competent is more than recognizing and understanding biases; it is about being able to harness different perspectives that are useful in the workplace and the marketplace.

You will be provided with the tools – workshops, seminars, interactive dialogue programs, feedback – that are embedded in diversity and cultural competence. These exercises help you become aware of your own “blind spots,” i.e., when your best intentions do not align with your actual behavior. The Cultural Competency Certificate Program will allow you to grow, preparing you to achieve your full potential and represent yourself effectively in the world.