Certificate
Part-Time Only
Fall, Spring, Summer
Online
About the School Discipline Reform Certificate at Loyola
As an education professional, you have a commitment to serving your students and community by understanding, shaping, and implementing prevention-oriented approaches to school discipline. Through the School Discipline Reform certificate program at Loyola University Chicago, you will learn on-the-ground strategies that are alternatives to the longstanding overuse of suspension and expulsion and the racial/ethnic and special education disparities within current disciplinary practices.
This one-of-a-kind program, delivered through Loyola Online, draws on the expertise of Loyola faculty across a broad range of disciplines, including school psychology, anti-racism, law, education, restorative practices and policy. Through this certificate program, you will learn to look at the root cause of discipline inequity drivers and gain skills to respond in a planful way so that you can engage with students differently than traditional punitive means.
The Loyola School Discipline Reform certificate program is designed for a range of school practitioners, including superintendents, principals, other school and district-level administrators, school attorneys, discipline deans, school psychologists, school social workers, counselors, teachers, and other educators.
Program Structure
The School Discipline Reform Certificate is a part-time program delivered through Loyola Online.
Why Choose Loyola for the School Discipline Reform Certificate?
- Led by faculty experts across disciplines
- Prepare to lead school discipline reform
- Designed for education professionals
- One-of-a-kind certificate program
- Fully online, part-time program
- Prepare for changing roles
You will learn from faculty across a range of disciplines, from law to school psychology.
Gain the tools and skills you need to lead comprehensive initiatives to reduce suspensions and expulsions and their adverse impacts on vulnerable students.
This program is for a broad range of school practitioners, from superintendents to principals and school psychologists to teachers.
While other programs focus on practices like restorative justice, Loyola's school discipline reform certificate is believed to be the first to integrate expertise across disciplines.
This part-time program is delivered through Loyola Online, allowing school practitioners like you to build knowledge and skills while you continue to work in your role.
With the trend to change titles and roles from discipline dean to culture and climate facilitator, this program benefits school practitioners who are facing such changes.
School Psychology Department
The Department of School Psychology fosters a close-knit community where future school psychologists are trained to collaborate with educators, parents, and community members. Students gain the skills to provide high-quality academic, behavioral, and mental health support to PK-12 students, all while focusing on social justice. Aligned with Loyola’s mission, the program emphasizes research and evidence-based practices to create equitable school experiences for historically underserved populations. Through collaboration and a commitment to justice, we prepare school psychologists to drive transformative change in education. Learn more about the department and discover stories featuring current students and graduates from the School of Education.
Department WebsiteMeet the Faculty
Professor Pamela A. Fenning, Ph.D., ABPP, is the chair of the School Discipline Reform program. She brings her work as both a licensed clinical and school psychologist and researcher who has studied the topic of discipline disparities for years. She is joined by Miranda Johnson and Kathleen Hirsman with the School of Law who bring their experience as attorneys.
Restorative justice practitioners add to the complement of faculty expertise with on-the-ground restorative work in schools and with training cadres of educators and administrators.
Additional faculty are practicing school administrators and psychologists who round out the faculty with bringing the realities of implementation to the forefront.
School Discipline Reform: Career Connections
While the School Discipline Reform certificate program does not prepare students for specific jobs, it does better prepare school practitioners in the following roles to handle behavior and discipline in less punitive and more restorative ways.
Specific job options include:
- Administrators
- Counselors
- Discipline deans
- Principals
- School attorneys
- School psychologists
- School social workers
- Superintendents
- Teachers
Because Loyola is a member of the Jesuit network of 27 colleges and universities nationwide, our graduates can access career advising services, resume and interviewing assistance, career fairs and events, and employment listings in our Career Services center, as well as at career centers at other U.S. Jesuit colleges and universities.
Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook is a good place to start exploring the job outlook and pay potential for specific careers and fields that interest you.
Loyola Stories
Curriculum and Program Outcomes
While courses for the School Discipline Reform Certificate program may vary from semester to semester, Loyola’s extensive Academic Catalog will always house the official listing of courses, programs of study, academic policies, degree requirements, and specialization or concentration options.
Additionally, this resource will provide School Discipline Reform Certificate learning outcomes, showcasing the commitment to specific skills and growth graduates can expect to achieve following completion of the program.
2024-2025 Catalog
Browse Academic CatalogSchool Discipline Reform Certificate Results and Skills
The School Discipline Reform Certificate will help you develop foundational skills to:
- Apply fundamental legal principles and law to school discipline practices
- Conduct a root cause analysis based on school and district-level discipline data
- Develop and conduct a needs assessment related to school discipline in various settings
- Use restorative dialogue and a variety of proactive and responsive circles
- Address challenges at the school or district level by applying restorative and anti-racist practices
- Use research-based practices to prevent and respond to behavior within a framework of multi-tiered systems of support
- Create action plans for using prevention-oriented alternatives to exclusionary school discipline practices in a variety of settings
Costs, Scholarships, and Aid
Loyola University Chicago is committed to making your graduate and professional studies a reality. Our Cost & Financial Aid page can help better inform you about the costs and potential funding opportunities through scholarships, loans, and aid for graduate and professional education.
If you are a current Loyola undergraduate or alum, you may be eligible for a Returning Rambler discount. Learn more and see if you qualify on our Returning Rambler Scholarship page.
Tuition and Costs
The estimated tuition and fees for the School Discipline Reform Certificate totals $8560.00, or 8 credit hours at a cost of $1,070.00 per credit hour. Please note that tuition and fees for all of Loyola's academic programs are subject to change.
For more detailed information about tuition and fees, and a breakdown of how these costs are calculated on a yearly basis, please visit Tuition and Fees from the Office of the Bursar.
School of Education Financial Aid & Scholarships
Loyola University Chicago is committed to making your graduate and professional studies a reality. Our Cost and Financial Aid page can help better inform you about the costs and potential funding opportunities through scholarships, loans, and aid for graduate and professional education. You may also visit the School of Education Scholarships page for detailed information about eligible scholarships.
If you are a current Loyola undergraduate or recent alum, you may be eligible for a Returning Rambler discount. Learn more and see if you qualify on our Returning Rambler Scholarship page.
More information about financial aid opportunities can be found on the Financial Aid Office website.
Appointments and Events
Whether you’re just beginning your search, in the midst of the application process, or eager to explore our graduate and professional programs, our admissions staff is here to assist you every step of the way.
Schedule an AppointmentThe School of Education offers graduate open houses, information sessions, individual appointments, open Zoom and text sessions, and a multitude of other ways to get to know us better.
View all EventsVisit and Connect With Us
With our visit opportunities, you can tour our beautiful Chicago campuses and learn more about Loyola's ties to one of the most prestigious cities in the world.
Application Process
Application Deadlines
The available start terms and corresponding application deadlines for the School Discipline Reform Certificate are listed below. Please keep in mind that both the application and the required materials must be submitted by the specified deadline.
Fall, Spring, & Summer: Rolling admission
Application Requirements
Application requirements for the School Discipline Reform Certificate include:
Official transcripts from all institutions attended
3.0 Minimum GPA
Resume/CV
Statement of Purpose
Statement of Purpose Details
Your statement should be 1-3 pages and describe your personal and professional interests and reasons for pursuing this program.
Official Documents
Applicants must submit official transcripts from all institutions attended. Official transcripts are those that are sent directly by the college/university to Loyola University Chicago. Transcripts (with U.S. educational credentials) sent by the student to Loyola are considered unofficial documents, and while they may be utilized for initial review of your application, official transcripts are still required. Official documents should be sent by the institution to gradapp@luc.edu.
International Applicant Requirements
An official English language proficiency exam is required for international applicants whose native language is not English. If you have non-U.S. educational credentials, you are required to submit an official transcript evaluation. The transcript evaluation cannot be waived, and unofficial transcripts will not be accepted for international applicants.
Please visit our International Applicant Requirements page for specific information regarding the application process for international students.
Start Your Application
Applying online to the School Discipline Reform Certificate program is a swift, uncomplicated, and cost-free process. After submission, you can proceed to send and upload any additional requirements.
APPLY TODAY