New Graduate Certificate FAQ

Q: What is the difference between a specialization and a certificate?

A: Certificates and specializations serve a different purpose. A certificate can stand alone or be added to a master's experience. A specialization cannot stand alone and must live as a part of the master's experience. All three can be done at the same time. A master’s degree, a certificate, and a specialization.

Additionally, if you pursue a specialization within your master’s degree program, your capstone project must relate to your specialization. If you include a certificate in the degree, your capstone project can be related to any topic of interest for you. If you include a specialization and a certificate in your master’s program, your capstone project must relate to your specialization.

Q: I already completed either the Graduate Certificate in Restorative Practices or the Master of Science in Restorative Practices degree with the IIRP. Can I apply for this certificate?

A: Yes.

Please note: If you completed any of the courses required for this certificate during your degree studies, you may apply one of the courses you completed for the degree toward the certificate. In this case, you must complete three more courses to fulfill the certificate's requirements. If you completed more than one of the courses required for the certificate in your prior program, you must work with your faculty advisor to select appropriate courses to complete the new certificate.

Q: What are the admission requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Relational Facilitation for Healing Trauma?

A: Submit an application to the Graduate Certificate in Relational Facilitation for Healing Trauma under the Apply tab in your student portal.

Order an official transcript from your Bachelor’s degree-granting institution. To be considered official, transcripts must be sent directly from the educational institution to transcripts@iirp.edu or to our mailing address: IIRP, 531 Main St. Bethlehem, PA 18018-5837. If you are a current student or alumni, please contact Student Services to see if we have your transcript on file.

Q: I am currently enrolled in the master’s degree at the IIRP. Can I add the Graduate Certificate in Relational Facilitation to my current studies?

A: Yes. You first need to submit the application to the Graduate Certificate in Relational Facilitation for Healing Trauma under the Apply tab of your student portal.

Next, discuss the course requirements with your faculty advisor to ensure you enroll in the correct courses each term.

Q: Why are RP 500/RP 504 course prerequisites for students in the Graduate Certificate in Restorative Practices and Master of Science degree in Restorative Practices, but not for the courses in Graduate Certificate in Relational Facilitation for Healing Trauma?

A:The designers of the Graduate Certificate in Relational Facilitation for Healing Trauma have been attentive to integrating specific concepts from RP 500/504 and RP 525 into the four-course sequences for the new certificates.

Q: I see that RP 500/RP 504 is not required for the Graduate Certificate in Relational Facilitation for Healing Trauma, but I see these courses are prerequisites for RP 550. Will I be prepared to begin my studies with RP 550?

A: Yes. The faculty member is prepared to provide needed support.

Q: If I enroll in the degree plus the Graduate Certificate in Relational Facilitation for Healing, are the order of the prerequisites the same? Could I begin with RP 550, one of the 600-level courses, then RP 504 and RP 525, or must I follow the traditional prerequisite logic (RP 500/504 before RP 550 and RP 525 before any 600-level course).

A: Students enrolled in the master’s degree and the Graduate Certificate in Relational Facilitation for Healing may follow the prerequisite requirements for either program.

Q: Can I pursue both the Graduate Certificate in Restorative Practices and the Graduate Certificate in Relational Facilitation for Healing Trauma?

A: Yes, but you must fully complete one graduate certificate before beginning the next.

You may apply one course for your Graduate Certificate in Restorative Practices to the Graduate Certificate in Relational Facilitation for Healing Trauma.

Q: Are any of these courses synchronous?

A: All four (4) courses for the Relational Facilitation for Healing Trauma certificate are mostly asynchronous but feature required weekly, 1-hour, synchronous video meetings every weekend. Some of these courses have additional synchronous requirements scheduled by students. This information is listed in the course description on the Course Offerings page, the Graduate Course Schedule page, and in your student portal.

Q: If I am enrolled in the degree program and decide to add the certificate, can I earn over 30 credits to fulfill both the degree and certificate requirements?

A: Yes.

Q: Will the new certificates have the same alumni TOT benefit for students who have not taken RP 504?

A: All alumni may attend any Training of Trainers as an alumni benefit.

Most alumni may attend the Training of Trainers: Fundamentals of Restorative Practices without attending Restorative Practices for Educators. Alumni of the Graduate Certificate in Relational Facilitation for Healing Trauma must attend the Restorative Practices for Educators (at no cost) before attending the Training of Trainers: Fundamentals of Restorative Practices.

All alumni must attend Restorative Justice Conferencing to attend the Training of Trainers: Restorative Conferencing.