Graduate Programs
Student-centered and learner-driven.
At the IIRP, we offer flexible graduate-level programs geared toward working professionals that allow you to study where you live and work. We foster an approach of starting small and growing to bigger circles in your communities. You can tailor your plan of study to meet your individual learning goals. Each course of study convenes a diverse learning community, where you will engage with the subject matter, fellow students, and faculty. Each program requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent, along with the belief that all of us possess the power to heal our communities and the curiosity to learn how.
Become a compassionate leader, empathetic listener, and community builder.
Graduate students at the IIRP are catalysts for change, putting what they’ve learned into practice across professional settings. The study of restorative practices draws from a range of disciplines. Our graduates problem-solve in a way that fosters cohesion and creates conditions for collaborative teamwork. The coursework of this program allows learners to develop skills in emotional intelligence, self-reflection, and conflict management, equipping them to proactively build more effective relationships and positive community culture.
Build community and influence change through relational skills.
Restorative practices honors the existing strengths in a community and helps to increase personal and collective efficacy. The community engagement specialization focuses on creating adaptive solutions built on an understanding of the relational and social needs of a community.
Promote a healthy teaching and learning environment that allows students to thrive.
The education specialization provides coursework that focuses on teaching and learning using practical, timeless, evidence-based practices to create a sense of belonging, minimize harm, and improve school climate.
Trailblaze your own path and expand the field of restorative practices by adding the thesis option to your master’s degree.
Students — as well as our alumni — who wish to conduct original research may choose to pursue the Thesis Option. A faculty chair will provide guidance as you design relevant research that can be completed within a one-year time frame. By completing the Thesis Option, you can gain research experience and develop advanced competencies in scholarly writing. If you are considering a research-intensive career or are interested in pursuing doctoral-level study, the Thesis Option may be a desirable choice for you.
Delve deeper into restorative practices and go beyond training with a graduate credential.
This program will help learners develop an in-depth understanding of the foundations of relational engagement and practical frameworks to apply restorative practices appropriately in their own settings. The certificate is customizable with electives geared to different interests and practices. Learners will apply conceptual and analytical skills in evaluating the links among practice, systems, and policy issues.
Make an impact on your community and facilitate the healing process.
This certificate will be available beginning Fall 2024. This certificate is designed for individuals who work in the fields of crisis intervention, counseling, social services, criminal justice, and settings where stakeholders have been affected by specific traumatic experiences. The series of four restorative practices-informed facilitation courses equip students with practical techniques to recalibrate difficult situations. Coursework covers how different relational approaches aid facilitators as they create essential structuresthat can be utilized to support individuals and communities through crisis, trauma, and the healing process.
Effect real change in your community or organization.
This certificate will be available beginning Spring 2025. Grounded in the field of restorative practices, students earning this certificate will focus on the human side of change, emphasizing the centrality of relationships and group dynamics in the change process. Through this series of four courses, students will expand their knowledge and skills in implementing change initiatives in varied contexts, such as workplaces across industries, educational settings, and community organizations. Theoretical and practical learning in this certificate focuses on key areas, including change management and leadership; implementation science and practices; models of personal and social change; systems thinking; human capital theory; and ethical and cultural considerations.