Social Emotional Learning, Character, and Ethics Certificate
Meet the needs of today’s students with SEL certification.
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Support Whole-Child Development
Social emotional learning (SEL) capacities are critical to students’ educational development. Both parents and teachers want their children to learn social and emotional skills. That’s why it’s more important than ever to develop an SEL pedagogy — and you can with a Social Emotional Learning, Character, and Ethics Certificate from Concordia University Irvine.
At Concordia, we bring a unique approach to SEL that blends leading practices with a special focus on character and ethics, so educators can foster learning environments where all their students can thrive.
The 15-unit graduate SEL certificate addresses topics related to students’ mental, social, emotional, and educational needs.
According to the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), recent surveys1 have shown that:
- 88% of parents want schools to teach students social and emotional skills like respect, cooperation, perseverance, and empathy.
- 81% of parents want their children’s school to continue teaching SEL or do more on SEL.
- 90% of teachers agree that promoting SEL improves students’ academic achievement.
- 84% of teachers say it has a positive impact on skills such as collaboration, communication, and critical thinking.
“What I liked about Concordia was it was a nice blend of pedagogy and practical application in the classroom. It was really tailored to the working educator. It was something I knew would further my professional growth – and it certainly did.”
Greg McFall ’07
Getting Started
This program consists of 15 units of specialization classes taken separately from a graduate degree program.
Next Start
August 24, 2026
Upcoming Starts
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Fall 2 2026 October 19, 2026
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Spring 1 2027 January 11, 2027
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Spring 2 2027 March 8, 2027
Curriculum
Core Curriculum (Sample Courses):
- EDCE533 – SEL Core Competencies
- EDCE541 – Mental Health Issues in Today’s Schools
- EDCE543 – Managing Classroom and School Wide Behavior
- EDCE553 – Building Character and Ethics in Today’s Schools
- EDCE561 – Trauma-Informed Practices
View the Concordia University Irvine Online Catalog for a full list of courses.
Upon completing your social emotional learning, character, and ethics certification, you’ll understand how to:
- Facilitate the development and implementation of a vision of learning that recognizes the needs of the school community.
- Collaborate with the community to promote social-emotional learning, character, and ethics within school systems.
- Engage with school and district leadership to influence trauma-informed policy and procedures and support social emotional learning implementation and alignment.
- Implement a balanced approach to decision-making in an educational environment.
- Identify strategies for lifelong learning in a global and digital world, including shaping a personal network to support continuous professional growth in servant leadership.
Tuition and Fees
At Concordia, we understand that investing in your education is a significant decision. That’s why we offer a variety of scholarships and financial aid options to help make your academic journey more affordable. View tuition costs and fees.
Admission Requirements
View the Graduate Application page for full details on application and admission requirements.
Networking Opportunities
As a graduate student at Concordia, you’ll become part of a vibrant community of over 25,000 alumni and over 3,500 peers, fostering meaningful connections that support both personal and professional growth. Our dedicated faculty and staff are committed to helping you discover and develop your callings through mentorship and collaboration.
Located in Irvine — home to more than 900 tech companies and a hub for innovation — students benefit from proximity to leading industries in life sciences and information technology. One-third of all Fortune 500 companies have a presence in Irvine, offering abundant opportunities for internships, mentorships, and career advancement.
Irvine’s strategic position in Southern California provides access to a dynamic business ecosystem, making it an ideal place to build your professional network. Whether you’re attending on-campus events or engaging with our online community, Concordia offers the resources and support to help you thrive in your various vocations.
Explore Financial Aid
Reduce your tuition costs with financial aid — with help from a team that wants to make your time at Concordia as affordable as possible.
Meet Our Faculty
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Cari Chittick
Director of Lutheran Teaching Programs and LCMS Placement, Professor of…
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Kathy Mueller
Administrative Assistant to the Dean/Assistant Director of Events and Partnerships
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Sandra Mercier
Director, MAEd Learning, Design, and Technology & Curriculum & Instruction
FAQs
Do colleges offer SEL training?
Yes, some colleges offer coursework in social emotional learning. These could be anything from a single class, to a certificate program, to a full degree.
At Concordia, you have two options:
- Enroll in the 5-course Social Emotional Learning, Character, and Ethics graduate certificate program.
- Earn the 10-course M.A. in Educational Leadership with the SEL specialization. (The five certificate courses make up half of the master’s curriculum.)
How can I become a social emotional learning specialist?
To best understand social emotional learning, you’ll want to study up on it – same as you would with plenty of other education-related topics. This could involve taking courses in SEL capacities and theories, as well as gaining a working knowledge of state requirements and existing teaching tools and practices. With enough training, you could be an SEL specialist in your school or a teacher who can also help students thrive.
Who is responsible for SEL in schools?
Ideally, everyone would be equipped to support SEL in schools – anyone who comes into contact with students throughout the school day. School leaders should take it upon themselves to make sure SEL needs are being met. At the same time, teachers, staff, and peers can support and model SEL.
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Sources
1Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), Making the Case for SEL, on the internet, at:
- https://casel.org/fundamentals-of-sel/how-can-you-make-the-case-for-sel/ (viewed Nov. 22, 2024).