Restorative justice students comprehensively study the history, theories, and philosophies behind the restorative justice paradigm and assess the varied contexts in which restorative justice may be used. Restorative justice students also examine the sociocultural political history of the American legal system and consequences of legal-correctional policies in the United States. Graduates of this program exit with in-demaind competencies such as facilitating restorative practices, trauma-aware practices for restorative justice, and restorative approaches for educational institutions.
A hallmark of this degree is the emphasis on student experience in the practice-based discipline of restorative justice: students gain direct experience in pre-conference preparation; creating safe, respectful spaces for restorative dialogue; and designing and facilitating a variety of restorative practices. Restorative justice students conceptualize, design, and facilitate restorative practices for victim-offender mediation, circle processes, and community-based reparative panels. Students gain direct experience in teaching and training others in restorative practices.
Program Outcomes
1. Students will analyze and evaluate the history, philosophy, and theory of the restorative justice paradigm and movement.
2. Students will analyze and evaluate the history and philosophy of punitive forms of justice.
3. Students will identify and assess restorative justice as a practice-based discipline, examining practices used in community, criminal justice, education, and social service contexts.
4. Students will recognize the relationship between research, theory, and practice.
5. Students will experience being in Circle and evaluate how this restorative process differs from other conflict resolution techniques.
6. Students will develop specific skill sets in restorative facilitation.
7. Students will develop specific skill sets in teaching restorative practices to others.
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