Academic Catalog

Master of Science in Restorative Practices

The IIRP Master of Science degree program is designed for working professionals, so it is assumed that most students will be studying on a part-time basis. The minimum completion time for a master’s degree should be two years. 

Students must complete their degree program within five years from the time they are admitted to the program. 

A student’s failure to complete their degree requirements within the prescribed five-year period will be cause for dismissal from the IIRP. Requests for continuation or reinstatement must be presented to the Provost for review and consideration.

Students may apply at any time during the year.

Specializations

Community Engagement

Restorative practices honors the existing strengths in a community and helps to increase people’s personal and collective efficacy, creating social conditions for people to be healthier and have greater well-being. The community engagement specialization provides students with a cluster of courses that focus on relationships and social connections in the community through processes, programs, and policies.

Requirements:

To earn recognition on a transcript, you must fulfil the following, in addition to the required coursework for the Master of Science:

• Four of your electives, including two at the 600 level, must be related to the specialization. These include RP 550 Transforming Relational Harm, RP 556 Restorative Practices for Community Health and Well-Being, RP 635 Narrative Inquiry for Empowering Facilitators, RP 637 Social Justice and Restorative Practices, and RP 645 Transgenerational Resilience and Community Striving, and
• Your project for your final course, RP 699 Integrating Seminar, must be rooted in your specialization.

Education

Restorative practices promotes a healthy teaching and learning environment through practical implementation of engaging processes that are both proactive and responsive. The education specialization provides students with a cluster of courses that focus on teaching and learning. Learning includes strategies to enhance student-teacher engagement; practical classroom activities; development of teacher pedagogy; understanding students' social, emotional, neurological, and academic needs; and building on restorative frameworks to develop anti-racist education and challenge current educational system and practice.

Requirements:

To earn recognition on a transcript, you must fulfil the following, in addition to the required coursework for the Master of Science:

• Four of your electives, including two at the 600 level, must be related to the specialization. These include RP 550 Transforming Relational Harm, RP 625 Restorative Practices in Life Space Crisis Intervention, RP 652 Social and Emotional Learning in the Restorative Classroom, and RP 662 A Restorative Approach to Educating the High-Risk and High-Need Student, and
• Your project for your final course, RP 699 Integrating Seminar, must be rooted in your specialization.

Program Goals

Students will:

1. Explain foundational principles of restorative practices. 
2. Apply conceptual and analytical skills in evaluating the links among practice, systems, and policy issues.  
3. Demonstrate the ability to improve professional skills through self-reflection. 
4. Develop knowledge and skills to work with culturally and socially diverse populations in local and global contexts through a restorative practices frame. 
5. Apply critical thinking skills to an issue and determine a restorative approach. 
6. Demonstrate proficiencies in information literacy. 
7. Thesis option only: Design a research study to advance the field of restorative practices.

Graduation Requirements

Degrees are conferred at the end of the spring and fall terms.

There are three requirements in order to qualify for a diploma:

1. 30 Credits. A candidate for degree is required to successfully complete 30 academic credits. Degree requirements must be satisfied within a five-year period from the date of enrollment (unless the Provost has agreed to an alternative arrangement).
   
   
2. Completion of all required courses for the Master of Science degree program.
   
   
3. Payment of any outstanding debt.

Fall Degree Conferrals:
A candidate will file an application to graduate and register for RP 699 Integrating Seminar in the projected graduation year by August 1. Any outstanding debt to the institution must be paid by October 31.

Spring Degree Conferrals:
A candidate will file an application to graduate and register for RP 699 Integrating Seminar in the projected graduation year by March 1. Any outstanding debt to the institution must be paid by April 30.

Master of Science Course Requirements

Master of Science with Thesis Option

Students in our Master of Science degree program and alumni of the IIRP Master’s degree program who wish to expand knowledge of restorative practices by conducting original research may choose to pursue the Thesis Option. If you wish to gain research experience and develop advanced competencies in scholarly writing, are considering a research-intensive career, or are interested in pursuing doctoral-level study, the Thesis Option may be a desirable choice for you. You will work with your faculty advisor to design a plan of study that fulfills your degree requirements and allows you to still choose four electives. There are six required courses for the thesis option: RP 500 Basic Restorative Practices, RP 525 Restorative Practices in Action, RP 610 Evaluation of Research, 680 Designing Restorative Practices Research, RP 685 Data Analysis for Restorative Practices Research, and RP 699 Integrating Seminar.

Following the RP 699 Integrating Seminar, you will be prepared to initiate your research. You will register for RP 707 Thesis Seminar, an innovative seminar designed to be completed within one year, that integrates all steps of a traditional thesis experience. You will identify a faculty chair and, with the guidance of a committee, develop a research focus and conduct original research in restorative practices, culminating in a written thesis that is suitable for publication. You will earn the Master of Science in Restorative Practices degree with the thesis designation on your transcript after fulfilling these requirements.

While you are expected to complete the Thesis Seminar within one year, you may extend that experience over two years if necessary. You will have up to seven years to complete your program from the time you are admitted.

Alumni also have up to two years to complete the Thesis Seminar.

Graduate Certificates

If a student wants to earn a graduate-level credential without pursuing a degree, we offer three different Graduate Certificates, each of which require only four courses to complete and can be started in any term.

Graduate Certificate in Restorative Practices

The IIRP Graduate Certificate in Restorative Practices provides the core learning experiences of our master’s degree program: two prerequisite courses followed by two electives. Students gain knowledge and skill in restorative practices and learn tools necessary for self-evaluation and professional growth.

Program Goals

Students will:

1. Explain foundational principles of restorative practices. 
2. Apply conceptual and analytical skills in evaluating the links among practice, systems, and policy issues.  
3. Demonstrate the ability to improve professional skills through self-reflection.

Graduate Certificate in Relational Facilitation for Healing Trauma

This series of four relational practices-informed facilitation courses is designed for those who support individuals or communities in need. The online courses equip facilitators with practical techniques to recalibrate difficult situations, incorporating the relational care ladder in their approach. Self-respect, reciprocity with self and others, and role modeling processes are explored at different levels to inform facilitators as they create essential structures to nurture those experiencing adversity or trauma. Students engage in weekly sessions to practice various facilitation techniques with classmates and outside volunteers. Coursework covers how different relational approaches can be utilized to support individuals and communities through the healing process.

Program Goals

Students will:

1. Explain foundational principles of restorative practices.
2. Apply conceptual and analytical skills in evaluating the links among practice, systems, and policy issues.
3. Demonstrate the ability to improve professional skills through self-reflection.
4. Demonstrate the ability to employ restorative principles to facilitate relationship change and healing from interpersonal trauma.

Graduate Certificate in Change Implementation in Organizations and Social Systems

This certificate will be available starting Spring 2025.

Grounded in the field of restorative practices, students earning this certificate will focus on the human side of change and 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 leading to enhanced performance. They will improve their ability to strengthen interpersonal relationships and build social networks, paving the way to implement, embed, and sustain positive change. 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.

Program Goals

Students will:

1. Explain foundational principles of restorative practices.
2. Apply conceptual and analytical skills in evaluating the links among practice, systems, and policy issues.
3. Demonstrate the ability to improve professional skills through self-reflection.
4. Demonstrate the ability to utilize restorative practices principles in change implementation processes.

Plan of Study

Our course schedule features different offerings in different terms. Students should consult with their faculty advisor to create a personalized plan of study to meet their specific educational and time frame goals.

Students who have not yet been admitted to the Master of Science program or accepted to one of the Certificate programs should contact Student Services for guidance about their plan of study.