Make a More Meaningful Impact with an SEL Certificate
Enroll in Arcadia University’s online Graduate Certificate in Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Cultural Wellbeing to develop the skills you need to address the non-academic factors that impact student success. Learn to utilize culturally and emotionally responsive methods of teaching and build more supportive learning environments for your students in small, flexible courses taught by field experts.
This SEL certificate offers a fast, affordable way to gain specialized expertise for your career. Complete the program in as little as one year for a standalone credential, or you can combine it with another certificate and a capstone to earn a Modular Master’s degree.
- No application fee
- 1 year to completion
- No GRE or GMAT required to apply
Chart Your Own Path With Arcadia’s Online Certificates
As a working educator, your time is valuable. Arcadia’s online certificate programs meet your needs with maximum flexibility – choose from three start dates a year as well as full- and part-time options that empower you to study at your own pace. Finish four convenient online courses to earn your SEL certificate in as little as one year, or complete an additional certificate and capstone to earn a Modular Master’s degree.
At Arcadia, you can earn an affordable online credential and build the specialized skills you need to support the emotional wellbeing of your students and colleagues. Our certificate programs place a more promising future within your grasp.
Learn More Today
Complete the form to learn more about this online program from Arcadia University.
Help Fill the Need for Trauma-Responsive Educators
Mental and emotional health disorders are on the rise, especially among young people.1 This has led to an increased demand for educators who are skilled in trauma-informed practices that help students build and maintain mental and emotional wellness. With Arcadia’s online SEL certificate, you’ll develop the specialized skills to help fill this need and respond to America’s mounting mental health crisis by building more engaging and supportive learning environments for your students.
Candidates who hold valid Pennsylvania Educator Certificates at the conclusion of their programs are eligible to earn the PK-12 Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Wellness Endorsement. Those not pursuing the endorsement will graduate with trauma-responsive SEL strategies applicable to any academic or professional setting.
Explore Emotional Wellbeing and Research-Based Practices
Complete 12 credit hours across four courses to earn Arcadia University’s online Graduate Certificate in Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Cultural Wellbeing. In this program, you’ll learn from expert faculty in flexible classes and gain hands-on practice through 25 total hours of fieldwork. Earn your certificate in one year as a standalone credential, or continue your studies to earn a second certificate and a Modular Master’s degree.
Course Highlights:
ED585A: Positive Behavior Supports in the Classroom
Designed to provide students with expertise in positive behavioral approaches including school wide systems of support, effective classroom management, and individual behavioral support. This course uses both instructional and functional approaches to behavior to encourage schools to be culturally responsive systems of support for students, professionals, and families. Effective collaboration with families and the teaching of prosocial skills are also addressed. (8 hours of fieldwork required)
ED585B: Foundations of Social Emotional Wellness: Educator and Student Flourishing
This course explores the foundational principles of social-emotional wellness with a focus on fostering flourishing environments for educators and students. Participants will engage in an in-depth examination of social-emotional development across the lifespan, within the context of cultural diversity and inclusivity. The course also integrates key tenets of positive psychology and strength-based educational practices providing teachers with opportunities for self-reflection on their social-emotional competence and flourishing. (No fieldwork required)
ED585C: Trauma Informed Communities & Mental Health Literacy
This course explores the impact of adverse childhood experiences and trauma on individuals and communities and provides evidence-based strategies for creating trauma-informed environments. Additionally, participants will develop mental health literacy to better support students and family members facing mental health challenges. The course aims to empower educators to contribute to the creation of compassionate and supportive educational spaces. The role of the teacher and the school in contributing to suicide prevention initiatives is emphasized. (7 hours of fieldwork required)
ED585D: Social Emotional Learning, Prevention & Intervention
This course focuses on integrating social-emotional learning (SEL) into prevention and intervention strategies within educational contexts, with a specific emphasis on cultural responsiveness. Participants will explore evidence-based SEL programs and interventions that address a range of issues while equipping educators with the skills to develop a comprehensive SEL framework that promotes the overall well-being of students from diverse cultural backgrounds. Students will explore strategies to integrate SEL into academic content instruction across the grade span. Emphasis will be placed on proactive approaches to encourage the development of social-emotional competence, prevent social and behavioral issues, and support students in need. (10 hours of fieldwork required)
More About the Modular Masters Experience
Complete two certificates and a capstone to graduate with a master’s in fields such as healthcare, education, behavioral health, organizational leadership, finance, and more.
What You Need to Apply for the Online SEL Certificate
The admission process for the online social, emotional, and behavioral wellness certificate begins with submitting your application. You’ll also need to meet the following requirements:
| Online Application | Apply now |
| Application Fee | $0 |
| Degree and Minimum GPA | Bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA from an accredited institution |
| Transcripts | Official transcripts from each college, university, or professional school attended |
| Additional Requirements |
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Earn a Fast, Affordable Online Certificate
The online Graduate Certificate in Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Cultural Wellbeing includes 12 credit hours at a cost of $750 per hour, making it a competitively priced option for professionals seeking to build specialized skills to get further in their careers. In as little as one year, you’ll earn a high-impact credential to enact culturally and emotionally responsive changes in your school and make a more meaningful difference in the lives of students.
Arcadia University is a Military Friendly® School and a proud participant in the Yellow Ribbon program. We encourage you to learn more about options for financing your education by contacting our enrollment team.
What You Will Learn
In the online SEL certificate program, you’ll explore topics including social-emotional wellness, positive behavior supports, mental health literacy, and more. Complete your certificate in as little as one year prepared with the expertise you need to build emotional resilience in your students, your colleagues, and yourself.
Certificate Outcomes
After completing the Graduate Certificate in Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Cultural Wellbeing, you will be able to:
- Interrogate the role of systemic racism in creating disproportionate access to quality SEL and mental health treatment for minority youth.
- Assess how learners from different backgrounds experience the school environment and reflect on how your cultural lens and potential biases might influence your interactions with diverse students and families.
- Design and facilitate culturally relevant learning that brings real-world experiences into educational spaces for your colleagues and students.
- Foster positive, culturally responsive learning spaces that are free of destructive and harmful microaggressions and that nurture creativity, build self-esteem, support agency, and lead to self-actualization for all learners.
- Integrate the science of positive psychology in fostering psychological resilience and wellbeing by increasing people’s ability to experience positive emotions, identify and use their strengths, find meaning and purpose, develop positive relationships, and accomplish their goals.
- Assess your strengths and areas of potential growth regarding cultural competence and teacher social-emotional competence in order to develop and enact professional development plans to optimize your understandings, skills, and strategies related to educator resilience and wellbeing.
- Meets the program learning outcomes required for PDE’s Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Wellness of PK-12 Students Endorsement.
Learn Online From SEL Experts
At Arcadia University, you can take full advantage of our small class sizes by interacting with expert faculty members in a flexible, convenient online setting. Educators who teach the SEL certificate program are passionate about integrating culturally responsive approaches to education and supporting the positive development of social-emotional learning in school settings.
Faculty Spotlight
Kim Dean, Ph.D., NCSP, Associate Professor, Blankley Chair in Education
Dr. Kim Dean completed her doctorate in school psychology with a concentration in behavior analysis at the University of South Florida. In addition to her social-emotional learning work, she specializes in autism spectrum disorders. Dean helped to develop Arcadia’s Autism Certificate Program as well as the Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis. She is a faculty mentor to the REAL Certificate, a two-year program serving students with intellectual and developmental disabilities at Arcadia.
Full Bio
Dean's current research and clinical work is focused on teacher education, and she is also working with a USAID grant supporting five Egyptian universities in developing teacher and leadership education programs for innovative residential STEM schools in Egypt.
Online Learning Experience
Arcadia’s online programs bring together the best aspects of flexibility and personal guidance. You can study at your pace, accessing the online coursework at convenient times for your schedule. At the same time, we built our online environment to provide seamless engagement with your instructors and classmates. Benefit from a highly flexible experience backed by ongoing support for achieving your career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to frequently asked questions you may have about our online SEL Certificate. If you have any other questions, request more information to connect with an enrollment advisor or call us @ 855-235-6653.
What is social-emotional learning?
Social-emotional learning is an educational method that integrates the concepts of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making into the traditional school curriculum. The goal of this method is to help students develop social and emotional skills as well as traditional academic knowledge.
Does Arcadia's online Graduate Certificate in Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Cultural Wellbeing meet the requirements for any state endorsements?
Yes, the online Graduate Certificate in Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Cultural Wellbeing program meets the Pennsylvania PK-12 Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Wellness Endorsement requirements. Candidates who hold valid Pennsylvania Educator Certificates at the conclusion of their programs are eligible to earn this endorsement.
Does Arcadia's online Graduate Certificate in Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Cultural Wellbeing require an entrance exam like the MAT or GRE?
Entrance exams are not required for admission. You can learn about our admission requirements here, or contact an Enrollment Counselor for more information at getstarted@arcadia.edu or 855-235-6653.
Does Arcadia's online Graduate Certificate in Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Cultural Wellbeing program require work experience?
Work experience is always recommended, but it is not required for admission. Interested in more information? Request it here and we’ll be in touch soon, or contact us at 855-235-6653.
How do I apply to Arcadia's online Graduate Certificate in Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Cultural Wellbeing online program?
The first step is to start your application.
Sources
- Abrams, Zara. “Kids’ mental health is in crisis. Here’s what psychologists are doing to help.” American Psychological Association. Jan. 1, 2023. Retrieved Jan. 29, 2024 from https://www.apa.org/.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. “Educational Instruction and Library Occupations.” Occupational Outlook Handbook. Sept. 6, 2023. Retrieved Feb. 7, 2024 from https://www.bls.gov/.
