Program Details

What you'll learn

Are you interested in effectively serving linguistically and culturally diverse individuals, families, and schools in the community? Are you interested in understanding of the role literacy plays in families within diverse communities and using literacy play, books, songs, and digital resources to engage youth (grades K – 12) and positively affect their identity development? University of Colorado Denver’s Applied Literacy for Family & Community Helping Professionals certificate will help you approach family literacy with expertise, integrity, respect, and cultural sensitivity.  

The certificate totals 12 credit hours and consists of four undergraduate courses, each three credits. You may complete it in two to four semesters. Students may begin in any term. Courses are offered in online and hybrid formats and may be applied toward CU Denver undergraduate degrees in Teacher Education or Human Development and Family Relations. All courses applied to the certificate must be completed at CU Denver. Additional courses are required for the degree programs.  

Courses

This certificate is designed as a four-course sequence.  Courses do not need to be taken in sequence. Students may begin the series with any of the four courses. 

LCRT 2000: Rebels, Villains and Superheroes: How Children’s Literature Shapes Our Identities 

This course explores both classic and contemporary children’s and adolescent literature and media in traditional and digital texts, specifically focusing on developing literary understandings, exploring perspectives and personal responses to literature, and inquiring into trends and issues. 

LCRT 3815: Once Upon a Time: Family Literacies in Culturally Diverse Communities 

This course uses sociocultural theory and perspectives as these relate to family systems and the intersection of culture, literacies, and education. Students develop an understanding about the ways reading, writing and language are embedded in family’s homes, schools, and communities. 

HDFR 4010: Family and Cultural Diversity 

The examination of familial, gender, cultural, linguistic, social and other ecological factors on diverse family systems in the United States will be covered. An ecological theoretical analysis of minority family systems within a familial, educational and social justice perspective will be explored. 

HDFR 4040: Latino Families in School and Communities 

This course will use ecological systems theory perspectives as a foundation for understanding diverse Latino family dynamics, the intersection between Latino families, schools and community systems and other critical issues that Latino family systems face in the United States. 

Tuition and Fees 

Please visit the Student Finances website for more information on CU Denver undergraduate tuition and fees.

Choose CU Denver's School of Education & Human Development 

You can trust CU Denver to provide an education that will prepare you for excellence in your career. We have a name that is recognized for preparing leaders of excellence who value diversity and inclusion. Additionally, CU Denver’s School of Education & Human Development is counted among U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Graduate Schools,” making us one of the top education schools in the country.