WHAT IS THE GENDER AND DIVERSITY CERTIFICATE?
The Gender and Diversity Certificate for bachelor’s students is an optional addition to your studies that can be integrated into any degree granted by Leuphana College. It certifies expertise in the fields of gender and diversity acquired through a total of four seminars and 20 credit points (4 x 5 CP) in courses that enable the critical analysis of gender, inclusion and exclusion, power and protest, social inequality, diversity and difference, and equality of opportunity. All seminars are offered as part of Complementary Studies.
WHY STUDY GENDER AND DIVERSITY?
Issues of gender and other forms of social difference shape every aspect of culture, politics, society and economy. And yet they are frequently overlooked in many fields of study and research. The study of gender, diversity and social difference can thus broaden, enrich, challenge or transform established approaches. This can help students gain a fuller or more accurate understanding of the world they inhabit and develop the tools to think critically about the ways in which they might help shape it. It can help prepare students for professional careers within civil society organisations, politics, the cultural sector, or in business and industry.
CAN THE CERTIFICATE BE INTEGRATED INTO ALL BACHELOR’S DEGREES?
Yes – with the exception of degrees in teaching training. This is because teaching training degrees only require one seminar (5 CP) in Complementary Studies. However, students of teaching training who would like to acquire the Certificate are able to do so by participating in additional Complementary Studies seminars (in total, two foundation seminars and two extension seminars within the certificate).
WHICH COURSES DO I NEED TO TAKE?
The certificate is made up of two foundation seminars and two extension seminars. The foundation seminars are taught in English. Some extension seminars are held in German and others in English.
Foundation Seminars:
- “Theories, Concepts and Practices of Gender Studies” (5 CP) takes place in the summer semester in the “Individual & Society” subject area of Complementary Studies. In addition, this seminar may sometimes also be offered during the winter semester.
- “Theories and Applications of Intersectionality and Multidimensionality” (5 CP) takes place in the winter semester in the “Economy & Innovation” subject area of Complementary Studies. In addition, this seminar may sometimes also be offered during the summer semester.
Extension Seminars:
- In addition to the two foundation seminars, the certificate also requires two further extension courses (2 x 5 CP) be taken within Complementary Studies.
Extension courses vary from semester to semester and can be chosen from an average of ten different seminars offered in most (if not all) of the six Complementary Studies subject areas: “Digitality & Technology”, “Art & Communication”, “Nature & Environment”, “Values & Identity”, “Economy & Innovation”, “Individual & Society”. Extension seminars are offered in both the summer and winter semesters.
DO I NEED TO REGISTER?
Yes. Although this is possible at any time, we recommend you register at least six weeks prior to the start of the lecture period.
To the registration form.
Once you are registered, you will gain the right to early enrollment in one seminar within the Gender and Diversity certificate per semester. To enroll early for a seminar, please write to gdz-bachelor@leuphana.de specifying the course. The deadline will be announced via the email list to which all participants will be subscribed.
If you are no longer interested in obtaining the certificate, please de-register via: gdz-bachelor@leuphana.de.
HOW CAN I FIND GENDER AND DIVERSITY CERTIFICATE COURSES?
You can find courses offered within the Gender and Diversity Certificate via myStudy. Search for the “Gender-Diversity-Zertifikat” tag using the “Extended Search Options” tool. You can also register for courses via myStudy. An overview of all courses can also be found here.
DO I NEED TO DOCUMENT THE COURSES I HAVE COMPLETED WITHIN THE CERTIFICATE?
Yes. Once you have completed the two foundation seminars and two extension seminars, please send details (course names, dates (i.e. semesters) completed, and examination numbers) along with your Transcript of Records to gdz-bachelor@leuphana.de. You will receive confirmation which you can then send to Student Services. The Gender and Diversity Certificate will be issued by the person at Student Services responsible for your major.
I HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED SEMINARS WITH A FOCUS ON GENDER AND DIVERSITY WITHIN COMPLEMENTARY STUDIES. CAN THEY BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT?
Please write to gdz-bachelor@leuphana.de to find out whether a particular seminar can be recognised within the Gender and Diversity Certificate. Please indicate whether the seminar was formally part of the certificate program. If not, please include the official seminar description from myStudy along with the syllabus/reading list.
I AM STUDYING IN AN ADVANCED SEMESTER. CAN I STILL PARTICIPATE?
Yes. However, please make sure that you have enough time remaining to complete both foundation seminars and extension seminars, if you have not done so already. As this can be time-consuming, it is best to register for the certificate early in your studies.
I HAVE COMPLETED ALL THE REQUIRED COURSES. WHERE DO I GET THE CERTIFICATE?
Once you have completed the two foundation seminars and two extension seminars, please send details (course names, dates (i.e. semesters) completed, and examination numbers) along with your Transcript of Records to gdz-bachelor@leuphana.de. You will receive confirmation which you can then send to Student Services. The Gender and Diversity Certificate will be issued by the person at Student Services responsible for your major.
I HAVE TAKEN A COURSE ABOUT GENDER OR DIVERSITY DURING MY SEMESTER ABROAD. CAN THIS BE RECOGNISED AS PART OF THE CERTIFICATE?
In principle, yes this is possible. Please write to gdz-bachelor@leuphana.de. Include the title of the course and the official course description along with the syllabus/reading list and a copy of your Transcript of Records (or equivalent) from the university at which you studied, providing evidence that you passed the seminar.
I AM TEACHING A SEMINAR AT LEUPHANA. CAN THIS BE INCLUDED IN THE CERTIFICATE?
Yes, this is encouraged! If you are teaching a Complementary Studies seminar that includes a substantial engagement with questions of gender and/or diversity or related issues we will be happy to include it in the certificate program. Related issues include but are not limited to questions of sexuality, disability, racism, migration, diaspora, intersectionality, queerness, antisemitism, indigenous issues, transgender issues. If you are unsure whether your seminar is a good fit, please feel free to get in touch with us at gdz-bachelor@leuphana.de.
To include your seminar in the certificate program, simply add the “Gender-Diversity -Zertifikat” tag in myStudy. The list of tags is included under the “Content/Inhaltliches” section you will be asked to complete when entering the details about your seminar to myStudy. Once the tag has been added, a member of the Gender and Diversity Certificate team will take a look at the seminar and either approve its inclusion or approach you with a request for further information. Seminars can be taught in either English or German. Seminars taught by both regular teaching staff (Deputatslehre) and guest lecturers (Lehraufträge) can be included within the certificate.
The inclusion of your seminar within the certificate program will not entail any additional work on your behalf. Students enrolled in the certificate are eligible for early enrolment in one certificate seminar per semester.
IF I ENCOUNTER PROBLEMS OR DIFFICULTIES IN THE COURSE OF MY STUDIES, WHO CAN I CONTACT?
If you have questions about the certificate, you can contact either gdz-bachelor@leuphana.de or the Academic Director of Gender Studies, Dr. Ben Trott (ben.trott@leuphana.de), who is responsible for the certificate.
In addition to the university’s Central Equal Opportunities Officer and the Decentral Equal Opportunites Officers located within each of the schools, as well as the Ompudsperson for Students and Teachers and the Student Union (AStA), there are also a series of other services available and contact points in case you encounter problems or difficulties.
You can find a list of the services and contact points here.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES OFFICER
Dr. Kathrin van Riesen
Universitätsallee 1, C7.323
21335 Lüneburg
Tel.: +49.4131.677-1060
kathrin.van_riesen@leuphana.de
DECENTRAL EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES OFFICERS IN THE SCHOOLS
The contact details for to decentral equal opportunities officers in the schools can be found here.
OMBUDSPERSON FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS
Thies Reinck, M.A.
Universitätsallee 1, C10.319
21335 Lüneburg
Tel.: +49 4131 677 1087
thies.reinck@leuphana.de
DIRECTOR OF THE LEUPHANA COLLEGE
Dr. Michaela Wieandt Universitätsallee 1, C8.107
Tel.: +49-4131 677-1435
michaela.wieandt@leuphana.de
COMPLEMENTARY STUDIES
Leuphana College
Complementary Studies (Bachelor)
Universitätsallee 1, C8.121
21335 Lüneburg
Tel. +49.4131.677-2327
komplementaerstudium@leuphana.de
STUDENT UNION (ASTA LÜNEBURG)
AStA Website
buero@asta-lueneburg.de
PSYCHOLOGISCHE BERATUNGSSTELLE (PBS) STUDIERENDENWERK OST NIEDERSACHSEN
Online counseling of the psychotherapeutic counseling centre
Registration: Sylvia Goeritz
Tel. +49 4131 9927-601
pbs.lg@stw-on.de