USD is First University in California to Offer Master’s Program in Restorative Justice

Restorative justice is a growing movement that takes a collaborative approach, rather than punitive approach, when it comes to preventing or responding to harm caused by crime and conflict. The School of Leadership and Education Sciences at the University of San Diego (USD) has launched a master’s program focused on that – the Master of Arts in Restorative Justice Facilitation and Leadership. It is one of only four restorative justice graduate programs in the country. The program equips students with the in-depth knowledge and skills needed to facilitate restorative justice processes for responding to incidents of harm while fostering healing within communities.

In the education sector, research shows exposure to restorative practices improves students’ academic achievement and reduces suspension rates and duration. Also, schools that increased their use of restorative practices saw improved student behavior and school safety. When it comes to the criminal justice sector, several restorative justice models have been shown to better meet the needs of crime victims, reduce recidivism, and can minimize the social and fiscal costs of crime.

Graduates of the Master of Arts in Restorative Justice go on to leadership roles in a wide variety of settings, including in education, nonprofit organizations, and criminal justice agencies. The program takes 17 months to complete and includes seven online classes, two one-week classes on campus, and one travel seminar. The program is currently recruiting students, and the first cohort will begin classes in Fall 2024. 

"Restorative justice is a much needed approach to harm and conflict in our highly divided society. It is an emerging global movement that embraces personal and community empowerment, collaboration, and personal accountability to address harm and strengthen relationships," said David Karp, PhD, Director of the Center for Restorative Justice in the School of Leadership and Education Sciences at USD. 

Karp is a leading expert in the restorative justice field. He is co-principal investigator for the National Center on Restorative Justice funded by the U.S. Department of Justice. Karp was the recipient of the 2019 Leadership and Innovation Award from the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice and the 2011 Donald D. Gehring Award from the Association for Student Conduct Administration. He has published more than 100 academic papers and six books, including The Little Book of Restorative Justice for Colleges and Universities, Wounds That Do Not Bind: Victim-Based Perspectives on the Death Penalty and The Community Justice Ideal. 

About the University of San Diego

Strengthened by the Catholic intellectual tradition, we confront humanity’s challenges by fostering peace, working for justice and leading with love. With more than 8,000 students from 75 countries and 44 states, USD is the youngest independent institution on the U.S. News & World Report list of top 100 universities in the United States. USD’s eight academic divisions include the College of Arts and Sciences, the Knauss School of Business, the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, the School of Law, the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, and the Division of Professional and Continuing Education. In 2021, USD was named a “Laudato Si’ University” by the Vatican with a seven-year commitment to address humanity’s urgent challenges by working together to take care of our common home.