The certificate program in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender studies offers students a multifaceted understanding of society.

Lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people play important roles as colleagues, clients, parents, children, siblings, neighbors, employees, employers, religious leaders and friends. Given the increasing visibility and changing political climate for LGBTQ people in the United States, all students, not only those who identify themselves as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, are served well by learning about the histories, communities and contemporary social issues regarding people from LGBTQ backgrounds.

The educational experience is enhanced when students are introduced to complex intersections between and among sexual, racial, ethnic, religious, geographic and national identities. The philosophy of this certificate program in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender studies is to promote intellectual and pedagogical diversity as one of the university's greatest assets, and this is done, in part, by instilling in students a sensitivity to cultures different from their own and through careful analysis of the self in historical, artistic and sociocultural contexts.

The goals of the certificate program are to give students knowledge about the history, evolution of and current issues facing the LBGTQ community; practical experience utilizing coursework knowledge in the community through an internship or community service project; and theoretical perspectives on heterosexuality as a presumptive sexual identity. Students gain an understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender studies as an academic area of inquiry; an understanding of community politics, dynamics and conflicts; and engages in a use-inspired education that culminates in a public presentation.