Documentary Studies Certificate

The Certificate in Documentary Studies at the Northwest Writing Institute invites students, teachers, counselors and community members to document untold stories and explore new ways of understanding culture. Documentary Studies is interdisciplinary and multifaceted; it includes multiples ways of exploring the stories of our lives.

Through our eight-course sequence, participants become writers and documentarians of their families, cultures, communities and workplaces. The program offers coursework in documentary methods that include writing, photography, digital story, film, and audio-recording to support cultural inquiry, ethnography and creative expression.

We encourage work that crosses cultural boundaries and fosters collaboration. Workshops help participants to navigate ethical concerns that come with telling community stories, including the exploration of race, class, ethnicity, gender and social justice issues.

Read and watch examples of student work.

Certificate Options

Students can take the program for graduate degree-applicable credit or graduate non-degree-applicable credit (also called Continuing Education credit). Community members can also take all of the courses for the program for noncredit, but will not receive a certificate credential on their transcript.

Please contact Joanne Mulcahy or Kim Stafford for advising prior to registering for courses (see Applying to the Program below for contact details).

Degree-applicable credit certificate	Non-degree-applicable (continuing education) credit certificate
Register for courses at the 500, 600, or 900 level	Register for courses at the 800 level
Tuition	Tuition
Student may apply courses toward the completion of a graduate-level degree	Students may not apply courses toward a degree.

 

 

 

 

Program Requirements

Program requirements can be found in the current course catalog.

Applying to the Program

Before applying to the program, prospective students should consult with either of the program directors, Joanne Mulcahy at (503) 768-6167, mulcahy@lclark.edu, or Kim Stafford at (503) 768-6163, krs@lclark.edu. Applicants should consider their options for taking the program for either degree credit, continuing education credit, or non-credit (see above). 

Detailed information about applying to this program, as well as the application form can be found here.

Scholarship Information

Limited scholarship funds may be available for students considering this certificate program. If you are interested in knowing more, please contact the program’s directors. If funds are currently available, they can provide you with a Scholarship Application.

Registering for Courses

Prospective students can take up to three credits of coursework before officially enrolling in the certificate program, but students are encouraged to apply to the program as early as possible. Students are not eligible for scholarship money until they have applied and been accepted into the program.

If you are taking the courses for degree-applicable graduate credit, register through the Registrar’s office.

If you are taking courses for non-degree-applicable (continuing education) credit OR noncredit, register through the Center for Community Engagement.

Learn More and Watch the Video

Listen to professor Joanne Mulcahy, co-director of the Documentary Studies Certificate Program, talk about the program, including the kinds of work students engage with and what you can expect to learn.