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DEI is under attack. The language around it is changing and the teams dedicated to it are shifting to other areas of the business, but expectations among employees and candidates around DEI remain.

As you await the next evolution of DEI efforts, a good way to keep up is with DEI courses that help you learn from others who've got their finger on the pulse of HR practices.

Here's a summary of each course to help you understand who it's for and why it's great.

Best DEI Courses Shortlist

Here's a shortlist of the best DEI courses I think are worth your time in 2024:

  1. Diversity: Beyond the Checkbox (The Diversity Movement)
  2. Diversity And Inclusion In The Workplace (Expert Academy)
  3. Diversity and Inclusion for HR Professionals (UCI)
  4. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A Beginner’s Guide (Udemy)
  5. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (ADP Learning Academy)
  6. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Online Course (ICVA)
  7. Diversity and Inclusion Training (Easy Llama)
  8. DEI Fundamentals in Teams and Companies (MinnaLearn)
  9. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Cornell Certificate Program (eCornell)
  10. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Training Course (Skillcast)
  11. DEI Training: Creating Inclusive Workplaces (Traliant)
  12. Certificate in Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) (Institute of Sustainability Study)
  13. Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Leadership Graduate Certificate (Havard Extension School)
  14. Introduction To DEI In The Workplace (Oregon State)

Find more details about each course below.

Best DEI Courses Overviews

1. Diversity: Beyond the Checkbox (The Diversity Movement)

Diversity: Beyond the Checkbox, a DEI Courses
Diversity: Beyond the Checkbox Course (Source)

This course teaches how to move past meeting basic diversity requirements. It helps people understand and apply fundamental strategies for creating a more inclusive and fair environment and offers practical tools to make meaningful changes in diversity and inclusion.

  • Who It’s For: Professionals seeking foundational DEI knowledge
  • Topics Covered:
    • Understanding diversity
    • Equity and inclusion principles
    • Implementing DEI strategies
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? No
  • Duration: 5 hours
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Take The Course: The Diversity Movement

2. Diversity And Inclusion In The Workplace (Expert Academy)

Diversity And Inclusion In The Workplace course landing page
Diversity And Inclusion In The Workplace Course (Source)

This course explores the benefits of diversity and inclusion, including social gains and increased profitability. It provides practical strategies for applying these practices in an organization.

Participants will also learn how to identify and address barriers to inclusion and manage microaggressions.

  • Who It’s For: Employees and managers
  • Topics Covered:
    • Basics of diversity and inclusion
    • Creating inclusive workplaces
    • Overcoming biases
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? No
  • Duration: 3 hours
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price: $49.99
  • Take The Course: Udemy
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3. Diversity and Inclusion for HR Professionals (UCI)

Diversity and Inclusion for HR Professionals course landing page
Diversity and Inclusion for HR Professionals Course (Source)

This course shows how DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) can improve workplace culture by highlighting the ways different viewpoints spark new ideas and help build a more inclusive and innovative workplace.

  • Who It’s For: HR professionals
  • Topics Covered:
    • DEI in HR practices
    • Legal aspects of DEI
    • Implementing DEI initiatives
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? No
  • Duration: 16 hours and 29 minutes
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price: Free 
  • Take The Course: Class Central

4. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A Beginner’s Guide (Udemy)

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A Beginner’s Guide course
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A Beginner’s Guide Course (Source)

This course shows how a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace benefits businesses by boosting ideas, employee satisfaction, and company performance.

It covers strategies for building DEI task forces, creating employee resource groups, and offering learning opportunities.

  • Who It’s For: Beginners in DEI
  • Topics Covered:
    • Introduction to DEI
    • Importance of DEI
    • Basic DEI strategies
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? No
  • Duration: 1 hour
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price: $54.99
  • Take The Course: Udemy

5. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (ADP Learning Academy)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion course screenshot of the landing page
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Course (Source)

This training program explains why diversity, equity, and inclusion enhances performance, innovation, and employee satisfaction, leading to better financial results.

It also helps uncover hidden biases and provides straightforward methods to improve decision-making, such as being mindful and considering different perspectives.

  • Who It’s For: Professionals at all levels
  • Topics Covered:
    • DEI principles
    • Practical DEI applications
    • Case studies
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? No
  • Duration: 7 hours
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced 
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price: Free 
  • Take The Course: Coursera

6. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Online Course (ICVA)

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Online Course
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Online Course (Source)

This course provides a basic understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and explains why DEI is essential in the humanitarian sector.

It helps to think about how an organization can improve its inclusion efforts and guides the creation of a plan to make those improvements a reality.

  • Who It’s For: Professionals and organizations
  • Topics Covered:
    • DEI fundamentals
    • Inclusive environments
    • DEI strategies
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? No
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Take The Course: ICVA

7. Diversity and Inclusion Training (Easy Llama)

Diversity and Inclusion Training course screenshot
Diversity and Inclusion Training Course (Source)

This course shows how hiring people from diverse backgrounds can help an organization thrive by utilizing the skills and perspectives of individuals from various cultures, races, religions, and ethnicities. It also provides practical tips for building a workplace that is inclusive and respectful to everyone.

  • Who It’s For: Employees and managers
  • Topics Covered:
    • Practical DEI training
    • Interactive modules
    • Workplace inclusion
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? No
  • Duration: 30 minutes
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price: Free
  • Take The Course: Easy Llama

8. DEI Fundamentals in Teams and Companies (MinnaLearn)

DEI Fundamentals in Teams and Companies about the course page
DEI Fundamentals in Teams and Companies Course (Source)

This course teaches the basics of DEI, prioritizing simple, practical steps to help improve DEI in any company.

  • Who It’s For: Team leaders and managers
  • Topics Covered:
    • DEI fundamentals
    • Team dynamics
    • Company-wide DEI strategies
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? No
  • Duration: 3 weeks
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Take The Course: MinnaLearn

9. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Cornell Certificate Program (eCornell)

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Cornell Certificate Program course landing page
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Cornell Certificate Program (Source)

This course shows how to spot and deal with decision making biases that affect teams and gives tips for making everyone feel safe at work. It also teaches how to set and follow ethical standards in the workplace as part of a bigger DEI certificate offering.

  • Who It’s For: Leaders and managers
  • Topics Covered:
    • In-depth DEI training
    • Leadership strategies
    • Strategic management
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? No
  • Duration: 2 months
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: 3-5 hours per week
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price:
    • $3,699
    • 4 payments of $975
  • Take The Course: eCornell

10. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Training Course (Skillcast)

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Training Course
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Training Course (Source)

This course will prepare learners to understand differences in diversity, equity, and inclusion. It highlights the benefits of having a diverse workforce and helps recognize common types of discrimination, while improving cultural skills for working effectively in global teams.

  • Who It’s For: Employees and managers
  • Topics Covered:
    • Comprehensive DEI training
    • Practical implementation
    • Workplace strategies
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? No
  • Duration: 40 minutes
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price: Free
  • Take The Course: Skillcast

11. DEI Training: Creating Inclusive Workplaces (Traliant)

DEI Training: Creating Inclusive Workplaces course
DEI Training: Creating Inclusive Workplaces Course (Source)

This course shows how interactive online training for employees and managers can improve company culture and encourage inclusive behaviors. It provides a flexible way to teach and reinforce an organization’s DEI goals and expectations, making engaging and motivating staff easier.

  • Who It’s For: Employees and managers
  • Topics Covered:
    • Creating inclusive workplaces
    • Interactive DEI training
    • Engaging content
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? No
  • Duration: 30 minutes
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price: Free
  • Take The Course: Traliant

12. Certificate in Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) (Institute of Sustainability Studies)

Certificate in Diversity Equity and Inclusion course
Certificate in Diversity Equity and Inclusion Course (Source)

This course is important for professionals in various fields who want to create inclusive and fair workplaces. It provides helpful information on developing and implementing DEI strategies, enhancing company culture, and promoting social responsibility. It benefits those in human resources, corporate strategy, and leadership roles.

  • Who It’s For: Professionals and students
  • Topics Covered:
    • DEI essentials
    • Sustainability
    • Practical applications
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? No
  • Duration: 3 hours
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price: €495
  • Take The Course: Institute of Sustainability Studies

13. Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Leadership Graduate Certificate (Harvard Extension School)

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Leadership Graduate Certificate, a DEI course
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Leadership Graduate Certificate (Source)

This course builds a strong understanding of history, bias, and power in the workplace. It covers spotting opportunities and challenges in creating policies and initiatives while teaching inclusive leadership, facilitating discussions on equity and inclusion and developing a plan for a real-world DEI challenges.

  • Who It’s For: Graduate students and professionals
  • Topics Covered:
    • Leadership in DEI
    • Comprehensive curriculum
    • Belonging strategies
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Both
  • Exam Required? No
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Price: $13,360
  • Take The Course: Harvard Extension School

14. Introduction To DEI In The Workplace (Oregon State)

Introduction To DEI In The Workplace course
Introduction To DEI In The Workplace Course (Source)

This course provides a basic understanding of essential DEI concepts as an important first step for anyone looking to support and advance DEI efforts in a diverse society.

  • Who It’s For: Professionals at all levels
  • Topics Covered:
    • DEI concepts
    • Workplace application
    • Practical strategies
  • Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
  • Exam Required? No
  • Duration: 30 minutes
  • How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
  • Eligibility Requirements: None
  • Take The Course: Oregon State

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David Rice

David Rice is a long time journalist and editor who specializes in covering human resources and leadership topics. His career has seen him focus on a variety of industries for both print and digital publications in the United States and UK.