Certificate in Child Advocacy Studies (CAST)

Purpose

This certificate was designed to develop students’ ability to recognize, report and investigate child maltreatment. This certificate is open to all students, but may be particularly useful to those who desire to work in any capacity with children and their families. The core courses are taught by practicing professionals in the legal, social services and law enforcement communities. The core courses will provide useful information to any individual who comes in contact with children, but will be particularly useful to those working or volunteering in an educational setting (schools, day care, camp, sports, scouting, churches), the medical profession (doctors, nurses, therapists, counselors), social services and the criminal justice system. Students will learn about the history of child maltreatment, the impact of values and culture on the perception of child maltreatment, and how to recognize the indicators of abuse, neglect and maltreatment. Students will learn reporting requirements and investigative practices, and will be introduced to the value of forensic interviews and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to the problem of child maltreatment. Students will have the opportunity to do a mock case study and a mock home visit and investigation. Students will also learn about prevention, advocacy and the effects of child maltreatment.

This is a dual-credit certificate. The courses are designed to be taken sequentially. Contact the Certificate Coordinator or the Academic Coordinator to discuss how the credits correlate with a chosen major.

Curriculum

Core Requirements (9 credits)

SOC 425	Child Abuse: Recognition and Investigation	3
SOC 426	Responding and Investigation: Child Maltreatment	3
SOC 427	Responding to the Survivors of Child Abuse and Survivor Responses	3

Electives (6 credits)

Two electives are also required to earn the Child Advocacy Certificate. Approved courses are listed below. Students may be able to substitute courses from their degree program, depending on their major. Please check with the Certificate Coordinator.

Select two courses from the following:

Behavioral Science

SOC 302	Marriage and the Family	3
SOC 303	Contemporary Social Problems	3
SOC 323/LES 323/PSY 323	Law & Practice in Human Services	3
SOC 404/PSY 416	Human Trafficking	3
SOC 405	Social Deviance	3
SOC 464	Working in the Helping Professions	3
SOC 468	Case Management	3
SOC 469	Step-Parenting & Blended Families	3
SOC 490	Internship in Behavioral Science (Behavioral Science majors)	3

Criminal Justice

CRJ 318	Criminal Investigation	3
CRJ 469	Domestic Violence	3
CRJ 474	Victims of Crime	3
CRJ 490	Internship in Criminal Justice	3

Psychology

PSY 323/LES 323/SOC 323	Law & Practice in Human Services	3
PSY 330	Infant and Toddler Development	3
PSY 332	Adolescent Development	3
PSY 333	Psychology of the Exceptional Child	3
PSY 336	Child Development	3
PSY 375	Forensic Psychology	3
PSY 412	Crisis Intervention	3
PSY 481	Domestic Violence	3
PSY 472	Bullying	3
PSY 490	Internship in Behavioral Science (Psychology Majors)	3

Legal Studies

LES 323/PSY 323/SOC 323	Law & Practice in Human Services	3
LES 306	Family Law	3

Total credits for the CAST certificate: 15