Child Advocacy Studies for the Professional
Beginning May 2027 pending final approval
This professional certificate is designed for working professionals and community leaders who want to learn more about serving and supporting children. The certificate is modeled after the Minor in Child Advocacy Studies, housed in the Department of Psychology yet popular with student majoring in a variety of disciplines, such as psychology, criminal justice, sociology, interdisciplinary studies, education, and nursing.
The four courses in this program follow the same path as the Minor, with three core courses and one experiential learning course. All courses are online and are taught by USC Upstate faculty.
The Courses
- Introduction to Child Maltreatment (CAST U301)
- Child Advocacy I: System Responses to Child Maltreatment (CAST U401)
- Child Advocacy II: Prevention and Intervention Strategies (CAST U402)
- Child Advocacy Internship (CAST U499) or Topics in Child Advocacy (CAST U398)
Career Opportunities
Child Advocacy Studies provides valuable training for professionals looking to grow careers in child welfare, law enforcement, counseling, non-profits, education, and any other field that includes working with children.
When?
Courses are taken in sequence, beginning each May. The first three core courses are completed within a summer. The internship or special topic course can be completed the following fall semester.
- Introduction to Child Maltreatment: May
- Child Advocacy I: June
- Child Advocacy II: July
- Internship or Special Topic: Fall
Where?
All courses are delivered in a fully online asynchronous format, with access to in-person and online support from faculty instructors, library support staff, and other student services.