Child Advocacy Studies (Undergraduate Micro-Credential)

SW 325 Perspectives on Child Maltreatment and Advocacy

This course provides the foundational knowledge to understand and recognize child maltreatment in diverse settings. The course covers historical and comparative perspectives, including a trauma-informed and human rights perspective, on child maltreatment, with an emphasis on improving outcomes for children and families. This course is designed for, but not limited to, students who are interested in public health, social work, human services, nursing and other health professions, sociology, psychology, law and education.

SW 355 Do We Really Care About Kids? Rethinking Child Welfare in the U.S.

This course focuses on interdisciplinary system responses to child maltreatment, including trauma-informed and human rights-based approaches. The purpose of this course is to expand students’ knowledge of and skills in responding to child maltreatment. The course explores responses across multiple community systems, including child welfare agencies, health care systems, law enforcement and schools. This course is designed for, but not limited to, students who are interested in public health, social work, human services, nursing and other health professions, sociology, psychology, law and education.

SW 345 Global Child Advocacy Issues

The course increases students' understanding of the adverse experiences of children growing up in various countries. The purpose of this course is to expose students to considerations of socioeconomics, health, culture, religion and politics and how these affect the welfare and well-being of children across the world. This course examines advocacy efforts using a trauma-informed, human rights framework.

After completing the three-course sequence, you should submit (electronically) to the director a portfolio that contains the following items:

1. Controversial issues paper (from SW 325)
2. Interview with a professional (from SW 355)
3. Global child welfare research paper (from SW 345)
4. A copy of your unofficial transcript verifying a B or better in all courses

The Child Advocacy Studies curriculum was originally developed by the Gundersen National Child Protection Training Center in Minnesota to improve responses to child maltreatment. It has been implemented in dozens of colleges and universities across the country.

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