Child Advocacy and Policy (MA)

In order to gain admission into the program, students must meet the following criteria: bachelor’s degree, grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 in their undergraduate major.

The Office of Graduate Admissions requires the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree in order to be eligible to apply for a graduate program. Applicants with non-U.S. degrees, please visit the International Applicants page to review the U.S. degree equivalency information.

In order to make applying for graduate school as seamless as possible for you, we have
created an application checklist. This checklist can be a reference point for you during the
application process to ensure that you have a comprehensive understanding of the steps
needed to apply, as well as all corresponding supplemental materials for your specific
program of interest.

• Application Deadline: Rolling Admission (Fall admission only)
• Submit Online Application: Please create your online account and submit your application by following the general application instructions and pay (or waive) the non-refundable $60 application fee. Once this step has been completed, the online portal will allow you to upload your supplemental materials.

The following is a list of the supplemental materials that will accompany your application for the Child Advocacy and Policy (MA) program:

• Transcript: One from each college attended.
• Please provide a personal statement of no more than 600 words, in which you answer the following three questions.
  1. 1. How will earning a graduate degree (or graduate certificate) in child advocacy and policy help you reach your professional goals?
     2. What professional and life experiences have you had that have prepared you to take on this particular degree program and chosen profession?
     3. Serving children and families requires working with individuals of all cultures, races, ethnicities, and other diverse and varied backgrounds. Please describe your commitment to and engagement with social, racial, and/or economic justice.
• If your undergraduate grade point average (GPA) is below 3.0, please provide an additional statement of no more than 200 words that addresses the reasons for your low undergraduate GPA and how you plan to maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 if you are admitted to our program.If your undergraduate GPA is below 2.5, please provide an additional statement of no more than 200 words that addresses the reasons for your low undergraduate GPA and how you plan to maintain a GPA of at least 2.5 if you are admitted to our program.
• Letters of Recommendation: Two.

• Applicants with non-U.S. degrees, please visit the International Applicants page to review the US degree equivalency information.

This 11 course, 33 credit hour master’s program provides a comprehensive view of the interdisciplinary field of child advocacy and the skills and knowledge needed to succeed as a child advocacy professional. Those students enrolled full time will take three courses per semester (fall and spring) and must complete a field placement (Practicum in Public Child Welfare – CHAD 620) and culminating program experience (Seminar in Child Advocacy – CHAD 680). For more information, please visit the Child Advocacy and Policy (MA) program listing in the University Catalog.

If you have any general questions regarding the application process and requirements, please email or call us:
Office of Graduate Admissions
Email: graduate@montclair.edu
Telephone: 973-655-5147
Fax: 973-655-7869

If you have specific inquiries regarding your program of interest, please contact the Child Advocacy and Policy (MA) Program Coordinator:

*During the summer months, there will be a rotating department chair available to answer your inquiry. Find the updated summer chair for this program.*

Program Coordinator: Lucy Takagi
Office: Dickson Hall 366
Email: takagil@montclair.edu