Become a Child Advocate

The Online Master of Arts in Child Advocacy and Policy provides students with a comprehensive view of the field of child advocacy and the requisite skills and knowledge needed to succeed as a child advocate working in myriad settings.

As an emerging field, child advocacy includes an understanding of several disciplines: psychology, social work, and law. The master’s degree offers advanced coursework focused on family empowerment, forensic interviewing, child abuse, families in crisis, child welfare, and advocacy policy.  With the online graduate degree program at Montclair State University, you can achieve your educational goals and move closer to your career aspirations.

Career Opportunities:

• Child welfare agencies
• Child behavioral health services (case management organizations, youth case management programs, and mobile response and stabilization units)
• Prevention and community organizations
• Court appointed special advocates (CASA)
• Education advocacy groups
• Victim-witness offices/agencies
• Disability advocacy groups
• Domestic violence programs
• Youth mentoring and development programs
• Supervised visitation programs

As an alternative to the full master’s degree, students may choose to apply for the post-baccalaureate certificate in Child Advocacy. The certificate includes 5 courses which can be completed fully online or on campus in 2.5 semesters. The certificate provides students with the foundational knowledge to begin a career as a child advocacy professional and prepares students for future graduate study in child advocacy.

View a past webinar highlighting the emerging issues in the field

The webinar features Dr. Jason Dickinson, the Robert D. McCormick centers director, Elise Peterson, a graduate of Montclair State University’s Child Advocacy Program and community outreach/education coordinator at KUED Channel 7, Salt Lake City, and Peter Boser, president of the New Jersey Children’s Alliance. View the webinar.

Apply Now

We look forward to you submitting your application for review and consideration. If you have any questions, please contact the Montclair State University Robert D. McCormick Center for Child Advocacy and Policy.