Make a Difference Advocating for Children and Families
The Online Master of Arts in Child Advocacy and Policy offers students an applied course of study in child advocacy. 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. Students will acquire a comprehensive view of the field of child advocacy that includes both multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary components; a particular understanding of the intricacies of the public child welfare system; and competencies in knowledge, methods and applications needed for careers and professional development in the field of child advocacy.
The Department of Social Work and Child Advocacy at Montclair State University offers the region’s premier undergraduate and graduate academic programs that specialize in service and advocacy to children, youth and families. Our unique focus, small size graduate classes and distinguished faculty give students an unrivaled opportunity to prepare for work as career professionals serving children and families.
Learn more
Attend one of our upcoming webinars to learn about Montclair’s Child Advocacy programs.
Apply for: Spring 2025
Start class: January 17, 2025
Credit Hours: 33
Tuition & Aid
What Our Students Are Saying
Flexibility of Pursuing Degree Online
“Montclair Online has a ton of resources available in case there is a question or concern, and the flexibility online provides is unbeatable!”
Online Student Resources for Success
“The biggest benefit is the program courses, and I learned more than I had hoped. I also benefited from the Writing Center and Library resource access.”
Fully Online Format
An asynchronous, online course schedule provides you with the convenience and flexibility you need to earn your degree and still balance life’s priorities.
What to expect as you move toward attaining your degree:
- All coursework can be completed online.
- Course content and course schedules are geared toward working professionals.
- Affordable tuition rate
- Three terms per year (fall, spring and summer)
- Eight week courses that blend theory and practice
- Interaction between your peers and faculty
- Full access to student support services including online library resources, Tier II technical support and career advising
The Online Master of Arts in Child Advocacy and Policy is 11 courses, 33 graduate credits. Courses are 7-8 weeks long with the graduate degree completed in less than two years.
Child advocacy professionals work in a variety of settings:
- 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
Recent graduates from the Child Advocacy program are employed in many fields:
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Guttenberg Public School District
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SCO Family of Services
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Bergen County Office for Children
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NYC Department of Education
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Department of Children Protection and Permanency (DCPP)
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Division of Youth & Family Services
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New Jersey Department of Children and Families
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Bright Horizons
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State of New Jersey
- Great Oaks Legacy Charter School
As an alternative to the full master’s degree, students may choose to apply for the Child Advocacy and Policy Certificate. The certificate includes five courses which can be completed fully online 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. Upon successful completion of the certificate, students may transfer all 15 credits towards the Master of Arts in Child Advocacy and Policy.
- Submit Online Application
- Transcript: One from each college attended.
- Letters of Recommendation: Two
- Personal essay
- Resume (optional)
- No GRE exam required
