Victim Advocacy Certificate Course

This Certificate Course was developed by and is administered by the Center for Legal Studies.

This intensive, 42-hour, seven week online program is designed to train and qualify students to provide assistance to crime victims. The course provides an overview of criminal procedure and discusses the devastating effects crime can have on its victims.

Participants will be prepared to work in victim advocacy arenas, such as domestic violence shelters, crisis centers, crisis hotlines, and with state and county governments to assist crime victims in progressing through the criminal justice system and toward successful recovery. Course topics include legal terminology, legal process, legislation regarding victims-rights, jurisdiction and venue, ethics, effects of victimization on the victim, victim advocate skills, guardianships and crisis intervention. It also covers counseling skills for victims of assault, battery, robbery, domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, murder and homicide.

This online course will cover:
• Introduction Victim Advocacy and Legislation regarding Victim Rights
• Introduction to the Legal Process and Effects of Victimization on the Victim
• Victim Advocate Skills and "ISMs" (a look at bias in victim advocacy)
• Assault, Battery, and Robbery and Homicide & Suicide
• Domestic Violence
• Sexual Assault/Rape and Child Abuse
• Job Hunting Techniques

This is an accelerated course, and you will be expected to spend an average of at least 8 hours per week reading and completing writing assignments. Please note that, barring extenuating circumstances, extensions will not be granted for this online course.

How to earn your certificate of completion: Your grade will be based on your completion of six tests, one writing assignment, and class participation. The tests and memos are submitted using the Private Mail tool within the courseware. You will have the opportunity to engage in "class participation" by using the online Bulletin Board tool to respond to the bulletin board assignments throughout the course.

Your final grade will be figured as follows:
• The six assignments are worth 50 points each and comprise 40% of your grade.
• The two exams are worth 100 points and comprise 40% of your grade.
• Your participation in class participation assignments comprises 20% of your grade.

Withdrawal Policy: Students may drop the course with a full tuition refund if written notice is sent to The Center for Legal Studies by email to info@legalstudies.com by the Wednesday before class begins. Students may drop the course with a 50% tuition refund if written notice is sent to The Center for Legal Studies by email to info@legalstudies.com anytime from the Thursday before the course begins until the first Thursday of class. After the first Thursday of class no refunds will be issued.

Sallie Mae Financial Loans
SLM Financial, a Sallie Mae company, helps students and families achieve their education goals through its student loan division. Loans are now available for Georgia Center courses priced over $450. The Sallie Mae Loan application process is fast and they have among the highest acceptance rates in the industry. For more details about qualifying for a Sallie Mae Financial Loan, click here.

Click here to register for this course

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