The Undergraduate Certificate in Childhood and Adolescence Studies (CAS) covers topics related to children and their social worlds. Through its classes, students examine how race, class, gender, sexuality, and disability impact development and cognition. CAS is an interdisciplinary program built around a core of liberal arts courses, with primary course offerings in sociology and psychology, and other complementary courses drawn in from health sciences, social work, education, and criminal justice.

Students complete the certificate with a better understanding of children and adolescence and how they are affected by society, culture, religion, politics, economics, health, and education policy. The certificate complements a number of different majors including education, psychology, sociology, social work and political science, and can make graduates more marketable for jobs that involve working with children.

Certificates are similar to minors in terms of credit requirements but draw on coursework from multiple fields of study rather than from a single department.

Eligibility

The Childhood and Adolescence Studies Undergraduate Certificate is intended to enhance a bachelor’s degree. The Program is open to all students seeking a bachelor’s degree from UWM and to students who previously have received a bachelor’s degree from UWM or any other accredited college or university. Students currently involved in baccalaureate studies who successfully complete the requirements of the program will be awarded the certificate at the time of graduation. Students who already have a bachelor’s degree will receive the certificate upon completion of the program requirements.

Requirements

To obtain the certificate, the student must complete, with a minimum grade point average of 2.500, at least 18 credits in approved childhood and adolescence studies courses as indicated below. Courses for the certificate may not be taken on a credit/no credit basis.

Twelve of the 18 required credits must be earned in residence at UWM. Of these twelve residence credits, nine must be taken at the 300 level or above. Of the 18 required credits, 12 must be in the College of Letters and Science, with at least six of these at the 300 level or above. Three credits must be elected from outside the College of Letters and Science. No more than nine credits from any one department may count toward the Childhood and Adolescence Studies Certificate.

A maximum of six credits in Independent Study may count toward program requirements.

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Students may petition the CAS Advisory Committee for approval of appropriate courses not on the approved list.

Approved Courses

Independent study courses focusing on children and adolescents may be accepted with the approval of the CAS Advisory Committee. If a core course is not offered in the years an undergraduate student is pursuing the certificate, the student can petition the CAS Advisory Committee to accept another course in its stead. Other courses not on this list but relevant to the study of children and adolescents may be accepted with the approval of the CAS Advisory Committee.

Credits earned at other institutions equivalent to courses in the certificate program may be accepted in partial fulfillment of the program requirements, subject to review by the CAS Advisory Committee. Students currently enrolled at UWM who have fulfilled some of the program’s requirements prior to the program’s approval may have their credits applied retroactively to the certificate program.