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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| PSYCH 260 | Child Psychology | 3 |
| ANTHRO 446 | The Child in Different Cultures | 3 |
| Electives 1 | ||
| Select at least 6 credits from approved Letters and Science courses below | 6 | |
| Select at least 3 credits from approved Non-L&S courses below | 3 | |
| Select 3 additional credits from the list of approved courses below | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
- 1
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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Letters and Science | ||
| AFRIC 314 | The School in African-American Life | 3 |
| AFRIC 451 | Rites of Passage in Black Societies | 3 |
| AFRIC 545 | Raising Children, 'Race-ing' Children | 3 |
| COMPLIT 135 | Experiencing Literature in the 21st Century: (Youth Culture in the Middle East Through Literature, Art, and Film) | 3 |
| ENGLISH/FILMSTD 312 | Topics in Film, Television and Digital Studies: (Troubled Teens) | 3 |
| FILMSTD 212 | Intermediate Topics in Film and Television Studies: (Teens on TV) | 3 |
| FRENCH 426 | Growing Up French | 3 |
| HONORS 200 | Honors Seminar: The Shaping of the Modern Mind: (Growing Up) | 3 |
| INTLST 550 | Senior Seminar in International Studies: (Global Youth Language and Culture) | 3 |
| PSYCH 205 | Personality | 3 |
| PSYCH 660 | Experimental Child Psychology | 4 |
| SOCIOL 246 | Juvenile Delinquency | 3 |
| SOCIOL 248 | Sociology of Education | 3 |
| SOCIOL 448 | Sociology of Children and Adolescents | 3 |
| Non-L&S Courses | ||
| COMSDIS 240 | Normal Speech and Language Development | 3 |
| CRM JST 671 | Juvenile Justice | 3 |
| CURRINS 233 | Introduction to Children's and Young Adult Literature | 3 |
| CURRINS 650 | Reading Interests of Adolescents | 3 |
| CURRINS 651 | Literature for the Young Child | 3 |
| ED POL 534 | Students Placed At Risk: Deconstructing Risk, Defining Promise | 3 |
| ED POL/EXCEDUC/SOC WRK 580 | An Overview of Child/Youth Care | 3 |
| ED POL/SOC WRK 581 | Youth Work Practice | 3 |
| ED PSY 330 | Introduction to Learning and Development | 3 |
| ED PSY 640 | Human Development: Theory and Research | 3 |
| EXCEDUC/ED POL/SOC WRK 580 | An Overview of Child/Youth Care | 3 |
| EXCEDUC 600 | Survey of Exceptional Education | 3 |
| HCA 203 | Human Life Cycle | 3 |
| INFOST 645 | Library Materials for Children | 3 |
| INFOST 646 | Library Materials for Young Adults | 3 |
| INFOST 691 | Special Topics in Information Science: (African American History in Children's Literature; GLBTQ Literature for Young Adults; or Multicultural Children's Literature) | 1-3 |
| NURS 203 | Human Growth and Development Across the Life Span | 4 |
| NUTR 245 | Life Cycle Nutrition | 3 |
| PH 206 | Child and Adolescent Health | 3 |
| PH 306 | Adolescent Health & Development | 3 |
| SOC WRK 250 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment | 3 |
| SOC WRK 562 | Child and Family Services | 3 |
| SOC WRK 580/ED POL 581 | An Overview of Child/Youth Care | 3 |
| SOC WRK 581 | Youth Work Practice | 3 |
Spring 2024: Upcoming Courses in Program
Check catalog for compatibility - https://catalog.uwm.edu| Course Code | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ANTHRO 446 | The Child in Different Cultures
|
| ANTHRO 446G | The Child in Different Cultures
|
| COMSDIS 240 | Normal Speech and Language Development
|
| CURRINS 233 | Introduction to Children's and Young Adult Literature
|
| CURRINS 650 | Reading Interests of Adolescents
|
| CURRINS 650G | Reading Interests of Adolescents
|
| ED POL 534 | Students Placed At Risk: Deconstructing Risk, Defining Promise
|
| ED POL 534G | Students Placed At Risk: Deconstructing Risk, Defining Promise
|
| ED PSY 330 | Introduction to Learning and Development
|
| ED PSY 640 | Human Development: Theory and Research
|
| ED PSY 640G | Human Development: Theory and Research
|
| EXCEDUC 600 | Survey of Exceptional Education
|
| EXCEDUC 600G | Survey of Exceptional Education
|
| HCA 203 | Human Life Cycle
|
| INFOST 645 | Library Materials for Children
|
| INFOST 645G | Library Materials for Children
|
| INFOST 646 | Library Materials for Young Adults
|
| INFOST 646G | Library Materials for Young Adults
|
| NURS 203 | Human Growth and Development Across the Life Span
|
| NUTR 245 | Life Cycle Nutrition
|
| PSYCH 205 | Personality
|
| PSYCH 260 | Child Psychology
|
| PSYCH 660 | Experimental Child Psychology
|
| SOC WRK 250 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment
|
| SOC WRK 562 | Child and Family Services
|
| SOC WRK 562G | Child and Family Services
|
| SOCIOL 246 | Juvenile Delinquency
|
Summer 2024: Upcoming Courses in Program
Check catalog for compatibility - https://catalog.uwm.edu| Course Code | Course Title |
|---|---|
| COMSDIS 240 | Normal Speech and Language Development
|
| CURRINS 233 | Introduction to Children's and Young Adult Literature
|
| ED POL 534 | Students Placed At Risk: Deconstructing Risk, Defining Promise
|
| ED POL 534G | Students Placed At Risk: Deconstructing Risk, Defining Promise
|
| ED PSY 330 | Introduction to Learning and Development
|
| ED PSY 640 | Human Development: Theory and Research
|
| ED PSY 640G | Human Development: Theory and Research
|
| INFOST 645 | Library Materials for Children
|
| INFOST 645G | Library Materials for Children
|
| INFOST 646 | Library Materials for Young Adults
|
| INFOST 646G | Library Materials for Young Adults
|
| PSYCH 205 | Personality
|
| SOC WRK 562 | Child and Family Services
|
| SOC WRK 562G | Child and Family Services
|
Fall 2024: Upcoming Courses in Program
Check catalog for compatibility - https://catalog.uwm.edu| Course Code | Course Title |
|---|---|
| AFRIC 545 | Raising Children, 'Race-ing' Children
|
| AFRIC 545G | Raising Children, 'Race-ing' Children
|
| CURRINS 233 | Introduction to Children's and Young Adult Literature
|
| ED POL 534 | Students Placed At Risk: Deconstructing Risk, Defining Promise
|
| ED POL 534G | Students Placed At Risk: Deconstructing Risk, Defining Promise
|
| ED PSY 330 | Introduction to Learning and Development
|
| ED PSY 640 | Human Development: Theory and Research
|
| ED PSY 640G | Human Development: Theory and Research
|
| EXCEDUC 600 | Survey of Exceptional Education
|
| EXCEDUC 600G | Survey of Exceptional Education
|
| HCA 203 | Human Life Cycle
|
| INFOST 645 | Library Materials for Children
|
| INFOST 645G | Library Materials for Children
|
| INFOST 646 | Library Materials for Young Adults
|
| INFOST 646G | Library Materials for Young Adults
|
| NURS 203 | Human Growth and Development Across the Life Span
|
| PSYCH 205 | Personality
|
| PSYCH 260 | Child Psychology
|
| PSYCH 660 | Experimental Child Psychology
|
| SOC WRK 250 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment
|
| SOC WRK 562 | Child and Family Services
|
| SOC WRK 562G | Child and Family Services
|
Certificates are similar to minors and generally require the completion of six to eight classes. Unlike a minor where all of the classes come from a single subject area, the classes come from multiple subject areas related to the theme of the certificate. Certificates are typically earned in conjunction with a degree though some certificates are available as a standalone credential.