Online College Programs for Aspiring Victim Advocates

<p>If you're looking for an education in the specific area of victim advocacy, you can pursue a certificate or an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S) degree in victim advocacy or victim services. These programs are not generally available online. If you can't commit to an on-campus program, however, you can still pursue an online degree in one of several closely related areas. Associate of Arts (A.A.), Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees in criminal justice or criminology are all available online. You can also earn an associate's or bachelor's degree in social work or psychology through a distance learning program. </p> <p>Many online programs allow you to complete your course requirements and earn your degree using nothing more than an Internet-connected computer with some additional software. However, others are transfer programs that require students to complete core academic courses before enrolling. Some programs also require in-person internships, which can often be performed near your home rather than near the college campus. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td><b>Degree Types</b></td><td> Associate, bachelor's</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Possible Careers</b></td><td> Law enforcement, counseling, social services administration</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Program Fields</b></td><td> Victim advocacy, criminal justice, social work, psychology</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Common Courses</b></td><td> Domestic violence, terrorism, crisis intervention, abnormal psychology, victimology</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Continuing Education</b></td><td> Additional credentials available through NOVA and the Department of Justice; master's in social work possible after earning an undergraduate degree</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Median Salary (2021)</b></td><td> $44,219 (<i>for all crime victim advocates</i>)*</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Job Outlook (2019-2029)</b></td><td> 17% growth (<i>for all social and community service managers</i>)**</td></tr> </table><p><i>Sources: *PayScale.com, **U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <h3 id="section---WhatKindOfEducationDoINeedToBecomeAVictimAdvocate">What Kind of Education Do I Need to Become a Victim Advocate?</h3> <p>Victim advocacy can involve work in law enforcement, counseling, social services administration or all of the above. Because of the multidisciplinary nature of this field, there is no set educational path for victim advocates, but a college education is almost always required. Some employers may consider applicants with undergraduate certificates or associate's degrees, but bachelor's degrees are widely preferred. For instance, The National Center for State Courts requires a four-year degree for most positions, particularly those that involve counseling, but will accept a two-year degree for assistant positions. Potential areas of study for aspiring advocates include victim advocacy, criminal justice, social work and psychology. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatCoursesMightITake">What Courses Might I Take?</h3> <p>As a student in an online criminal justice degree program, you'll learn about the different facets of the criminal justice system, most notably law enforcement and courts. You'll take courses teaching you about different types of criminal offenses, such as white collar crime, domestic violence, terrorism and theft. Required coursework will also teach you about common practices to solve crimes and bring criminals to justice. Last but not least, you'll become educated in theories of criminal psychology and learn about potential reasons for criminal behavior. </p> <p>In a social work degree program, you'll learn about the foundations of social services programs designed to alleviate common societal problems and enhance the welfare of the public. Commonly required courses in bachelor's and associate's degree programs may cover sociology, individual and family counseling, human behavior, social welfare programs and cultural diversity. As a student in such a program, you may learn about human development, behavior in social groups, abnormal psychology or theories of personality formation. </p> <p>Many of the topics covered in online criminal justice, social work and psychology degree programs are relevant to the work of a victim advocate. However, coursework in an on-campus victim advocacy certificate or degree program more directly addresses interaction with victims of crimes. In such programs you'll become educated in the psychological effects of crime-related trauma and learn different counseling techniques for different types of victims. Required courses might cover victimology, techniques for counseling sexual and domestic abuse victims, crisis intervention strategies, special considerations for children who are victims and stress management. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatAreMyOtherOptionsForCareerSupportAndAdvancement">What Are My Other Options for Career Support and Advancement?</h3> <p>You can establish or enhance your viability in the job market with formal victim advocacy training or credentials through a relevant professional association. The U.S. Department of Justice's Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center (OVC TTAC) offers an online program in Victim Assistance Training, which consists of seven training modules about victim advocacy. The National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) offers victim advocacy credentials in several different forms from provisional to advanced, depending on your experience level. </p> <p>Another option for career advancement is graduate education. A Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) degree, for example, is a common form of education for those working in supervisory positions at victim advocacy centers.</p>