Certificate in Forensic Trends and Issues in Contemporary Healthcare

Certificate Level: Graduate
Admission Requirements: Bachelor's degree
Certificate Type: Post-Baccalaureate
Number of Credits to Completion: 9.0
Instructional Delivery: Online
Calendar Type: Quarter
Expected Time to Completion: 1 year
Financial Aid Eligibility: Not aid eligible
Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) Code: 43.0406
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Code: 19-4092

About the Program

NOTE: No applications will be accepted for the 2022-2023 academic year. Please check back in summer 2023 for an update.  

The certificate program examines contemporary trends and issues related to the wide range of interpersonal violence, crime, and sudden violent death that may be encountered in a variety of healthcare settings. Theoretical tenets, methods for assessment, and related implications for intervention and/or referral will be examined from a multifaceted perspective, including that of the offender, crime victim, families, and the healthcare community-at-large.

Program Goals

• Examine social attitudes and perceptions toward victimization and offending behavior
• Identify the psychological, physical, and legal aspects of victimization
• Assess victim trauma and identify appropriate interventions for victimized clients
• Assess the motivational intent and behavior patterns of offenders who commit aggressive crimes
• Analyze institutional approaches and subsequent response patterns to victims and offenders in a variety of settings (e.g., inpatient, outpatient, primary care settings, academic, etc.)
• Assess ethical dimensions of healthcare issues relative to the role and scope of practice and healthcare providers
• Examine healthcare policy assessment, development, and/or modification to enhance health promotion of offenders and victims across the lifespan

Admission Requirements

Admission to this program requires completion of a BS/BA degree. The program is intended for providers and educators in the healthcare sciences as well as professionals who have direct contact with victims and/or offenders across disciplines and areas of practice (e.g. social workers, criminal justice, police, high school teachers, etc). The program is open to practitioners, graduate students, and healthcare educators across the continuum of specialties and agencies.

• 2.75 GPA or above on all previous coursework
• A baccalaureate degree with a major in a health-related field from an accredited college or university
• Official transcripts from all universities or colleges attended
• A copy of your United States RN license (License verification from your nursing license registry website is acceptable.)
• Current resume/CV
• One professional letter of recommendation from either previous or immediate supervisors or former faculty members who can attest to your clinical knowledge, skill, and potential aptitude for graduate study
  • References will not be accepted from colleagues or family members.
• Personal statement (no more than two pages and no less than one page double-spaced) that will give the admissions committee a better understanding of the following:
  • Why you are choosing this particular program of study
  • Your plans upon completion of the certificate
  • How your current work experience will enhance your experience in this program

TOEFL Requirement

International applicants, as well as immigrants to the United States and United States permanent residents whose native language is not English and who have not received a bachelor's degree or higher in the United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom, must show proficiency in English speaking as well as listening, writing, and reading. American citizens born on US military bases abroad may be waived from the TOEFL requirements after providing documentation of this status; otherwise, applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

• If you take the TOEFLiBT exam, you must have a minimum combined score for the listening, writing, and reading sections of 79 plus a speaking section score of 26 or higher.
• If you take the TOEFL, you must have a minimum score of 550 or higher and a Test of Spoken English score (TSE) of 55 or higher.

Program Requirements

Sample Plan of Study

*courses may be taken in any order