HSP 3940 - Victim Advocacy for Survivors of Interpersonal Violence

Credits: 3

Prerequisite(s): GWS 1001 and six additional hours in Women’s Studies or HSP 1010 and six additional hours in Human Services

Description: Victim advocacy is both a professional career and area of study, yet it is so often overlooked in traditional academic programs. Individuals who wish to become victim advocates often receive training on the job and not in an academic setting. This class hopes to provide a foundation to the field to complement trainings provided by local victim advocacy agencies and police departments. The primary focus of this class is victim advocacy for survivors of sexual assault, relationship violence and stalking (interpersonal violence). This course provides students with the intellectual and practical skills to understand the issue and provide effective advocacy for survivors of interpersonal violence in a multicultural context. The course explores interpersonal violence in society today, critical cultural considerations, the experience of survivors, and reflections on providing effective advocacy and activism. This is a challenging and rigorous course that asks students to critically think and write about the issues, systemic disparities, engage with difficult material and reflect on their own identities and privileges as it relates to the advocacy relationship.

Note: Credit will be granted for only one prefix: GWS or HSP.

Cross Listed Course(s): GWS 3940