Overview

Completion of the Victim Studies certificate at University of Massachusetts Lowell will provide students with the background to understand strengths and limitations of current responses to crime victims so they can be a part of initiatives and programs to prevent crime victimization, be prepared to engage in research and evaluation focused on crime victims’ issues, and respond effectively to victims of crime in a culturally appropriate manner.

Learning outcomes

Unlike many graduate certificates which are designed to provide specialized knowledge within a particular field, the Graduate Certificate in Victims’ Studies is designed to provide specialized knowledge on crime victims that can be applied in a broad range of fields. The courses offered draw from programs in Criminal Justice and Criminology, Education, Psychology, and Regional Economics and Social Development. All students will take a core overview course in Victimology, one course about a specific type of victimization, and two courses pertaining to skills, theory and/or evaluation.

Elective courses are organized in clusters according to skills and knowledge content. These options are intended to guide students as to how they can tailor their education to their particular interests and/or professional needs. For example, a program director in a human services agency might take Program Evaluation or Grant Writing.

In recent semesters, a number of graduate students enrolled in the Criminal Justice Masters and certificate programs, who are working in victim services, have expressed an interest in taking more courses in that field through UML.

Accreditation

The target audience for the proposed certificate includes professionals or potential professionals in fields that come in direct contact with victims of crime, as well as those who simply seek to better understand victimization.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Victimology

Gender, Race and Crime

Intimate Partner Violence

Responding to Child Mistreatment

Psychological Approaches to Child Maltreatment

Key information

Duration

Part-time
- 60 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-09-03 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-07-25 00:00:00 , International
- Apply before 2026-08-28 00:00:00 , National
Starting 2027-01-20 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-12-12 00:00:00 , International

Language

English

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IELTS

6.5

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Credits

12 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Lowell, United States

Disciplines

Social Work Psychology Criminology View 323 other Bachelors in Criminology in United States

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Academic requirements

GPA

2.8

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

110

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

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98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

In addition to the university's requirements for graduate admission, applicants should have the ability to pursue graduate education, as demonstrated by:

Graduation from an accredited four-year institution.
Minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.8 or higher.
Two copies of a complete and official transcript from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended.
An interview may be requested by the Graduate Admissions Committee.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

36610 USD / year

≈ 36610 USD / year
Out-of-State

36610 USD / year

≈ 36610 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

16814 USD / year

≈ 16814 USD / year

Living costs

Lowell

United States

1130 - 2341 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Victim Studies.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Learning outcomes

Accreditation

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Lowell

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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