School Resource Officers - UC

About This Certificate

The School Resource Officer (SRO) Certificate equips students with specialized knowledge for supporting safety, prevention, and well-being within K–12 educational settings.

Students complete three courses totaling nine credit hours, beginning with the required courses CJ 3110 School Resource Officer and SW 3450 School Social Work. These establish a foundation in school security and student support systems. Students then select one elective from a broad list, including CJ 1030 Introduction to Firearms Safety and Handling, CJ 2110 Security, CJ 2330 Juvenile Justice, PSY 2100 Adolescent Development, SW 3350 Child Welfare,or SW 3360 Adolescents: Theories, Problems, and Issues.

What You Will Learn

Students completing this certificate will gain a comprehensive understanding of the complex dynamics surrounding school safety and youth support.

They will study threat assessment, crime prevention strategies, bullying, restorative justice, juvenile delinquency, and the legal and ethical responsibilities of school policing. Through the lens of school social work, students will learn to integrate child, family, school, and community systems.

Additionally, students will explore youth development, juvenile justice, and child welfare, examining how factors such as poverty, violence, mental health challenges, and substance abuse shape student behavior and school environments. Together, these courses prepare students to promote safe, supportive, and legally sound school-based policing.