Training course to advance global action and local initiatives against human trafficking

Human Trafficking is a global issue that is often misunderstood. There is a misconception that it is uncommon in the United States and that it won’t affect us as individuals or our loved ones. This human trafficking online training course aims to educate students about these myths to take action and make a difference in our communities. Prosecution in trafficking cases can take up to four years from the time of the initial crime, so helping to recognize and prevent trafficking, while learning how to support survivors are important aspects of this course.

Designed to equip you with the knowledge of human trafficking law, students will gain an understanding of how to identify human trafficking and necessary skills to become part of the solution of taking the lead in the fight against human trafficking globally and locally. We will examine ways in which human trafficking overlaps and intersects with community efforts underway in the name of immigrant rights, domestic violence, child welfare and labor rights.

This course serves as an ideal starting point for those eager to pursue careers in public health care and can stack into an MSU Denver credential or degree.

Why take this course?

Flexible schedule

The course can be completed in 4-8 weeks and is self-paced online.

Career advisement

Receive a personal advising session with an industry leader.

High job demand

Gain a competitive edge with a human trafficking certificate.

Career pathways after taking the Human Trafficking online certificate course

Approximate return on investment for each academic pathway

Graphic showing pathways to either enter the workforce after taking the Human Trafficking course or to convert the course to credit and continue towards a degree at MSU Denver.

After taking the course, you can immediately enter the workforce or continue onto a degree through MSU Denver and increase your earning potential.

Pathway 1: Complete the Human Trafficking course and immediately enter the workforce in support roles.

  • The median salary is $32,000 a year.

Pathway 2: Expand your learning and add an Undergraduate High Risk Youth Studies Certificate to your resume.

  • The median salary is $35,000 a year.

Pathway 3: Continue your education by earning a bachelor’s degree in related fields at MSU Denver. The Human Trafficking course can count toward required courses in Human Services, Criminal Justice, or Social Work. Potential jobs include: prosecutors, victim advocates (PDs), victim services, detention center counselors, Social Workers, trauma counselors, family therapists, or crisis intervention counselors.

It’s important to note that counseling and support for human trafficking victims involves a combination of these professionals to provide comprehensive care and support personalized to an individual’s unique needs.

  • The median salary is $50,200 a year.

About the Human Trafficking course: Education and advocacy

About your training course instructor

Anti-human trafficking advocate and course instructor

Kara Napolitano

Kara Napolitano is a human rights advocate and trainer. Kara holds an MA in International Development with a concentration in International Human Rights Law from the University of Denver. Before completing her education, she spent eight years working and volunteering in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, working mostly with education-based NGOs in post-conflict areas. This is where she was introduced to the crime of human trafficking. She was appointed to Governor’s Colorado Human Trafficking Council Prevention Task Force in 2018 and the Equitable Access Task Force in 2022 and she is currently a commissioner on the Denver Crime Prevention and Control Commission.

For the last few years, she has led training and education efforts as the Education and Partnership Director at the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking (LCHT) based in Denver, Colorado. She has trained more than 45,000 professionals across rural and urban Colorado on how to recognize and compassionately respond to labor and sex exploitation in their communities. Kara works alongside law enforcement, healthcare providers, those working with systems-involved youth and professionals in other intersecting sectors to build collaborations that prevent exploitation, support survivors, and hold perpetrators accountable in communities across the state.

Kara Napolitano

Career Launchpad Frequently asked questions

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Phone: 303-615-1234

Office Location:
Jordan Student Success Building
3rd Floor – #330
Auraria Campus

Mailing Address:
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Innovative and Lifelong Learning
P.O. Box 173362
Campus Box 6
Denver, CO 80217-3362