Trauma Studies Certificate—18 hours
Trauma Studies Graduate Certificate
Everyone is subject to trauma and no one is immune to the impact of trauma. Trauma has a lasting impact that not only affects individuals and families, but also affects communities. Trauma adversely affects relationships, is a contributing factor in mental health issues and substance abuse, is highly responsible for incidents of domestic violence and child abuse, and is a catalyst for adjustment issues and poor coping skills. Ultimately, everyone pays the price when a community produces multi-generations of people with untreated trauma.
Most individuals, families, and communities do not have the necessary skills or resources to adequately cope with recurring or chronic exposure to trauma, which results in a perpetual cycle of crises that stunts optimal growth and development in all areas of an individual’s life.
Despite the devastating impacts of trauma, there are effective evidence based trauma-specific interventions for treating trauma. These interventions in combination with a trauma-informed care model offer children, families, and communities impacted by trauma the greatest potential for learning to manage the side effects related to trauma and to reach their optimal potential.
Union University School of Social Work’s Trauma Studies Graduate Certificate (TSGC) is designed for currently admitted MSW students and will provide students with specialized trauma focused skills and knowledge that will enable them to effectively practice across various settings with individuals, families, and communities heavily impacted by trauma.
Prerequisites:
• Currently admitted MSW student
• Submission of Trauma Studies Graduate Certificate Application
Course and Field Placement Requirements:
The TSGC requires 18 credit hours of graduate course work. Students earning the TSGC must completed 12 elective credit hours specifically designated as trauma specific and 6 credit hours in a field placement with trauma-focused learning outcomes (i.e., learning tasks are connected to a trauma perspective regardless of the practice setting).
- Trauma Electives (12 credit hours): All students seeking the Trauma Studies Graduate Certificate (TSGC) must take *SW 602 Foundations of Trauma, as an elective. This course provides fundamental knowledge and theory regarding different types of trauma, including its neurobiology, as well as the systemic impact of chronic trauma exposure. All TSGC students must also complete three additional trauma-specific electives, for a total of 12 credit hours.
TSGC Electives:
• SW 525 Traumatic Grief and Loss
• SW 552 Addictions
• SW 553 Social Work Services in Schools
• SW 554 Clinical Social Work in Healthcare
• SW 585-1 Trauma-Informed Care and Communities
• SW 585-2 Human Trafficking
• SW 585-3 Criminal Justice & Social Work
• SW 602 Foundations of Trauma*
• SW 612 Crisis Intervention
2. Field Practice (6 credit hours): TSGC students must have a specialist year field placement where they will gain exposure to working with or on behalf of populations affected by trauma. Students must work with their field instructor at their assigned agency to develop specific learning outcomes/goals that are specifically connected to a trauma perspective. Students not yet in field (SW 690 & SW 691) will not complete this step until they enter their specialist field placement.
Application Process
- Students will receive information about the TSGC at the time of their admission to the MSW program.
- To pursue this certificate, advance standing students must submit a TSGC departmental application at the time of registration (Summer/Fall semester).
- Students enrolled in the 2, 2.5, or 3 year MSW program must submit a TSGC departmental application no later than the Spring semester of year one.
Upon review and approval Dr. Matthews will send a formal confirmation to the student’s Union email, confirming approval of their TSGC application and course plan. (The student’s MSW advisor will also be made aware of the student’s approval for the TSGC and provided a copy of the student’s course plan).
Please forward all questions and concerns regarding this certification to Dr. Katrinna Matthews (kmatthews@uu.edu).
Certificate Requirements
Required Courses
Select 9 hours from the following
| SW 523 | Trauma-Focused Cognitive Based Therapy | 3 |
| SW 525 | Traumatic Grief and Loss | 3 |
| SW 552 | Addictions Counseling | 3 |
| SW 553 | Social Work Services in Schools | 3 |
| SW 585 | Special Studies in Social Work | 1.0 - 3.0 |
| SW 612 | Crisis Intervention | 1.0 - 3.0 |
SW 585 is offered as the following different sections, all of which are eligible as trauma-focused electives:
- Trauma-Informed Care and Communities
- Human Trafficking
- Criminal Justice and Social Work