At which campus can I study this program?
Program Description
This 18 credit certificate will provide the core information and competencies for students interested in pursuing research and applied experiences in trauma studies. The certificate is open to all majors; students will be provided with an interdisciplinary understanding of the psychological, historical, sociocultural, political, and physiological aspects of the effects of trauma. It will also provide students a greater understanding of the unique economic, occupational, physical, medical, and interpersonal needs of those recovering from trauma. The certificate is consistent with psychology program goals to develop clear career tracks for current students interested in the applied fields of psychology.
What is Trauma Studies?
Experiencing a traumatic event such as war, urban violence, child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, accident, or natural disaster, is known to likely lead to a negative impact on psychological and physical health. Unfortunately, most people experience traumatic events during their lifetimes, making trauma studies one of the fastest growing areas in the social sciences.
You Might Like This Program If...
- You are a Psychology major interested in a counseling or psychotherapy career.
- You are interested in research related to trauma and recovery.
- You are interested in interdisciplinary explanations of human behavior and recovery after trauma.
- You are in an allied health field and would like to better understand the impact of trauma on people’s lives.
- You recognize that people recovering from trauma have unique emotional-health needs and want to help them.
Program Requirements
To earn an undergraduate certificate in Trauma Studies, a minimum of 18 credits is required.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| PSYCH 100 | Introductory Psychology  | 3 |
| PSYCH 442 | Trauma and Resiliency | 3 |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Teaching with Trauma in Mind: Implications for Instruction and Classroom Practices | ||
| Art and Science of Human Flourishing | ||
| Introduction to Child Maltreatment and Advocacy Studies | ||
| Death and Bereavement | ||
| Wellness Theory | ||
| Action Methods for Stress Management | ||
| Dying and Death | ||
| Human Nature: The Science of Extreme Altruism and Violence | ||
| The Science of Human Resilience | ||
| Introduction to Well-being and Positive Psychology | ||
| Introduction to Abnormal Psychology | ||
| Trauma-informed care for school & human service professionals | ||
| Social Problems | ||
| Criminology | ||
| Juvenile Delinquency | ||
| Racial and Ethnic Inequality in America | ||
| Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice | ||
| Racism and Sexism | ||
| Sexuality and Violence in Nineteenth-Century America | ||
| Sexual and Domestic Violence | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Black Freedom Struggles | ||
| African American History | ||
| War and Memory in Asia: Twentieth Century and beyond | ||
| The Rhetorics of War and Peace | ||
| The Holocaust in Film and Literature | ||
| Human Rights and World Literature | ||
| Introduction to LGBTQ Studies | ||
| Global Pathways | ||
| History of the Holocaust 1933-1945 | ||
| Introduction to the Civil War Era, 1848 through 1877 | ||
| The History of the Israel-Palestine Conflict (1917-Present) | ||
| The World at War: 1939-1945 | ||
| Vietnam in War and Peace | ||
| Rise of Modern Southeast Asia | ||
| The United States in Civil War and Reconstruction--1850-1877 | ||
| International Relations | ||
| The Politics of International Intolerance | ||
| Understanding Tyranny | ||
| Ethnic and Racial Politics | ||
| Comparative Violence: Political and Criminological Perspectives | ||
| Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies | ||
| Civil Wars | ||
| War in World Politics | ||
| The Politics of Terrorism | ||
Certificate Learning Objectives
- Describe behaviors and mental processes from the major social science perspectives that impact trauma exposure and the development of traumatic stress.
- Explain the epidemiology of trauma, traumatic stress, and resiliency.
- Identify resiliency and vulnerability factors in traumatic stress disorder development, including the effects of biological, developmental, social, historical, and cultural factors.
- Describe the stages of recovery and the prevention and treatment options for trauma.
Academic Advising
The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.
Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.
READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY
Erie
Wilson Brown, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology
106 Turnbull Hall
Erie, PA 16563
814-898-6936
wilsonbrown@psu.edu
Career Paths
The certificate in Trauma Studies can be pursued by most Penn State Behrend undergraduate students. It provides core competencies to students interested in pursuing research and applied experiences in trauma studies and offers an interdisciplinary understanding of the psychological, historical, sociocultural, political, and physiological aspects of trauma and recovery. Coursework builds a greater understanding of the unique economic, occupational, physical, medical, and interpersonal needs of trauma survivors. This certificate also can help you to develop a career track in the applied fields of psychology.
Careers
Pursuing the certificate in Trauma Studies will help you to develop a deeper understanding of the psychological, historical, sociocultural, political, economic, and physiological effects of trauma. This specialization can offer you additional career opportunities within the field of psychology, counseling, education, political science, history, pre-medicine, human development and family studies, or sociology.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL CAREER OPTIONS FOR GRADUATES WITH A CERTIFICATE IN TRAUMA STUDIES
Opportunities for Graduate Studies
Clinical practice of trauma counseling requires education beyond a bachelor’s degree. Penn State Behrend offers a Master of Arts degree program in Applied Clinical Psychology that includes optional preparation for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential. Penn State Behrend also offers a graduate certificate in Trauma-Informed Psychotherapy that pairs with the M.A. in Applied Clinical Psychology.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATE STUDIES
Professional Resources
Contact
Erie
SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
170 Irvin Kochel Center
4951 College Drive
Erie, PA 16563
814-898-6108
HSSOffice@psu.edu
https://behrend.psu.edu/school-of-humanities-social-sciences