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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, developmental, educational, 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, education, and rehabilitation studies programs goals to develop clear career tracks for current students interested in the applied fields of psychology and trauma informed care.
What is Trauma and Resilience 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 and resilience 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 and Resilience Studies, a minimum of 18 credits is required.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Introduction to Human Development and Family Studies  | ||
| Infant and Child Development | ||
| Adolescent Development | ||
| Introductory Psychology | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Learning and Development in the Context of Adversity and Trauma | ||
| Trauma and Resiliency | ||
| Trauma-informed care for school & human service professionals | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Safe and Sound: The Intersection of Criminal Justice and Public Health | ||
| Art and Science of Human Flourishing | ||
| Sexual and Gender Identity Over the Lifespan | ||
| Introduction to Child Maltreatment and Advocacy Studies | ||
| CONTEMPORARY URBAN ISSUES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE FRAMEWORKS | ||
| Family Disorganization: Stress Points in the Contemporary Family | ||
| Death and Bereavement | ||
| Child Maltreatment: Prevention and Treatment | ||
| Systems and Community Responses | ||
| Palliative Care and Bereavement | ||
| Wellness Theory | ||
| Action Methods for Stress Management | ||
| The Art and Science of Balancing Wellness | ||
| 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 | ||
| Introduction to the Psychology of Adjustment | ||
| Society's Problems: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions | ||
| Criminology | ||
| Juvenile Delinquency | ||
| Racial and Ethnic Inequality in America | ||
| Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice | ||
| 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 | ||
| The History of Madness, Mental Illness, and Psychiatry | ||
| Modern Jewish History | ||
| History of the Holocaust 1933-1945 | ||
| Introduction to U.S. Latina/o History | ||
| Introduction to the Civil War Era, 1848 through 1877 | ||
| Slavery, the Civil War, and Cinema | ||
| The History of the Israel-Palestine Conflict (1917-Present) | ||
| The World at War: 1939-1945 | ||
| The Holocaust and Human Rights | ||
| Vietnam in War and Peace | ||
| Genocide in Global perspectives: Twentieth Century and beyond | ||
| Earthquakes and Human History | ||
| The United States in Civil War and Reconstruction--1850-1877 | ||
| Violence and the Impact on Society | ||
| 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 | ||
| Racism and Sexism | ||
| Sexuality and Violence in Nineteenth-Century America | ||
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
Melanie Hetzel-Riggin, Ph.D.
Director of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and Professor of Psychology
170E Kochel Center
Erie, PA 16563
814-898-6949
mdh33@psu.edu
Career Paths
The certificate in Trauma and Resilience 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 and Resilience 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.
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