trauma

Trauma-Informed Practice

On Campus & Online

This certificate is offered mostly online. You'll be required to attend two on campus residencies at our Edmonton campus.

Online courses consist of a mix of real time classes at set times and learning that can be done on your own schedule.

Internet access

You'll require regular access to an internet connection, and you'll need a camera and microphone.

A high speed internet connection is recommended, but not required.

Test your Internet Connection

8 months

You'll begin your Certificate studies in the fall semester (September), and the total completion time is eight months.

You'll follow the UCalgary academic calendar and be given specific assignment deadlines.

Change the way you think about your practice

Trauma-informed care provides a critical lens for clinical social work. Most people have had traumatic experiences, so recognizing the impact of trauma is central to professional practice. You'll learn to recognize the impacts of trauma in various contexts and provide appropriate social work interventions and supports.

Understanding trauma is absolutely fundamental. Over the years I've found that even for people who've been in the field for a long time — they might know what trauma looks like, but they did not know what to do about it. They don't know how to intervene and they don't know how to talk about it.

Dr. Angelique Jenney, PhD

Wood's Homes Chair in Children's Mental Health, Instructor for Trauma-Informed Practice

Courses


Fundamentals of Trauma-Informed Practice

Provides a review and in-depth exploration of the range of traumatic experiences and their individual, familial, group and community consequences.

The course considers differing experiences of trauma from acute to complex trauma and explores differences between traumatic stress, acute stress reactions, and PTSD.

Trauma Impacts and Interventions Across the Life Span

Provides an in-depth exploration of traumatic experiences at various points in an individual’s life span, and the implications for future growth and development.

Advanced Trauma-Informed Practice with Indigenous People and Communities

Focuses on the nature of historical, multigenerational, and contemporary dynamics that impact Indigenous people through an examination of the traumatic experiences of colonization, residential schools, and rampant child welfare apprehensions, cultural suppression, and discrimination.

The course provides a lens that tailors assessments and interventions that are culturally sensitive and appropriate.

Advanced Trauma Interventions in Diverse Contexts

Focuses on the nature, impact, and specific intervention strategies for trauma-informed best practices applicable in diverse contexts such as working in high risk occupations, or with immigrants and refugees, vulnerable persons who are homeless including youth and victims of domestic violence, as well as trauma impacts and responses in communities affected by a disaster.


Admission Requirements

  1. A Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from an accredited/recognized institution.
  2. A minimum of 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 point system, over the past two years of full-time study (a minimum of 60 units) of the undergraduate degree.
  3. The equivalent of two years of full-time paid work or a minimum of 3,000 hours of paid and/or volunteer work in the human services field by the application deadline.
    What is relevant social work and human service experience? 
  4. English Language Proficiency

    Offers of admission are valid for the term to which you apply.

 

Residencies

An important part of your graduate certificate experience are the skill-building residencies, where you apply the knowledge and theory you've learned.

Two on campus Edmonton residencies 

On Campus Scheduled Dates

  • TBD

Degree Award

Your degree must be awarded prior to the start of the program. We cannot accept a letter of completion as a replacement for degree award. Your final transcript noting your degree must be received by June 30.

Earned your BSW abroad?

If you completed an undergraduate degree in Social Work or equivalent in another country (outside Canada/USA), you must have your degree assessed by the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) as equivalent to a Canadian BSW, prior to applying to the MSW program.

Learn more