Trauma-Informed Practice
For BSW degree holders
Offered Fall 2026 and Fall 2027
Applications open Jan. 15, 2026.
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.
Certificates provide graduate education and formal credentials. If you plan on laddering to our MSW, you'll need this certificate and one in Advanced Social Work Practice.
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
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.