Academics, University News
CSP is expanding our reach into many professions that have to help people deeply affected by traumatic experiences. This, at a time when many professionals are finding themselves interacting with people in difficult situations, fueled by traumatic life experiences. The new programs will empower professionals in criminal justice, mental health, public health, education, and other occupations that frequently deal with people in crisis.
We’re excited to share that CSP will offer two options for graduate students focused on trauma, resilience, and self-care:
- Option 1 will be a 15-credit certificate program that includes five courses that can be completed in 10 months. It can be associated with many of our graduate degree programs in forensic behavioral health, criminal justice, law, nursing, and other human services fields of study.
- Option 2 will be a Master of Arts degree with an emphasis in human services trauma, resilience, and self-care. This program will encompass 36 credits of coursework completed over 22 months.
These new offerings are further examples of the kinds of career-relevant programming that makes CSP graduates more valuable in the workplace. In addition, the trauma and resilience focus is made even more relevant due to inordinate stressors and traumatic incidents in society over the past 12 months. CSP is addressing increased demands on professionals who work in crisis-heavy professions, empowering people by equipping them with skills and knowledge to help them address real-world challenges they’ll face on the job.
These programs will launch this coming summer. They are modeled after our existing Trauma & Resilience in K-12 Education graduate program and certificate offerings and will provide students deeper understanding of:
- The foundations of trauma- and stressor-related disorders
- The impact of childhood trauma on the developing brain
- Forensic behavioral health aspects of trauma
- The impact of trauma on families
- Trauma-informed practice, including self-are and resilience strategies.
“It’s very rewarding to make this kind of forward-thinking academic programming to CSP students so they can go out and be of greater value in their chosen professions,” said Jerrod Brown, Ph.D., assistant professor and program director. “Many of the professions we support see huge increases in issues related to complex trauma, toxic stress, and childhood trauma – compounded by isolation and confinement due to the current pandemic. The demand for such expertise is likely only going to increase.”
Janina Cich, the department chair of Criminal Justice & Forensic Behavioral Health added, “From law enforcement to court systems to social services and education, countless professionals need expertise in how trauma has compounded challenges for people in these systems. We can facilitate real-world change in how professionals deal with people in crisis situations.”
It’s important to note that the content within the new programs is not focused on diagnosis and treatment, Instead, it is focused to enhancing a student’s professional competencies and cultivate learning processes to help them identify signs and symptoms, know when and how to take action, and how to refer people in crisis to support services.
If you are interested in exploring these programs, please contact Janina Cich ([email protected]).