MEd for Experienced Educators, Trauma Informed Education

Trauma occurs every day and in every person’s life. However, those with less resiliency, fewer resources, a past of adverse experience, or who are in the beginning stages of development, are more debilitated by traumatic experiences and are highly susceptible to traumatic disorders. A person that suffers from a trauma disorder carries that disorder everywhere; there is no discarding it at the door of a church, a playground, a babysitter’s, or a school. When children with traumatic disorders are in school, they are surrounded by triggers (any sensory event that may remind the person’s brain or body of a past traumatic experience) and may become reactive or dissociative in response to a trigger.

While not every student comes in contact with a mental health professional, nearly every child in America comes in contact with a teacher and educational professionals. When educators have learned to recognize signs of developmental trauma, and how to respond, more children are served, and it is more possible to provide a solid education.

This degree is offered by AU New England.

Program Overview

The Trauma-Informed Education concentration is a six-course online, asynchronous concentration within the Experienced Educators program. It examines trauma in the context of the learning environment. The courses are introductory in nature thus, the approach is to understand broad issues related to trauma-informed education rather than a deep, detailed examination of this important field. The concentration program is intended for individuals who seek a basic understanding of how to best support and work with children affected by trauma.

The first two courses, Becoming a Trauma-Informed Educator (A & B), focus on recognizing the behaviors associated with childhood trauma and offer strategies for practitioners to use. The developmental effects of trauma and the ramifications of those effects on the academic setting of the child and their peers and teachers are explored in the third class. The interaction of the child within the community is the focus of the fourth class. In the fifth class, The Trauma-Sensitive Learning Environment, students focus on adapting existing school environments to maximize learning opportunities for affected children.  The concentration concludes with a course focused on leadership and well-being.

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Degree Requirements

Length of Program:

• This 33 -credit program can be completed in 5-7 semesters.
• fully online  
• 2-3  courses per term

Required Courses:

• Introduction to Becoming a Trauma-Informed Educator-A
• Introduction to Becoming a Trauma-Informed Educator-B
• Physiological, Psychological, and Developmental Effects of Childhood Trauma
• Connecting the Community with Those Affected by Childhood Trauma
• The Trauma-Sensitive Learning Environment
• Leadership and Well-being: Trauma-Informed Supervision
• Philosophy of Education and Change
• The Developing Mind or Childhood and Nature 
• Practicum: Equity & Change
• Practicum: Child Study
• Practicum: Curriculum

For detailed curriculum, degree requirements, and course descriptions, please visit the course catalog.

Career Outlook

Upon completion of this certificate and depending on state requirements, students can perform work as a:

• PK-3 Teacher
• Trauma-Informed Supervisor

Learning Outcomes

Candidates will understand the basic principles of trauma-informed education.  Candidates will demonstrate the implementation of these principles in their own classrooms/schools.