A parent leaving for war. A car accident. Abuse. A global pandemic is now. Nearly three quarters of students have experienced trauma. This can affect their ability to focus, behavior and overall success in school. These children need teachers, principals, guidance counselors, school nurses, and someone who is knowledgeable about how to respond to trauma. If you are that person, it is equally important to build strength in your students as it is in yourself. This topic is timely, important, and unique. Find out how to bring life-changing knowledge and care for yourself at your school.
Why not choose a master’s with a trauma-informed specialty?
Master’s programs for trauma-informed education and teaching will allow you to examine the issue of student trauma and the resilience required to thrive in the classroom. With the ability to understand and implement trauma-informed, resilience-building strategies, you will be able to lead more effectively in your school, district, and community. You will also learn the importance of self-care.
Trauma and its impact
Research on childhood trauma shows dire trends among students and communities. Many colleges and schools are now incorporating trauma-focused coursework and curricula into their academic programs, as the effects and patterns of trauma have been exposed to a national scale. We are still very new to master’s degrees in trauma-informed teaching, but we salute the pioneering schools who recognize the importance of trauma-informed training for students and teachers.
Students can benefit from trauma-informed strategies
The CDC found that 64% of children had adverse childhood experiences in 2016, a study commonly referred to by the acronym ACEs. These include abuse, neglect, and difficult household situations such as divorce. Children who have been traumatized are more likely to develop learning disorders or behavioral problems. Many children with ACEs experience poorer education outcomes in the long-term.
Trauma from ACES can affect a young person’s ability to learn and their behavior. Teachers are often not equipped or prepared to address these issues. Trauma-informed education, which is rapidly growing in popularity, recognizes that traumatized children need to feel safe at school with people they trust. These are the challenges that trauma-informed master’s degrees address and are perfect for educators and other professionals who work in or out of classrooms with students.
Teachers also benefit from trauma-informed education
Teachers are affected by trauma. Teachers already face heavy workloads and are subject to the additional strains of secondary trauma stress. Teachers are at least 40% likely to experience burnout. This, combined with the feeling of insufficient support, can lead to teacher exclusion. Teachers can use coursework to improve their ability to recognize and adjust to trauma, whether it is direct or indirect, and to build resilience through mindfulness and self care.
How do I choose a master’s degree in trauma-informed education?
Research is complicated. For general advice on funding and career opportunities, see our Degree Search articles. This section will cover more obscure areas as well as share our views to help you explore. Keep your career goals in mind and your professional and personal interests in mind as you look at your options.
Is a master’s degree in trauma-informed teaching the right choice for your career?
These questions will help you decide if you are passionate and driven enough to succeed in this field.
- Are you interested in helping trauma-affected children get the best education possible?
- Are you curious about the physiological changes that happen when trauma is experienced and how this affects learning?
- Are you looking for practical strategies to improve learning outcomes for your students?
- Are you interested in helping to make trauma-informed practices a part of school environments
These questions are a good starting point. Your needs and desires will be different so you may need to ask more questions. It is important to be open with yourself and ask questions to help you determine if this educational path is right for you.
How can I choose a master’s program that is trauma-informed?
You now know why a master’s in education is important for your career. And you are certain that a masters in trauma-informed teaching will suit your goals and interests. Although this is a good start, there are still many things to consider.
What you need to know about program titles
The field of trauma-informed education is relatively new. This is evident in the variety of program titles. You might see a different focus in the program title, or it could be due to unique school naming systems.
These are some of our most popular program titles:
- Trauma-Informed Education
- Trauma-Informed Education
- Trauma-Informed Education & Resilience
- Trauma and resilience
- Trauma-Informed Education & Intervention
- Education Environments: Trauma and Resilience
Many trauma-informed programs lead you to MA or MEd degrees. To ensure you are able to choose the right degree for you, take the time to learn about the differences among the degrees.
Remember: An advanced degree in trauma informed teaching and leadership education is a good choice for teachers, especially middle and high school students. However, these programs may also suit individuals working in non-profit or corporate settings.
There are many types of trauma-informed master’s programmes
Master of Education (MEd), Master of Arts (MAEd), programs
When it comes to graduate education, Master of Education programs are often top of mind for educators. These programs are well-respected because they cover classroom pedagogy and effective methods of teaching in the classroom. Many MEd programs offer specializations that allow students to focus on a specific subject. This is the category that you can expect to find most of today’s trauma-informed masters’ programs.