Trauma-Informed School Social Work, Graduate Certificate - Post Bacc - CHHS, UNH

The Trauma-Informed School Social Work Track is the equivalent to the Trauma-Informed Policy and Practices Certificate (TIPP), and developed from ongoing collaboration with the UNH Education Department. Our goals are to increase visibility of diverse populations by decreasing financial barriers to education, and to encourage the development of inclusive spaces in and outside of schools. Students who complete this concentration will be eligible to apply for the NH Board of Education School Social Work Certificate at the time of graduation.

Who Should Apply?

• Graduate students attending the University of New Hampshire Durham, Manchester, or Online.
• Students from other disciplines and other universities, and non-matriculated students.
• Students interested in trauma-informed policy and practices.
• Individuals pursuing continuing education units (CEU) for a variety of state licenses.
• Individuals interested in increasing their knowledge in trauma-informed care and developing specialized practice skills.

Assessment

• Students will track progress through the concentration using Tevera and are required to update the "School SW Credentials" form regularly.
• It is recommended that at least one course assignment per course should directly relate back to School Social Work. Students can collect these assignments in Tevera.

Internship

• 640 hours of internship must be completed in a high need local education areas/authorities (LEA).
• Remaining hours should provide experience working with vulnerable populations identified in ED 507.14.

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EDUC 998 Special Topics has a minimum available credits of 3. Students complete 1 credit in the Fall and complete the remaining 2 credits in the Spring. The Spring semester requires at least two credits due to the development and completion of the seminar capstone. Students seeking an increase to 4 credits, collaboration with the instructors to develop fall sequence project is required.

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Selecting an EDUC course is not required, however students are encouraged to consider EDUC 965 Educational Supervision and Evaluation or EDUC 850 Introduction to Disability in Inclusive Schools and Communities.

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Elective coursework must have project focused on trauma-informed school social work.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Gain knowledge and experience in the complexities of collaborating with youth who have diverse abilities, including attitudes and perceptions, inclusive education, and the processes of identification, referral, assessment, and service delivery within educational systems.
• Engage in the roles and functions of School Social Work across diverse practice settings, studying the history, legislation, and general perspectives in school social work. They prioritize anti-oppressive practices, ensuring that every student’s voice is heard and respected.
• Critically analyze and apply the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework, integrating cultural, linguistic, and trauma-informed approaches to foster an inclusive and supportive educational environment.
• Demonstrate proficiency in identifying and addressing the diverse needs of students through tailored interventions and collaborative practices, ensuring equity and access for all learners.
• Effectively engage in interdisciplinary collaboration to provide trauma-informed care.
• Demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively with educators, healthcare providers, and families to support students impacted by trauma, ensuring a holistic and coordinated approach to their well-being and academic success.

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Deadlines

Applications must be completed by the following deadlines in order to be reviewed for admission:

• Fall: July 15
• Spring: Dec. 1
• Summer: April 15
• Special: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and the deadline is closed once the cohort is filled.

Application fee: $25

Campus: Online

New England Regional: No

Accelerated Masters Eligible: No

New Hampshire Residents

Students claiming in-state residency must also submit a Proof of Residence Form. This form is not required to complete your application, but you will need to submit it after you are offered admission, or you will not be able to register for classes.

Transcripts

If you attended UNH or Granite State College (GSC) after September 1, 1991, and have indicated so on your online application, we will retrieve your transcript internally; this includes UNH-Durham, UNH-Manchester, UNH Non-Degree work and GSC. 

If you did not attend UNH, or attended prior to September 1, 1991, then you must upload a copy (PDF) of your transcript in the application form. International transcripts must be translated into English.

If admitted, you must then request an official transcript be sent directly to our office from the Registrar's Office of each college/university attended. We accept transcripts both electronically and in hard copy:

• Electronic Transcripts: Please have your institution send the transcript directly to grad.school@unh.edu. Please note that we can only accept copies sent directly from the institution.
• Paper Transcripts: Please send hard copies of transcripts to: UNH Graduate School, Thompson Hall- 105 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824. You may request transcripts be sent to us directly from the institution or you may send them yourself as long as they remain sealed in the original university envelope.

Transcripts from all previous post-secondary institutions must be submitted and applicants must disclose any previous academic or disciplinary sanctions that resulted in their temporary or permanent separation from a previous post-secondary institution. If it is found that previous academic or disciplinary separations were not disclosed, applicants may face denial and admitted students may face dismissal from their academic program.

Letters of Recommendation: 2 Required

Recommendation letters submitted by relatives or friends, as well as letters older than one year, will not be accepted.

Personal Statement/Essay Questions

1. Prepare a brief but careful statement regarding:

• Reasons you wish to do graduate work in this field, including your immediate and long-range objectives,
• Your specific research or professional interest and experiences in this field.

2. Prepare a brief but careful statement using one of the following prompts:

• Have you ever had an interaction with a student from a different background and felt as though there may have been a lack of understanding or an intercultural barrier? If so, what factors do you think contributed to this intercultural barrier?
• We continue to experience a national reckoning on racial injustice in America. Discuss how this has affected you, what you have learned, and/or how you have been inspired to be a change agent with marginalized populations and/or within school systems.
• In your experience working with students, what are some ways that your school and/or organization have worked to improve equitable and accessible support to better serve diverse student groups and promote inclusion, justice, and belonging?

Important Notes

All applicants are encouraged to contact programs directly to discuss program-specific application questions.

International Applicants

Prospective international students are required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent examination scores. English Language Exams may be waived if English is your first language. If you wish to request a waiver, then please visit our Test Scores webpage for more information.