Developing an Online Psychological Trauma Education Course for College Students

Abstract

Introduction: Individuals in various career fields will interact with people who have experienced trauma while engaging in their work responsibilities, and many have limited, if any, trauma training. Therefore, there is a need to provide trauma training within undergraduate degree programs. Statement of Problem: Online learning is a viable method of meeting the need for psychological trauma education for undergraduate students. Literature Review: Education in the United States has steadily moved toward more online formats, with many students preferring the flexibility of an online course. We discuss the literature on teaching about trauma and considerations for teaching the course online. Teaching Implications: We outline components of an online undergraduate trauma education course focused on teaching students about psychological trauma. This includes presenting the course objectives, describing course assignments, and discussing considerations for the course which instructors can use in teaching about trauma. Conclusion: Instructors of higher education can use the activities and considerations discussed in this article as a guide in the development of an online trauma education course.