Trauma Studies

Course Outline
Our Postgraduate Certificate in Trauma Studies is delivered by the Department of Criminology at UCC in conjunction with the WAVE Trauma Centre Belfast.

The overall aim of the WAVE Trauma Centre as a cross-community, voluntary, regional organisation is to offer care and support to anyone bereaved, injured or traumatised through the 'Troubles' of Northern Ireland. Since its establishment in 1991, WAVE has offered direct support to over 5,000 individuals. WAVE service delivery includes Advocacy & Casework Services; Complementary Therapies; Counselling & Psychotherapy; Outreach Support and Welfare Advice. Other services include Trauma Training; Transgenerational/Youth services and Truth, Justice & Acknowledgement. By bringing the expertise of the WAVE team together with the programme staff in UCC, we aim to deliver a course that will allow students to develop their knowledge and understanding of trauma, both in a theoretical but also in an applied manner.

The course will begin with an orientation week. This involves engaging with tutors online, completing a library tutorial online, and familiarising yourself with the online learning platform. Throughout the duration of the course, students will have access to both academic and pastoral support via both ACE and their module tutors.

As a guide, 5-credit modules will involve students engaging with:

Self-directed study (self-directed learning with online programme materials)

Online moderated activities - personal online tutoring and online group discussion

Written assignments

Reading and reflective practice

Usually, we recommend that students set aside approximately 10 - 15 hours a week over the course of a 12-week semester (depending on if the module is 5 or 10 credits). This course is not a practice-based course but does address issues that some participants may find upsetting and triggering. Given this, it must be noted that the course is not delivered in a therapeutic environment and students should be mindful of the impact engaging in some topics may have on their own well-being.

Why Choose This Course
This course is designed and delivered by University College Cork and WAVE Trauma Centre Northern Ireland. WAVE is a grassroots, cross-community, voluntary organisation formed in 1991 to support people bereaved of a spouse as a result of violence in Northern Ireland. It was expanded later to incorporate the needs of children and young people and anyone injured or traumatised through 'the Troubles'. WAVE has also worked in international conflict contexts. This course is academically grounded in trauma theory, however it draws heavily on the research and experiences of its teaching team who have worked extensively with conflict-related trauma. Although there is primarily a focus on conflict trauma, this is set in the context of wider trauma theories within the field of trauma studies. The course focuses on a psycho-social framework for understanding trauma which captures the breadth of responses to trauma in situations of complex, repeated and/or enduring traumatic experience.

Trauma is so often assumed to be an individualised experience. The true cost of trauma is however much higher as the relatives of those suffering from trauma also experience the impact of the phenomenon. Trauma provokes ill health, disrupts family relationships, impairs functioning, leads to substance abuse, and in some cases when grief becomes intolerable, leads to suicide. This course brings together an experienced team of academics and practitioners in order to address the complexity of trauma and investigate the means through which both the individual and society can be relieved of its impact.

Programme details (30 credits)

CR6801 Trauma and Victimology: Key issues, methods and structures (5 credits)
CR6802 Research Methods (5 credits)
CR6803 Trauma and Addiction: Key issues, methods and structures (10 credits )
CR6804 Trauma and Post-traumatic Growth (10 credits)

Candidates must hold an honours (NFQ level 8) primary degree with a minimum 2H2 in a relevant discipline. Relevant disciplines include, but are not restricted to: psychology, sociology, criminology, social work, counselling, conflict studies, womens studies, epidemiology, medicine and nursing.

Candidates without an NFQ level 8 award are eligible to apply, subject to the approval of the programme Academic Director, if s/he can demonstrate at least three years' professional experience in a related field – examples include (but are not restricted to) therapeutic practice, community work/engagement experience, government/policy experience and medical/para-medical experience

English Language Requirement: All applicants whose first language is not English are required to sit either an IELTS test or a recognised equivalent test. The minimum requirement is an IELTS score of 6.5, or the equivalent TOEFL score with no individual section lower than 6.0. In addition to IELTS and TOEFL a number of
English language tests & examinations are applicable to the majority of our programmes. Further information on English language requirements can be found at PG English Language Entry Requirements | UCC | University College Cork | Ireland

Technical Requirements: To access and interact with the course content, assignments and assessments etc. students will require access to at least a PC/ Laptop running Windows 7 or later and Mac OSX 10.7.4. Common plug-ins such as Microsoft Silverlight, Java and Flash will also be required. Students must have access to MS Office or an equivalent suite of applications such as Libre Office. They must also have access to a modern standards compliant web browser. UCC recommends either Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.

To engage productively and successfully with the content, basic technical computer skills such as familiarity with word processing, web browsing, and email -recommended.

Closing Date: TBC 2023

How Do I Apply
To Apply for this course please follow the steps below:

When you log into the Application Portal:

Click Apply Online

Select Start a new Adult & Continuing Education Application

On the 2nd tab Academic Level

Select the following options:

Academic Level: Adult Continuing Education (ACE at UCC)
Course Type: ACE Part-time Courses
Academic Programme: The course title you are applying for.

During your online application you will be required to upload the following documents:

Application Statement
Birth Cert or Passport
Passport Photo
Curricululm Vitae
Fee Declaration Document
English Language Requirement
Transcripts [if applicable]

12 months part-time Online

This course is delivered online on Monday evenings with occasional lectures on Thursday evenings.