Course Syllabus

Spring 2024 | PSY-2155-VO01 - Trauma: Origins & Impacts

Online Class

Online courses take place 100% online via Canvas, without required in-person or Zoom meetings.

Faculty

Valerie Welter
View Faculty Credentials
View Faculty Statement
Hiring Coordinator for this course: Kate Hughes

General Education Requirements

VSCS Social Sciences

Note

Many degree programs have specific general education recommendations. In order to avoid taking unnecessary classes, please consult with additional resources like your program evaluation, your academic program catalog year page, and your academic advisor.

Courses may only be used to meet one General Education Requirement.

Course Description

This course introduces students to a variety of viewpoints on human trauma from contemporary social science disciplines. Students will explore the nature and impact of trauma across the lifespan and will discuss current theories, research, and interventions. The course will examine societal impacts and responses to trauma from global, cultural, and historical perspectives. Recommended prior learning: Introduction to Psychology, Human Growth & Development, or Child Development.

Essential Objectives

1. Describe the causes and characteristics of various types of human trauma and traumatic stress.
2. Examine current scientific theories and research regarding the impacts of individual and societal trauma and recommended interventions.
3. Explore the biological, cognitive, emotional, and interpersonal impacts of trauma on individuals over the lifespan.
4. Examine the societal costs and impacts of trauma from global, cultural, economic, political, and historical perspectives.
5. Describe common behavioral manifestations of trauma in children, adolescents, adults and in traumatized communities.
6. Describe examples of trauma-informed practice and factors that promote resiliency in the helping professions (Criminal Justice, Human Services, Education, Healthcare, Substance Abuse work, etc.).

Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV IT Support page. https://support.ccv.edu/general/computer-recommendations/

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.

Required Textbooks and Resources

This course uses one or more textbooks/books/simulations, along with free Open Educational Resources (OER) and/or library materials.

Spring 2024 textbook/book details will be available on 2023-11-06. On that date a link will be available below that will take you to eCampus, CCV's bookstore. The information provided there will be specific to this class. Please see this page for more information regarding the purchase of textbooks/books.

PSY-2155-VO01 Link to Textbooks for this course in eCampus.

For Open Educational Resources (OER) and/or library materials details, see the Canvas Site for this class.

The last day to use a Financial Aid Advance to purchase textbooks/books is the 3rd Tuesday of the semester. See your financial aid counselor at your academic center if you have any questions.

Methods

This is online class. Presentation of course topical material, discussion, and student participation will take place exclusively through Canvas. Material will be presented using several methods including but not limited to our text, ancillary websites, videos and podcasts.

The course requires non-traditional textbooks. I believe the required texts serve as invaluable learning guides for students as we begin to examine the complex issue of trauma. Resources to supplement the texts and expand our collective discussions will be utilized as well. These will be available to students in the weekly modules as Assigned Resources.

Required Texts:

Principles of Trauma Therapy: A Guide to Symptoms, Evaluation, and Treatment: DSM-5 Update, 2^nd ed. (2015) by John N. Briere & Catherine Scott. ISBN-13: 978-1483351247

Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence-From Domestic Abuse to Political Terror (2015) by Judith Herman, M.D. ISBN-13: 978-0465061716

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma (2015) by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. ISBN-13: 978-0143127741

Prior to the course opening, please read the assigned Week 1 reading below. The reading will be addressed in the Week 1 discussion and assignments when the course opens.

Briere & Scott: Introduction and Chapter 1

A detailed syllabus that includes the weekly assigned chapter reading, supplementary resources and assignments will be available in the weekly modules on the course page in Canvas. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions about the course.

Evaluation Criteria

Learning will be assessed through the completion of the weekly discussion, including assignments and required posts and final paper/exam. Assignments will be evaluated on some or all of the following criteria, depending upon the nature of the assignment.

COMPLETENESS: Did you cover all aspects of the assignment?

ELABORATION: Did you provide examples, detail any generalized statements, and substantiate with concrete explanations?

CONSTRUCTION: Did you use complete sentences, proper grammar, accurate spelling, good paragraph structure, and logical organization in your work?

ANALYSIS: Did you think critically and challenge yourself and the material to the best of your ability?

APPLICATION: Did you connect the subject matter (readings/websites) to the assigned work?

12 weeks@40 points: 480 points

Introduction: 10 points

Final Course Presentation Topic: 10 points

Final Course Presentation: 100 points

Total 600 points

Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

	High	Low
A+	100	98
A	Less than 98	93
A-	Less than 93	90
B+	Less than 90	88
B	Less than 88	83
B-	Less than 83	80
C+	Less than 80	78
C	Less than 78	73
C-	Less than 73	70
D+	Less than 70	68
D	Less than 68	63
D-	Less than 63	60
F	Less than 60
P	100	60
NP	Less than 60	0

Weekly Schedule

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

• In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
• Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
• Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.

Missing & Late Work Policy

Extensions will be granted only in extenuating circumstances. If you anticipate a lengthy medical problem or other emergent personal issue that will result in missing weekly discussions, please contact me proactively. Because the course content is delivered in weekly modules, short-term conditions such as illness or technical problems will not be considered to be extenuating. Students who know that they will not have course access for any given week should make arrangements with their instructor in advance to complete assignments and participation requirements prior to the absence.

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:

1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/discover-resources/students-with-disabilities/
2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.

Academic Integrity