HED 732 - The Impact of Trauma on High School Students

This course will expose participants to the field of trauma through a comprehensive study of the impact of trauma on students prior to enrolling in college. We will investigate the world of child welfare and K-12 schools in America and the factors that have shaped child wellbeing. We will use these lenses to investigate and understand the characteristic of today’s high school students. We will explore a general overview of the impact of societal and technological trends on human functioning. This will include but not be limited to experiences with gaming, texting, instant access to worldwide exposure and resources. The course will look at the impact of these factors on brain development and functioning. We will examine how race and racism as well as recent trends in social justice have shaped high school students’ perception on issues like equity, opportunity, systemic racism, humane law enforcement and the role of government. Because COVID-19 has dramatically changed the operation of K-12 and higher education, a study of its immediate and long-term impact, especially disproportionately affected communities due to social determinants of health will be explored. The course will include a focus on how trauma impacts the likelihood of becoming a college-bound student, how trauma contributes to the barriers that students face in their pathway to higher education, and how can colleges and universities help to remove these barriers. Finally, the understanding of the complex issues facing traditional first-year college students will be examined in an effort to design a more comprehensive and supportive admissions process that better prepares the high school senior for enrolling in college and the college in meeting the needs and expectations of first-year students from entry through graduation.

Credits: 3