Integrating Trauma Content Into BSW Curricula: A Content Analysis

Trauma-informed practice has commonly been treated as a specialist area of training within the social work profession, often reserved for graduate-level courses. We contend that an understanding of trauma—including individual, cultural, and historical trauma—is central to the basic skills and professional well-being of all social workers, regardless of education or role. Many entry-level social work roles, such as case manager, child welfare worker, human and social service worker, crisis response worker, and victim advocate, are held by students entering from Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) programs; they should be prepared to understand and address the complexity of trauma within their role, including the history of trauma studies, cultural and historical trauma, skills in addressing trauma with clients, and secondary trauma. Such professional preparation can be provided by BSW programs. This study reviewed Council on Social Work Education–accredited BSW programs nationally for inclusion of trauma-specific courses in their programs, as well as conducting a content analysis of course syllabi from trauma-specific BSW courses. Themes in theoretical framework, learning activities, and topical content were identified, and we offer recommendations for trauma curriculum.