Main content
Social work and trauma education
Postgraduate master's programme
in cooperation with the Gera-Eisenach Cooperative State University.
This course of study creates a scientifically based and at the same time application-oriented specialization for professionals in psychosocial institutions with people who have experienced trauma and often have fundamental difficulties in social relations due to trauma sequelae. On the way to becoming a specialist social worker:
- sharpens the professional view of the people for whom we provide support services in the facilities,
- promotes a diagnostic, trauma-sensitive approach,
- teaches methods for emotional stabilization and support,
- initiates group dynamic processes by means of experiential education activities
- expands self-reflection
Study locations: Nordhausen and Gera
Academic Degree
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Period of study
- five semesters standard period of study, part-time
- Classroom teaching: three times per semester, Thursdays to Sundays
- Absence on working days remains low
- Blended learning takes place online according to individual time management
Application deadlines
- Summer semester by March 15
- Winter semester by September 15
Admission requirements
- Completion of a bachelor's degree in the field of social work or a comparable course of study
- Qualified professional practice of at least one year as a rule
- letter of motivation for choosing the course of study
Tuition fees
2,390 € per semester
Graduation, recognition, accreditation
Degree: Master of Arts (M.A.) in Social Work and Trauma Education.
Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences and Gera-Eisenach Cooperative State University are state universities of the Free State of Thuringia.
Based on the audit report of the ACQUIN agency and the decision proposals of the expert panel, the Accreditation Council has accredited the study program without conditions until September 30, 2029. Particularly noteworthy are the individually organized course of study, the practical orientation in terms of intervention methods and diagnostics, and the balanced examination load.
Target groups
- Professionals with a degree in social work or a comparable degree who work in psychosocial fields with children, adolescents and adults who have experienced trauma and need support
- who would like to specialize and deepen their knowledge of trauma education within the framework of a specialized social work program
- who would like to bring together experiences from practice with science and conduct research on them
- who enjoy further professional development with each other
Main focus
- Trauma education in the context of social work
- Supervision
- Developmental pedagogy and pedagogical relationship building
- Dealing with challenging behavior
- Management of social organizations
Occupational fields
- psychosocial institutions in outpatient, day-care and inpatient settings for children, adolescents and adults
- counseling centers
- crisis intervention facilities
- family support services
- individual case assistance
- facility management
- research
Special features
- part-time study while working
- blended learning format
- interdisciplinary profile
- practice-oriented teaching with project work, excursions and exchange of experts
- internationally recognized Master's degree with the possibility of doctoral studies
