Long Beach City College Launched Trauma Studies Degree
The program helps students recognize trauma by integrating models from Northern Ireland.
Updated on Oct. 4, 2026 in College Applications
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Long Beach City College officially launched an undergraduate degree program in trauma studies in fall 2026. The new curriculum aims to prepare students to identify trauma in fields like mental health while fostering safer classroom environments.
Why it matters
The program seeks to build a generation of professionals capable of understanding trauma while improving student retention through trauma-informed teaching. By implementing these principles, the college hopes to create non-triggering spaces for learners.
Enrollment grew from 68 students in spring 2025 to 180 in fall 2026. The curriculum integrates lessons from the WAVE Trauma Centre, which was established in 1991.
The players
Long Beach City College
This is a public community college based in Long Beach, California, that provides higher education and workforce training.
WAVE Trauma Centre
Based in Northern Ireland, this organization provides support to people affected by the Troubles.
Paul Gallagher
He is an individual who survived being shot six times during the Troubles in 1994.
Kyran Barr
He is an educator who visited Northern Ireland in 2018 to study trauma-informed care models.
The details
The program incorporates study abroad visits to the WAVE Trauma Centre in Northern Ireland to provide real-world context for students. Faculty members have also adopted trauma-informed training to ensure the academic environment does not retraumatize participants.
Timeline
The WAVE Trauma Centre was founded in 1991.
Paul Gallagher was shot in West Belfast in 1994.
Kyran Barr visited Northern Ireland in 2018.
Trauma studies enrollment reached 68 students in spring 2025.
The undergraduate degree program launched in fall 2026 with 180 students enrolled.
Roadmap
By centering its curriculum on the 30-year history of the Troubles, the college is part of a growing educational shift toward trauma-informed pedagogy. This approach moves beyond traditional academic models to address the physiological and psychological realities of student life.
Students at Long Beach City College can now pursue a specialized degree path designed to increase professional readiness in mental health fields. The trauma-informed classroom environment is intended to make daily coursework more accessible and supportive for all students.
The takeaway
Educational institutions are increasingly recognizing that trauma-informed care is essential to academic success. Implementing these principles in a classroom setting can provide students with the psychological safety needed to thrive in their studies.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest trends in College Applications at our dedicated portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Long Beach Post.
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