The graduate certificate in grief, loss, and trauma is intended for currently admitted graduate students wishing to acquire knowledge and develop skills to work with individuals who have experienced or are experiencing grief, loss, or trauma.

Campus Code

Knoxville Campus

Graduate Certificate Type

Stand-Alone (earned terminal degree required)

Add-On

Admissions Standards/Procedures

Certificate candidates must currently be admitted to a graduate program at the university or hold a terminal degree and be admitted to the graduate school.

Academic Standards

A minimum 3.5 GPA must be earned in all certificate courses.

Credit Hours Required

12 graduate credit hours

Required Courses

• COUN 560  (3 credit hours)
  • An important part of the program is COUN 560 for graduate students who participate as grief facilitators in the Grief Outreach Initiative.
• COUN 480  or COUN 555  or COUN 655  (3 credit hours)
• Select at least two (6 credit hours) of the following*:
  • COUN 551  
  • COUN 554  
  • COUN 562  
  • COUN 662   
  • CFS 511  
  • CFS 562  
  • COUN 566  

*Students may request substitution for one of the required courses listed in this bullet; requires approval from the certificate coordinator

Non-Course Requirements

• All courses must be completed within five years of admission to the certificate program.
• Following completion of all certificate course work, applicants will submit a capstone paper by the end of the next academic semester (fall or spring) OR midterm of the semester of application for graduation, whichever is earlier.

Students in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MS), Counseling Psychology (PhD), Counselor Education (PhD), School Counseling (MS), School Psychology (PhD), Social Work (MSSW, DSW, or PhD), or other related “helping” programs:

• Write a maximum 12-page paper (not including title page and references; abstract not required) in current APA style in which you conceptualize a client/patient or group of clients/patients with which you have worked as a practicum student or intern or observed through shadowing a professional in your field of study. Include the following elements in your case conceptualization:
  • A description of the client/patient/group members including developmental and cultural variables; if group, also include a description of the purpose and structure of group

  • Your understanding of their grief-related or interconnected grief and trauma concerns (if group, focus on your understanding of the common grief-related or interconnected grief and trauma concerns of group members)

  • Your work (actual or hypothetical) with this client/patient/group on their grief-related or interconnected grief and trauma concerns, through one of the following:

    • Basic or applied counseling/therapy skills

    • Counseling theory

    • Group methodsa

    • Child-centered play therapy

    • Family therapy

  • A reflection of your growth in application and integration of grief or grief and trauma knowledge throughout your program of study and field experiences

Students in any other program:
In a maximum 12-page paper (not including title page and references; abstract not required) in APA style, compose a hypothetical case study of a person or group of people living with grief or interconnected grief and trauma.  Include the following elements in your case study:

• A description of the person or group of people including developmental and cultural variables; if group, also include a description of how members of the group are connected
• Your understanding of their grief-related or interconnected grief and trauma concerns (if group, focus on your understanding of the common grief-related or interconnected grief and trauma concerns of members)
• Through your current field of study, how you might assist this person or group of people by applying:
  • Basic counseling skills
  • Child development concepts
  • Models of family stress
  • Other concepts related to certificate course work EXCEPT COUN 560  

• A reflection of your growth in application and integration of grief or grief and trauma knowledge throughout your program of study

Though there is no specific required number of references, students should cite relevant literature wherever applicable.  Following completion of all certificate coursework, applicants will submit the capstone paper by the end of the next academic semester (fall or spring) or midterm of the semester of application for graduation, whichever is earlier.

Contact Laura S. Wheat (wheat@utk.edu), certificate coordinator, for complete details and requirements.