Tulsa is situated at the intersection of deeply traumatic historical events, including the Trail of Tears and the Tulsa Race Massacre. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 forced the migration of tens of thousands of Indigenous and enslaved people from the southern United States to Indian Territory.
The field of historical trauma has grown exponentially in the last three decades as people seek to understand myriad historical collective traumas and how historical trauma has shaped their ancestors’ lives as well as their present-day experiences. There are 114 trauma-focused master’s and certificate programs worldwide, and only two are at the undergraduate level and clinically focused.
Historical Trauma and Transformation (H2T) is an interdisciplinary humanity-centered minor that is the initiative of The University of Tulsa Institute of Trauma, Adversity, and iNjustice (TITAN). H2T was funded by a National Endowment for the Humanities Initiative grant, to provide a humanity-centered, trauma-focused education to students from across colleges and departments at TU. The core course uses interdisciplinary, place-based learning to cultivate a deep understanding of American and world history by exploring how collective trauma and its responses have shaped society and institutional structures. H2T will engage students in meaningful class discussions, hands-on research with archival materials, and excursions to museums and historic sites. This course intends to weave Tulsa’s history and resources together with place-based learning and community partnerships.
Program Objective
Through the required courses, students will learn how people and cultures survive, thrive, and transform trauma as they shape societal change. Specific knowledge acquisition pertains to the following:
- Contemporary social structures, values, and beliefs within the context of their historical roots, including a history of racism, colonization, forced migration, and/or genocide.
- Trauma theory and understanding historical and intergenerational trauma transmission to address current problems.
- People and cultures survive, thrive, and transform trauma as they shape societal change.
Learning objectives
- Explore the present-day impact of collective historical trauma.
- Promote discussion with and deepen understanding of people and cultures that have experienced historical collective trauma.
- Critically analyze current societal problems and solutions from diverse perspectives and historical contexts.
- Apply theory and knowledge of trauma to discussions of forced migration, memorialization, and forced resettlement.
- Understand the role of the humanities in cultural expressions that cultivate healing and resilience.
Courses Requirements (12 hours)
- PSY* 3863/HIST* 3703-02 crosslisted Historical Trauma & Transformation (core).
- Two electives outside the student’s Major. E.g., A history major would need to take at least two classes in non-history classes.
- One elective must be outside of History and Psychology (e.g., Art History, Women’s and Gender Studies, Anthropology).
*Because courses for a minor must be outside the student’s major program of study if Psychology majors take this minor, they should register for HIST3703-02, and if History majors take this minor, they should register for PSY3863. All other majors or degree programs can choose either PSY 3863/HIST3703-02
Contact
Lisa Cromer, Ph.D.
Kristen Oertel, Ph.D.