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Flexible, accessible, and designed for global impact. Global education rooted in local communities — study online, remain connected to the people and places you serve.
The University of Ethnotrauma Science & Research® (UESR) prepares learners to strengthen the ways communities understand, respond to, and heal from trauma. Through culturally responsive, community-centered, and faith-informed education, students develop knowledge and practical tools that can be adapted to the realities of the people and places they serve.
Ethnotraumatology™ — the interdisciplinary study of how trauma is produced, transmitted, embodied, interpreted, and healed within ethnic, cultural, religious, and diasporic communities, and how communities restore identity and function through culturally grounded mechanisms.
Trauma is not experienced only by individuals or only in clinical environments. It can move through families, generations, faith communities, institutions, and displaced populations. Effective responses therefore require more than technical knowledge: they require cultural humility, spiritual literacy, ethical boundaries, community partnership, and the ability to translate evidence into locally meaningful action.
Build practical, specialized competence through flexible online study and supervised application. These pathways are non-degree programs and do not confer professional licensure.
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Areas of Emphasis. Depending on the pathway, learners explore culturally and spiritually responsive engagement, trauma-informed practice, ethical boundaries, community resilience, program development, and the applied use of the AIAER™ Model, each connected to supervised practicum or field experience.
Important scope statement: the coaching program prepares learners for non-clinical coaching. Coaching is not psychotherapy and does not diagnose or treat mental illness. Other professional certificates likewise do not confer licensure or legal authority.
Advance existing professional practice, deepen research capacity, or prepare for leadership in spiritual and community healing.
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Senior Professional Recognition. The Diplomate in Ethnotraumatology is available through portfolio review and interview for professionals with at least five years of documented direct engagement in ethnotraumatological practice. It is a professional designation — not a degree, academic credit, or licence.
Culminating Learning Experiences. Depending on the program, students complete supervised professional application, ministry practicum, a thesis with oral defense, comprehensive examination, dissertation, or an annual residency. Doctoral admission is limited by available dissertation supervisory capacity.
Professional boundaries remain in force. Advanced professional programs do not grant or expand a participant's licence or scope of practice. All applied work must remain within the authority of the learner's existing professional credentials.
UESR is designed for learners who may already be serving families, organizations, faith communities, health systems, and humanitarian settings. The learning model brings together flexibility, faculty engagement, peer connection, and supervised application so education can remain accessible without becoming disconnected from practice.
Access with accountability. Programs are delivered in English. Technology, scheduling, credential verification, and approved supervision requirements remain important considerations for prospective international learners.
The portfolio creates an educational ladder — from open-entry professional certificates to specialized pathways for licensed professionals and advanced research degrees. Each level is designed to build relevant competence while maintaining clear ethical and professional boundaries.
UESR Center for Research, Scholarship & Global Impact
The UESR Research Center is a collaborative hub dedicated to advancing interdisciplinary scholarship, professional inquiry, and knowledge that supports meaningful global and community impact. The Center brings together researchers, scholars, practitioners, faculty, students, and community partners to explore important issues, strengthen research skills, and encourage innovative studies across disciplines.
The Research Center also serves as a platform for recognizing and showcasing the work of individuals in the field who are conducting research, leading studies, developing new approaches, presenting scholarly findings, and publishing in academic and professional publications. Through featured research, researcher profiles, publications, projects, seminars, workshops, and other opportunities for knowledge exchange, we celebrate work that contributes to education, practice, policy, community well-being, and social transformation.
By connecting research with real-world experience, the UESR Research Center promotes collaboration, supports emerging and established scholars, and helps make valuable knowledge accessible to communities around the world.
Research Databases
Cost of Attendance
Tuition, cost per credit, and applicable fees are provided directly by the UESR administrative team during your initial communication after you submit a program inquiry.
Select the program you are interested in and we will follow up with information tailored to that pathway.
REQUEST PROGRAM INFORMATIONNo student aid is available at this time. UESR does not participate in U.S. federal student financial aid programs.
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Request Information About Your Academic Journey
Thank you for your interest in the University of Ethnotrauma Science & Research (UESR). Whether you are beginning your educational journey, expanding your professional knowledge, or pursuing advanced studies, we welcome the opportunity to help you explore the educational pathways available through UESR.
Our programs examine the intersections of trauma, culture, identity, community, spirituality, and human resilience through the field of Ethnotraumatology™.
We understand that choosing an educational program is an important decision. Our administrative team is available to help you determine which pathway aligns with your educational background, professional experience, and future goals. Once your inquiry is submitted, a member of the UESR administrative team will review your request and contact you using your preferred communication method.
Personal Information
Program of Interest
The program you selected is already checked. You may change it or select more than one.
Educational & Professional Background
Academic Interests & Questions
Thank You for Your Interest in UESR!
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We appreciate your interest in exploring Ethnotraumatology™ through the University of Ethnotrauma Science & Research. A member of our administrative team will review your inquiry and follow up using your preferred communication method.
Our goal is to help you understand the program requirements, educational investment, enrollment process, and learning opportunities available to you.
We look forward to connecting with you and learning more about your academic and professional aspirations.
Affiliates
Organizations connected with UESR in advancing trauma-informed education, culturally responsive care, research, and global healing.
More affiliate organizations will be added soon.
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University of
Ethnotrauma
Science & Research
The university exists to advance healing for individuals and communities impacted by trauma by providing a three-tier specialized education and workforce training in public health and community-based practice. Our work is grounded in socio-cultural understanding, historical context, and holistic care that integrates biological, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions through the structured application of the Ethnotraumatology™ framework.
Pathways for Purpose
Our programs integrate psychology, community health, faith, and global leadership through the science of Ethnotraumatology™.
UESR is a religious nonprofit corporation registered in the State of Montana, operating under a religious exemption, and is currently in its institutional development phase. UESR is not accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, is not currently authorized to confer degrees, and does not participate in U.S. federal student financial aid programs.
UESR is building the governance, curriculum, and partnership infrastructure required to pursue institutional authorization, accreditation, and country-specific approvals — a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction global strategy rather than a single credential presumed to transfer across borders. See Global Strategy for the phased roadmap.
Who We Are
The University of Ethnotrauma Science & Research® (UESR) is an emerging global institution dedicated to advancing education, research, and leadership in Ethnotrauma Science, International Psychology, Community Health, and Spiritual Care. Through interdisciplinary learning and culturally responsive innovation, UESR prepares professionals to serve individuals, organizations, and communities affected by trauma, adversity, displacement, and social inequities across the world.
Grounded in the science of Ethnotraumatology™, UESR recognizes that healing is shaped by culture, identity, history, faith, community, and lived experience. We are committed to developing ethical leaders who integrate evidence-informed practice with cultural humility, global collaboration, and compassionate service.
To advance trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and community-centered solutions that strengthen resilience, restore dignity, and promote healing across biological, psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual dimensions of human well-being.
To become the world's leading university advancing Ethnotrauma Science, transforming the future of international psychology, community health, spiritual care, and humanitarian leadership through excellence in education, research, innovation, and global partnerships. We envision a world where culturally responsive knowledge, compassionate leadership, and evidence-informed practice empower individuals, strengthen communities, and create lasting healing, resilience, and human flourishing across every culture and every nation.
Advance global healing through innovative education, interdisciplinary research, professional credentialing, workforce development, and international collaboration. We prepare and equip students and professionals to become leaders in their fields, address complex global challenges while strengthening individuals, families, organizations, and communities through sustainable, culturally responsive solutions.
Rooted in Science.
Driven by Compassion.
Guided by Purpose.
UESR is built on Ethnotraumatology™, the AIAER™ Model, and a commitment to training professionals who heal, empower, and serve.
OUR MISSION & VISIONOur Core Values
Ethnotraumatology™
The interdisciplinary study of how trauma is produced, transmitted, embodied, interpreted, and healed within ethnic, cultural, religious, and diasporic communities — and of the culturally indigenous mechanisms through which such communities restore identity and function. Ethnotraumatology™ is the spine of every UESR curriculum, not an elective lens within it.
The AIAER™ Model
One Educational Ladder
A learner may enter as a Community Health Worker and progress, without leaving the institution, toward doctoral research leadership. Every degree is organized under the College of International Psychology & Ethnotrauma Science.
Certificates & Degrees
Building the Evidence Base for Ethnotraumatology™
UESR's research agenda treats culturally indigenous healing practices as data, not folklore — generating the scholarship, methodology, and field standards a new discipline requires.
Global Trauma-Response Partnerships
UESR is a partner organization of the Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists (ATSS) and an approved organization affiliated with the Green Cross Academy of Traumatology (GCAT). Through these professional relationships, UESR provides trauma-focused education, training, professional development, and credentialing pathways designed to prepare qualified individuals to pursue recognized trauma certifications and serve communities affected by traumatic stress, crisis, disaster, grief, violence, displacement, and other natural or human-caused traumatic events.
The Green Cross Academy of Traumatology is an international nonprofit humanitarian-assistance organization composed of trained traumatologists and compassion-fatigue service providers committed to helping people in crisis following traumatic events. GCAT responds to requests for assistance by providing crisis support and counseling, assessment and referral services, consultation, training, education, certification, family-resource support, and longer-term trauma services — centered on helping individuals move from experiencing themselves as victims toward becoming survivors.
As part of its trauma-training and professional-development mission, UESR prepares eligible participants to pursue certifications and professional designations through GCAT and ATSS, supporting professionals who provide trauma recovery, crisis response, disaster management, trauma-support services, grief recovery, advocacy, victim and survivor assistance, pastoral care, care coordination, counseling, and community-based stabilization services. Depending upon an individual's qualifications, professional role, documented experience, membership status, and successful review by the applicable certification body, participants may pursue credentials such as:
UESR's role is to provide approved or aligned educational preparation, professional-development opportunities, mentorship, and support for qualified individuals completing applicable credentialing requirements. Final certification decisions are made by GCAT, ATSS, or the applicable independent credentialing body in accordance with its own membership, education, experience, documentation, ethical, and application requirements.
Through this work, UESR supports the preparation of culturally responsive, trauma-informed professionals who may serve locally, nationally, and internationally. Qualified professionals may also become eligible to participate in humanitarian or disaster-response opportunities coordinated by GCAT or another authorized response organization, subject to that organization's independent training, certification, membership, deployment-readiness, screening, and selection requirements.
These professional partnerships and credentialing pathways do not represent institutional higher-education accreditation or authorization for UESR to award academic degrees. They represent professional collaboration, trauma-training approval, credentialing preparation, and affiliation with recognized trauma-specialist organizations.
Stay Connected. Stay Inspired.
"We aspire to be a force for change in the broader societal context, advocating for a world in which every person has access to culturally resonant care that acknowledges and honours their unique path to healing."
Healing lives. Strengthening communities. Transforming the world through education, research, and compassionate service.