Course Descriptions
Undergraduate Minor Curriculum
Graduate Certificate Program Curriculum
The Undergraduate Minor Curriculum
The curriculum consists of the following courses:
ADA 3300
Addiction and the Addiction Process
This fundamental course will focus on the various models and theories of addiction as well as the behavioral, psychological, physical, and social effects of substance abuse. An overview of the various medical and mental health conditions that may coexist with addiction is also included.
ADA 3360
Clinical Approaches to Substance Use Disorders
This course examines the various aspects of substance use disorder treatment processes and interventions. Students will learn about the development of an individualized treatment plan through the screening and intake processes that address an identified substance use disorder, as well as other issues related to the treatment process.
ADA 3370
Substance Abuse Treatment Strategies
Students will be introduced to a variety of helping strategies to use with substance abuse clients. This course will focus on treatment services, medical and pharmacological resources and crisis management.
ADA 3380
Addiction Assessment, Recovery, and Illness Management
Different philosophies, policies, and outcomes most generally accepted for the treatment, recovery, relapse prevention, and continuing care of addiction are addressed in this course. There will also be a strong focus on how to include all resources within an individual’s life system to help them with their addictions.
CECP 4840
Community Diversity in Substance Abuse Services
Helps students understand diverse cultures and incorporate the relevant needs of culturally diverse groups, as well as people with disabilities, into clinical practice. Also examines ethical topics directly related to diverse populations, such as different strategies of coping and how various cultures view addiction and recovery.
SWRK 4230
Ethics in Substance Abuse Treatment
This course takes students from an initial understanding of personal value based decision making into professional/public value based decision making, resulting eventually in the application of models employed in the substance abuse field. In addition, this course will address legal and ethical issues as well as professional standards.
The Graduate Certificate Program Curriculum
The curriculum consists of the following 3-credit hour courses that must be completed in order to obtain the certificate:
* ADA 6060 or CECP 6340 or SWRK 6530
Causes of Substance Abuse
This course will examine the three major theories that explain the causes of psychoactive substance use: the biological, psychological, and sociological. The historical responses of society to substance use such as strategies including control, prevention, intervention, and treatment will be outlined and the research of various epidemiologic patterns and social correlates of substance use will also be studied.
ADA 6110
Physical Aspects of Addictive Drugs
This course will have students examine the neurobiology of the addiction process, treatment of cognitive deficiencies, and mental and medical health conditions that may mimic or co-exist with substance abuse disorders. Current literature will be utilized in order to address medical and pharmacological interventions and treatment.
ADA 6115
Applied Neuropsychopharmacology of Addictive Drugs
The intent of this course is to provide students will an advanced understanding of the physiological and behavioral processes involved in psychoactive substance use, misuse, and addiction. An emphasis will be placed on the major and minor classifications, biology, and pharmacology of commonly abused legal and illegal psychoactive substances. The course will include the history of drug use, drug metabolism, dependence, withdrawal, and practice and policy application for recovery, prevention, and treatment.
ADA 6330
Special Populations in Addiction
This course will examine the social, political, economic, and cultural context in which substance abuse exist, including risk and resiliency factors of individuals and groups. Multicultural issues will be addressed in regards to strategies for prevention, treatment, and recovery and students will be expected to participate in self-exploration of their beliefs, values and behaviors.
* ADA 6340 or CECP 6360 or SWRK 6550
Recovery Oriented Systems of Care
This course will examine the understanding that recovery from substance abuse and dependency is a process of change which occurs within a systemic model of care that includes prevention, intervention, treatment, and management of substance abuse disorders. Students will have exposure to various substance abuse screening and assessment instruments, counseling strategies, and treatment modalities in order to assess, treat, and refer to the appropriate service providers along the continuum of care.
ADA 6700
Professional Field Practicum
The field practicum component of the graduate certificate is designed to be a capstone learning experience during which students, with the guidance and assistance of those persons who are currently working in the substance abuse field, can apply the knowledge and information obtained in the academic setting to further develop and refine his/her skills. Since skills are acquired by the application of information, knowledge, and many hours of practice, field practicum is required of all students in order to complete the graduate certificate in substance abuse.
Students will enroll in an appropriate field practicum course for their disciplines. Students must complete 360 clock hours of field experience in one or more placement settings that are engaged in providing substance abuse services. Students in SPADA and a graduate degree program at the same time must carefully coordinate their field practicum with both their major and specialty advisors. All policies and procedures related to the field practicum are included in the program’s Field Practicum Manual available from the SPADA office. Professional experience outside the academic program may not be used to waive the field practicum requirement.
In addition to the above courses, students must take one of the following courses:
ADA 6400
Co-Occurring Disorders and Addictions
The course will instruct students on how to screen for co-occurring disorders with various assessment tools, address each diagnosis in a comprehensive treatment approach, and assist them in developing skills to deliver supportive, appropriate treatment services for clients with more than one disorder.
ADA 6410
Addiction in Family Systems
This course will examine how substance use disorders affect family members, couples, and significant others as well as how they impact and influence the user. In addition, the models of diagnosis, assessment tools, and methods of intervention for these groups will be identified and discussed. Strategies and behaviors that family members, couples, and significant others must adopt in order to assist in sustaining recovery and healthy relationships will be outlined.
ADA 6420
Clinical Supervision of Addiction Services
This course will prepare students to understand the various clinical supervision theories, roles, and modalities in order to implement leadership in the counseling profession. Moreover, aspects of the supervisory alliance will be addressed as well as issues surrounding critical thinking, self-awareness, competency, and organizational/administrative skills.
* Clinical Mental Health counseling students in the Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology (CECP) Department are required to complete these two courses.