Addictions Counseling Minor

Enhance your degree with an addictions studies minor.

This 18-credit interdisciplinary minor focuses on the basic competencies associated with helping people recover from substance use disorders. Courses are offered though the Department of Health Sciences, the Department of Criminal Justice, and the Department of Psychology and provide you with content knowledge in addictions studies that map to core competencies outlined by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Substance Abuse Services. You may begin coursework in this minor at any point in your undergraduate education.

The minor is an excellent option for students in the following majors:

Criminal Justice
Psychology
Health Sciences
Nursing
Occupational Therapy
Sociology
Urban Studies
Liberal Studies

What you will do:

Gain knowledge of the factors and cultural implications leading to addiction
Understand the assessment, clinical evaluation, treatment planning, and case management skills related to addictions counseling
Gain knowledge of patient, family, and communication education issues related to addiction
Gain knowledge of coexisting issues related to addiction

This minor can also be a pathway for matriculated students who first complete a minor to earn a certificate in addictions counseling by completing one additional course, the Pre-Practicum Seminar in Addictions Counseling (3 credits), and the 300-hour Practicum in Addictions Counseling (6 credits). Completing these additional requirements would earn the student a Certificate in Addictions Counseling which would then make it possible for the student to pursue state licensing (CADC) after completing 4,000 hours of supervised work in the field (if bachelor’s degree is in a behavioral science major).

Explore sample courses in this program.

PS-101 General Psychology

Introduction to history of psychology, scientific method, brain/nervous system, development, learning, motivation, sensation/perception, personality, psychopathology, psychotherapy, cognitive processes, social behavior.

3 credits

CJ-285 Drugs and Society

This course examines the history of alcohol and other mood-changing drugs in the U.S., the myths and stereotypes of alcohol and drug use, sociocultural factors that contribute to the use of drugs, and the patterns and progression of substance use disorders.

3 credits

PS-270 Psychopharmacology

This course explores the effects of psychotropic drugs on the brain and subsequent effects on behavior.

3 credits

HE-208 Systems of Addictions Treatment

This course provides an overview of counseling modalities and techniques used in addiction treatment and recovery settings, including for those with co-occurring disorders. A family systems approach is employed to understand how the criminal justice system, the mental health system, and the larger community relate. Legal and regulatory restrictions, ethical codes, and legal sanctions also are discussed.

3 credits

CJ-354 Addictions Counseling of Individuals and Families

This course provides students with an applied understanding of counseling skills, techniques, and strategies in addiction treatment. The psychology of addictions and various treatment modalities are discussed. Engagement, assessment, treatment planning, brief and ongoing treatment, continuing care, and work with special populations are considered. Dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive-behavioral, mindfulness practice techniques, and motivational interviewing concepts are introduced, and students apply them in role-playing scenarios. Boundaries, ethics, and counselor self-awareness are also covered.

3 credits

CJ-406 The 12 Core Functions of Addictions Counseling

This culminating course prepares students to enter the field of substance use disorders and/or addictions counseling through an intensive review of the 12 Core Functions of Addictions Counseling. Students further develop the skill sets from prior coursework to serve as a foundation for gaining practical experience in addictions counseling.

3 credits

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