Program Curriculum

Certificate in Substance Abuse Counselor

Course Code	Course Tittle	Credits
SAC 504	Human Development	3
SAC 503A	Neuropsychopharmacological Aspects of Substance Abuse	3
SAC 511	Theory and Practice of Individual Counseling	4
SAC 501A	Theotherical Models of Addictions and its implications for Counseling	3
SAC 516	Theory and Practice of Family Counseling	3
SAC 514	Theory and Practice of Group Counseling	3
SAC 517	Ethical and Legal Aspects of Substance Abuse Counseling	2
SAC 530	Internship I:  Substance Abuse Counseling	4

  

Master in Substance Abuse Counselor

Course Code	Course Tittle	Credits
SAC 504	Human Development	3
SAC 503A	Neuropsychopharmacological Aspects of Substance Abuse	3
SAC 511	Theory and Practice of Individual Counseling	4
SAC 501A	Theotherical Models of Addictions and its implications for Counseling	3
SAC516	Theory and Practice of Family Counseling	3
SAC 514	Theory and Practice of Group Counseling	3
SAC 517	Ethical and Legal Aspects of Substance Abuse Counseling	2
SAC 530	Internship I:  Substance Abuse Counseling	4

 

2^nd year

Course Code	Course Tittle	Credits
SAC 635	Design, Planning, and Implementation of Substance Abuse Programs	3
SAC 633	Research Methodology	3
SAC 629	Clinical Intervention of Special Population	2
SAC 619	Theory and Practice of Supervision	3
SAC 625	Program Evaluation	2
SAC 515	Theory and Practice of Substance Abuse Prevention	2
SAC 630	Internship II: Planning, Management, and Evaluation of Substance Abuse	4
	Comprehensive Exam	0

Intership

INTERSHIP I: Substance Abuse Counseling emphasizes the acquisition of substance abuse counseling skills and the integration of these skills into a variety of substance abuse prevention and treatment settings. A rich combination of at-risk populations, substance abuse treatment scenarios and substance abuse counseling supervisors will ensure that students acquire basic competencies in each core counselor function. An attempt will be made to individualize the internship to meet each trainee’s specific needs. The internship is divided into different rotations and a seminar. On each rotation the student works closely with the staff substance abuse counselor who provides supervision and guidance. The student becomes a member of the interdisciplinary team and provides counseling services to clients (individuals, family and groups), consultation to other professionals, attends interdisciplinary meetings and presents clients’ progress in staff conferences.

In consultation with the Internship Coordinator, the student will select internship sites from the available private and public treatment settings with which agreements have been reached. In addition to the rotations, the student is expected to participate in a two hour seminar every other week. This didactic aspect of the internship is intended to offer academic training in areas that directly relate to the student’s present and future career as a wellrounded substance abuse counselor. The didactics include case presentations, lectures and conferences. Topics covered in this seminar include substance abuse counseling strategies (individuals, family and group), research in neuropsychopharmacology and clinical aspects of substance abuse, and professional and ethical responsibilities of the substance abuse counselor.

INTERNSHIP II: Planning, Management and Evaluation of Substance Abuse Programs is the culmination of the student’s formal training in substance abuse. Through this internship, the student directly and actively engages in the process of identifying programmatic needs in order to supervise a substance abuse counseling service and plan, implement, manage and evaluate a substance abuse program. The students will also attain direct experience in supervising substance abuse counselors. Students will apply.the knowledge and skills acquired in previous courses on the administration of substance abuse programs, and gain first-hand appreciation of the factors that promote or impede effective planning, management and evaluation.