The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Addiction Studies is a 124-credit program designed to serve students who are interested in becoming skilled professionals to understand and treat individuals suffering from addiction. The program is structured around courses that address fundamental aspects of how addiction affects individuals, families, and communities, while examining the assessment, treatment, and prevention of substance abuse.

The B.S. in Addiction Studies includes a set of required courses that all students must take, along with SUNY General Education and other academic requirements, in order to be eligible to receive a degree. The required courses for programs in Addiction Studies can be found on the “Program Details” tab. Students will work with a faculty mentor to develop a degree plan that matches their goals and meets all program requirements. Students should speak with their mentor to see if any credit earned through individualized Prior Learning Assessment (iPLA) or Professional Learning Evaluation (PLE) might fulfill these course requirements. Courses are offered online, through independent studies, or through a blended approach. 

The program is guided by the competencies model from the US Department of Health and Human Service and features a curriculum focused on equipping students with fundamental skills through core courses. Once a foundational skill set is laid, students are given the opportunity to customize their education to match their educational and career goals by choosing from a wide variety of courses to fulfill the degree requirements. Students will have the option of completing the degree program through various delivery modes such as online, independent study, blended, and/or face-to-face course.

Students completing a bachelor’s degree in Addiction Studies will demonstrate knowledge of human behavior, service delivery, skills, and ethics, to work with diverse individuals, families, and communities struggling with addiction. Obtaining a bachelor’s degree in an approved Human Services field from an accredited institution may be substituted for 2,000 hours of work experience, thus allowing individuals with a CASAC-T to obtain their CASAC in a shorter period of time.

For more information, please visit the Health and Human Services Degree Planning Resources web page.  

Program Details

The B.S. in Addiction Studies degree program includes the following required courses:

Curriculum Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Lower Level Core Courses
HUDV 1015	Human Development: Introductory (Any type of development course: Human Development, Child Development, Adult Development, Human Behavior, Lifespan Development)	4
ADDS 2005	Addiction & Dependency: Introduction	4
HUSV 2010	Case Management	4
HUSV 2020	Crisis Intervention: Theory & Practice	4
HUSV 2025	Helping & Counseling Skills	4
HUSV 2035	Introduction to Human Services	4
Upper Level Core Courses
ADDS 3005	Interventions for Substance Use Disorders	4
HUSV 3005	Advocacy in Human Services	4
PSYC 3010	Abnormal Psychology: Advanced (Lower Level is acceptable.)	4
HUSV 3020	Documentation in Human Services	4
ADDS 3010	Substance Use Interventions in the Workplace	4
or ADDS 3020	Substance Use with Special Populations
or ADDS 4005	Adolescence & Addictions
HUSV 3030	Group Work	4
or CHFS 3030	Family Intervention
PSYC 3040	Biological Psychology (OR Introduction to Psychopharmachology (lower level) )	4
ADDS 4010	Advanced Substance Use Counseling	4
ADDS 4015	Evidence-Based Substance Use Counseling	4
or HUSV 4035	Internship in Human Services
HUSV 4020	Diversity in Human Services	4
HUSV 4030	Human Service Ethics	4

Learning Outcomes

• Foundation 1: Knowledge, Students will be able to explain the theories of addiction.
• Foundation 1: Knowledge, Students will be able to utilize treatment knowledge in the application of practice for professional addiction services.
• Foundation 2: Skills application, Students will be able to describe the continuum of care, including but not limited to mutual aid groups, individual and family counseling, and counseling special populations.
• Foundation 2: Skills application, Students will be able to compare and contrast the various helping strategies that can be tailored to the individual.
• Foundation 2: Skills application, Students will be able to integrate knowledge, values, and skills related to the proposed field of study.
• Foundation 3: Assessment education, Students will be able to formulate the skills in assessment, proper documentation and education of individuals, families, and/or groups.
• Foundation 4: Ethics, Students will be able to interpret the code of ethics and/or the professional standards within their field.
• Foundation 4: Ethics, Students will be able to apply the code of ethics and/or professional standard to practical situations within their field.
• Foundation 4: Ethics, Students will be able to reconcile possible conflicts between their own values and professional expectations.
• Foundation 5: Diversity, Students will be able to analyze the impact and importance of human diversity on service delivery, which may include, but not be limited to race, ethnicity, gender, class, socioeconomic status, age, culture, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, sexual identity, geographic differences, and/or ability.
• Foundation 5: Diversity, Students will be able to examine the impact of power, privilege and oppression on their work with individuals, families, groups and communities.