Addictions and Recovery, Minor

Program Code: ADRCV_UMNR

Program Description

The multi-disciplinary minor in Addictions and Recovery supplements the educational needs of students across disciplines who wish to gain advanced knowledge and skills to support people struggling with a substance use disorder in all stages of the recovery process. The rise in the number of individuals struggling with addiction and recovery, the increased potency and administration of some drugs, and the specific needs of certain sub-groups within the addictions population are contributing to the complex landscape of addictions and recovery. Upon completion of the minor, students will have the knowledge and skills to support development and administration of programs designed to improve outcomes for those struggling with addictions and recovery.

Students completing the minor will be able to take courses across multiple disciplines as a way to view this phenomenon from various perspectives. The courses that comprise the minor are organized into recommended tracks that will permit students to select combinations of courses that will best compliment their major studies and prepare them for future professional goals. One track provides a pathway to certification as a drug and alcohol counselor for those who successfully complete their bachelor's degree in a behavioral science major in addition to the minor coursework. Students pursing this career path are encouraged to select courses that support the learning domains for the Certified Alcohol and Drug Counseling (CADC) certification in the state of Pennsylvania. The minor also provides opportunities for students to seek out research and applied experiences which can enhance their preparation for graduate work or working with people in applied settings.

Program Requirements

Requirement Credits
Requirements for the Minor 18

Requirements for the Minor

Some courses may require prerequisites.

A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the minor, as specified by Senate Policy 59-10. In addition, at least six credits of the minor must be unique from the prescribed courses required by a student's major(s).

Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
BBH 143Drugs, Behavior, and Health Keystone/General Education Course3
Additional Courses
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
Select 15 credits from the following:15
Values and Ethics in Biobehavioral Health Research and Practice
Pharmacological Influences on Health
Education and the Student in Recovery
Foundations of Addictions Counseling
Drugs, Crime, and Society
Race, Crime, and Justice
Drug Control Policy in Comparative Perspective
Drugs and Drug Policy in the United States
Education and Public Policy
Values and Ethics in Health and Human Development Professions
Human Development and Family Studies Interventions
The Helping Relationship
The Role of the Resident Assistant: Theory and Practice
Alcohol and Drug Education
Social, Cultural, and Health Influences of Alcohol Keystone/General Education Course
Health Services Policy Issues
Alcohol and Drug Education
Drugs of Abuse and Mental Health Issues Keystone/General Education Course
Introduction to Rehabilitation and Human Services
Introduction to Counseling as a Profession
Client Assessment in Rehabilitation and Human Services
Group Work in Rehabilitation Practice and Human Services
Case Management and Communication Skills
Community Mental Health Practice and Services
Children and Families in Rehabilitation Settings and Human Services
Medical Aspects of Disability
Rehabilitation in the Justice System
Trauma-informed care for school & human service professionals
Mood-Altering Substances in Society

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

University Park

Deirdre O'Sullivan
Associate Professor
328 CEDAR Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-4594
dmo11@psu.edu

DuBois

Jessica Clontz, M.Ed., CRC
Assistant Teaching Professor, Human Development and Family Studies
1 College Place
DuBois, PA 15801
814-375-4833
jlb5810@psu.edu

Schuylkill

Jessica Saalfield
Assistant Professor, Psychology
200 University Drive
Schuylkill Haven PA 17972
570-385-6295
jfs6485@psu.edu

Wilkes-Barre

Melisa Littleton
Program Coordinator, Rehabilitation and Human Services
44 University Drive
Dallas, PA 18612
570-675-9213
man20@psu.edu

Career Paths

Students wishing to pursue careers in direct service and who want to be eligible to work as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) in the state of PA are advised to take the courses that align with the Pennsylvania Certification Board’s CADC learning domains (see below), which prepare students for the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) Examination, and entry level work in direct service positions.  

Students wishing to pursue this path are encouraged to carefully review the criteria for certification eligibility at the following website: https://www.pacertboard.org/certifications.

Students wishing to pursue careers focused on health prevention and research are encouraged to select from among the following as they relate to their academic and career goals:  BBH 301W, BBH 451, NURS 407, NURS 462, RHS 433, SOC 468, and/or a research-based independent study approved by the minor coordinator.     

Students wishing to pursue careers or graduate study related to drug policy and/or criminology are encouraged to select courses among the following: CRIMJ 469, CRIM 424, CRIM 415, CRIM 451, RHS 428, SOC 468, HPA 301, EDTHP 420, and/or an independent study with a suitable faculty advisor as approved by the coordinator.  

Students wishing to pursue a career in drug and health education in schools or public health offices, or graduate study in related fields, are encouraged to select among the following:  CI 333, CI 409, EDTHP 420, HIED 302, HLHED 443, KINES 445; RHS 433, RHS 402, or an independent study with a suitable faculty advisor as approved by coordinator.  

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL CAREER OPTIONS FOR GRADUATES WITH A MINOR IN ADDICTIONS AND RECOVERY

Contact

University Park

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY, COUNSELING, AND SPECIAL EDUCATION
125G CEDAR Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-7454
mmm7153@psu.edu

https://ed.psu.edu/academics/departments/department-educational-psychology-counseling-and-special-education/rehabilitation-and-human-services/rehabilitation-and-human-services-minor

DuBois

1 College Place
DuBois, PA 15801
814-375-4833
jlb580@psu.edu

https://dubois.psu.edu/academics/degrees/hdfs/minoraddictions

Schuylkill

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
200 University Drive
Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972
570-385-6295
jfs6485@psu.edu

https://schuylkill.psu.edu/academics/bacc-degrees/psychology

Wilkes-Barre

44 University Drive
Dallas, PA 18612
570-675-9213
man20@psu.edu

https://wilkesbarre.psu.edu/academics/rhs