Addiction Studies - Graduate Level

Program Description

The curriculum  in the Addiction Studies certificate provides students with a strong theoretical and practical foundation in treatment modalities, counseling skills, professional and ethical responsibilities, and client advocacy.   

The program has been designed by faculty members from the Department of Family Social Science, the School of Social Work, Department of Psychiatry, and the School of Public Health in consultation with professionals in the field.

Program Features

The Public Health Track allows you to specialize in the epidemiology of various addictive behaviors and disorders, particularly substance use behaviors. The focus of this track is to help you gain an understanding of the various models and approaches that empirical literature suggests are promising prevention approaches .

    Student Benefits

• May be used as an area of study for a degree program.
• Enhances your skills in order to be more effective in your current position.
• Courses offered late afternoons and evenings—and some online—it's easy to fit them into your busy schedule.
• Prepares you for a career move by gaining new skills.

The Service Provider Track helps you develop advanced counseling and therapy skills related to behavior change for individuals with an addictive disorder. Students will learn advanced intervention techniques or enhance their clinical skills with respect to specialized populations (e.g., criminal offender; adolescent health).

    Student Benefits

• Preparation for the Minnesota Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (MLADC) exam and become credentialed as a Board Certified Counselor (BCC).
• Information on licensure, internships, and test schedules are at  the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy  Web site.
• Information on certification, test scheduling, and fees, check with the  Minnesota Certification Board (MCB)   or, contact Bonnie Freeland, MCB Administrator, at 763- 434-9787. 
• May be used as an area of study for a degree program.
• Enhances your skills in order to be more effective in your current position.
• Courses offered late afternoons and evenings—and some online—it's easy to fit them into your busy schedule. .
• Prepares you for a career move by gaining new skills.

Getting started

See the section on admissions for detailed information.  If you would like to get started by taking a class before seeking admission to the Addiction Studies certificate, visit our registration page.

For more information on this or any other certificate program, contact us at cceinfo@umn.edu or call 612- 624-4000.