Addictions Studies, A.A.S.
A.A.S. Degree—63 credit hours
Curriculum Code 1314
This program is designed to give students an opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to become a certified addictions counselor in Illinois through the Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association (IAODAPCA)/Illinois Certification Board (ICB). The Illinois Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse (DASA), under the Department of Human Services, recognizes certification as a qualifying credential for Addiction Counseling staff working in licensed addictions treatment programs. Students who complete the Associate in Applied Science degree are eligible to take the credentialing exam for the Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor (CADC). It is especially important and valuable to note that upon completion of this degree, the normal two-year work experience requirement for Certified Addictions Counselor candidates is waived. This means that a student who earns an Associate's Degree in Addiction Studies will only have to take and pass the certification exam in order to become a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor.
Required General Education Courses
16 credit hours as follows:
(Note: Take MTH-120 or higher)
A minimum level of competency in mathematics is required for graduation for all A.A.S. degrees. This minimum competency may be demonstrated in one of three ways:
- Placement into MTH-120 or higher; or
- Successful completion with a minimum grade of “C” in BUS-120, MTH-102, MTH-109, MTH-121, or MTH-133 or higher-level mathematics course for designated career programs; or
- An equivalent transfer course from another college with a minimum grade of “C”.
Select 3 credit hours from Humanities and Fine Arts or Social/Behavioral Sciences:
ANT, ARB, ART, ECO, FRE, GEO, HIS, HUM, LIT, MUS, PHI, PSC, PSY, SOC, SSC, SPA, THE
Select 4 credit hours from Physical and Life Sciences:
BIO, CHM, EAS, GEL, NAT, PHS, PHY
Required Career Courses
44 credit hours as follows:
Career Electives
Select 3 credit hours from the following:
| ADC-108 | Treatment Delivery Models | 3 |
| ADC-219 | Contemporary Issues: Alcohol/Drugs | 2 |
| ADC-230 | Special Topics in Addiction Studies | 1 |
| CRJ-101 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJ-105 | Criminology | 3 |
| CIS-115 | Microsoft Office I | 3 |
| PSY-205 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| SPA-125 | Career Spanish, Law Enforcement I | 3 |
| SPA-126 | Career Spanish, Law Enforcement II | 3 |
Suggested Schedule
Semester 1 (15 credit hours)
| COM-101 | Composition I | 3 |
| ADC-100 | Human Development and Behavior | 3 |
| ADC-101 | Introduction to Addiction Counseling | 3 |
| ADC-110 | Common Behavior Disorders | 3 |
| ADC-202 | Substance Use, Abuse and Dependency | 3 |
Semester 2 (18 credit hours)
| ADC-106 | Theory and Practice of Counseling | 3 |
| ADC-112 | Diversity in Addictions Counseling | 3 |
| ADC-204 | Psychopharmacology | 3 |
| ADC-207 | Family Dynamics and Counseling | 3 |
| ADC-208 | Case Management | 3 |
| - | | |
| ___-___ | Humanities and Fine Arts Elective | 3 |
| OR- | | |
| ___-___ | Social Science Elective | 3 |
Semester 3 (16 credit hours)
Semester 4 (14 credit hours)
| ADC-212 | Women: Addiction and Recovery | 3 |
| ADC-243 | Advanced Field Practicum | 3 |
| ADC-247 | Advanced Seminar | 1 |
| ___-___ | Career Elective | 3 |
| ___-___ | Physical and Life Sciences Elective | 4 |