Addiction Studies Graduate Certificate
Bring hope and healing to those with addiction.
Help individuals get a fresh start and families heal. The graduate certificate in addiction studies program is designed to provide graduate-level counseling skills in areas of chemical dependency and addiction. You’ll be prepared to provide individualized services based on evidence-based practices. Learn how to apply various models, theories, and research-based approaches to diverse cultural groups.
Through this accelerated program, you’ll learn from practitioner-led faculty to understand addictions, chemical use, and dependency. Learn how they impact individuals, families, and society. As a graduate, you’ll be able to confidently recognize and treat individuals with chemical and co-occurring concerns.
Explore diverse treatment approaches, with an emphasis on chemical health. Through immersive coursework and practicum experiences, you’ll develop competencies in the following 12 Core Functions of an alcohol and drug counselor:
- Screening
- Intake
- Orientation
- Assessment
- Treatment planning
- Counseling
- Case management crisis management
- Crisis intervention
- Client education
- Referral
- Reports and record-keeping
- Consultation with other professionals regarding treatment and services
The real-world education you’ll receive at Saint Mary’s puts your knowledge to practice. You’ll work a minimum of 880 total hours in a treatment setting for individuals with addictions, alcohol and drug abuse problems, and co-occurring mental health concerns. Practicum sites include those specializing in BIPOC and LGBTQ communities.
What makes Saint Mary’s stand apart? Grounded by our Lasallian Catholic mission and identity, Saint Mary’s empowers learners to ethical lives of service and leadership. Our mission — lived out every day — will help guide you as a provider to bring services to underserved and underrepresented communities.
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Program Highlights
The graduate certificate program in addiction studies provides you with understanding and knowledge to help individuals struggling with addiction or substance use disorders. Learn ethical and professional counseling practices, various treatment approaches, and the 12 Core Functions of an alcohol or drug counselor. Here, hope begins. And your career flourishes.
Program Features
What Makes it Special:
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Complete this program in as little as two years -
Dual Program option combines Master of Arts in Counseling and Psychological Services
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Practitioner-led faculty
What You'll Learn
What You'll Learn
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Theories and models of chemical dependency
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Counseling techniques focusing on family, systems, and socio-cultural factors
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The 12 core functions of drug and alcohol counseling for treatment
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Effective methods of treatment for clients from culturally diverse backgrounds
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Chemical dependency counseling, integrating awareness and discernment
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Ethical and professional counseling practices
Dual Program Option:
M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services and Graduate Certificate in Addiction Studies
Saint Mary’s offers a dual program option to prepare you for work in the field of mental health counseling as well as alcohol and drug treatment. The program is designed to help you meet the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy’s educational requirements for licensure as Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors (LADC), Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC), and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC).
This option combines the requirements of the M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services and the Graduate Certificate in Addiction Studies in as few as 60 credits. An Integrated Practicum of 880 hours is based on the requirements of the State of Minnesota’s practicum requirements for licensure as a LPC/LPCC and LADC.
The emphasis of this dual program option is an integration of both mental health and substance use theory and skills that can be applied to the profession. You’ll have the opportunity to develop skills academically and experientially to work in various settings:
- Mental health
- Chemical health
- Dual-disorder
- Criminal justice
- Hospital
- Assessment
- Detox
- Residential
- Outpatient settings
Course Catalog
Career Outlook
Upon completion of this program and licensure from the State of Minnesota, pursue a career as a mental health or chemical health counselor, treatment program supervisor, in-patient mental or chemical health treatment provider, or intensive outpatient treatment provider. Seek a career in private practice, hospitals, or treatment centers.
Addiction Counselor
$48,520 per year*