Bachelor of Science in Addiction Studies

Earn your Degree in Addiction Studies at Empire State University

The Bachelor of Science degree in Addiction Studies is a 124-credit program listed with SUNY and approved as a registered degree program through the New York State Education Department. It is 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 Bachelor of Science in Addiction Studies 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 study.

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.  Fulfilling the course requirements for the bachelor's degree in Addiction Studies meets the educational requirement for the CASAC-T. 

Admissions

The admissions requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Addiction Studies will be the same as current undergraduate admissions requirements. The program will follow the university policy for granting credit for prior learning (CPL) credits to be among the 93 maximum transferable credits.

More Information

If you would like more information about the Addiction Studies program, please contact:

Health and Human Services Department Chair:

Thalia MacMillan
thalia.macmillan@sunyempire.edu

Prospective students should contact enroll@sunyempire.edu.

Related Resources

Course List

Code

Title

Credits

Lower Level Core Courses

 

HUDV 1015

Human Development: Introductory*

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 Addiction Disorders

4

HUSV 3005

Advocacy in Human Services

4

PSYC 3010

Abnormal Psychology: Advanced***

4

HUSV 3020

Documentation in Human Services

4

ADDS 3010

Substance Abuse Interventions in the Workplace

4

or ADDS 3020

Substance Abuse with Special Populations or

or ADDS 4005

Adolescence & Addictions

HUSV 3030

Group Work

4

or CHFS 3030

Family Intervention

PSYC 3040

Biological Psychology****

4

ADDS 4010

Advanced Substance Abuse Counseling

4

ADDS 4015

Evidence-Based Substance Abuse Counseling

4

or HUSV 4035

Internship in Human Services

HUSV 4020

Diversity in Human Services

4

HUSV 4030

Human Service Ethics

4

**Students may utilize a course similar to this, such as Introduction to Social Work or Introduction to Community Practice.

Sample Degree Program Plans

Sample degree program plans illustrate the degree program format and provide examples of some different types of individualized degree programs. The degree program is divided into two columns. The column on the left lists all the courses in the concentration, while the column on the right lists all of the general learning courses. SUNY Empire State University students work closely with their faculty mentors to design their own degree programs that meet the student’s needs and goals.

Sample Degree Plan for Addiction Studies CASAC (PDF 130kB)

Sample Degree Plan for Addiction Studies Community College (PDF 130kB)

Sample Degree Plan for Addiction Studies-Military (PDF 103kB)

Credit for Prior Learning

If you are considering credit for prior learning, you have two options. The first is to identify a topic with your mentor and write an essay on this topic. The essay should contain a brief description of your experience(s) with the topic, any trainings/readings/workshops that you have done for it, and what you have learned about the topic. When describing what you have learned, it helps to think about how you would describe what you did or what you know to someone else.

The second option is to use one of our structured guides. For each guide, you would follow the directions to copy and answer the questions.

Addiction and Dependency CPL - Lower Level (PDF 86kB)

Adolescents and Addictions CPL - Advanced Level (PDF 83kB)

Advocacy CPL - Advanced Level (PDF 110kB)

Case Management CPL - Lower Level (PDF 110kB)

Crisis Intervention CPL - Lower Level (PDF 108kB)

Diversity in Human Services CPL - Advanced Level (PDF 145kB)

Documentation in Human Services CPL - Advanced Level (PDF 87kB)

Ethics CPL - Advanced Level (PDF 85kB)

Group Work CPL - Advanced Level (PDF 125kB)

Healthcare Management CPL - Advanced Level (PDF 84kB)

Intervention with Addiction Disorders CPL - Advanced Level (PDF 104kB)

Introduction to Human Services CPL - Lower Level (PDF 96kB)

Motivational Interviewing CPL - Advanced Level (PDF 109kB)

Residential Care - Child Welfare CPL - Lower Level (PDF 84kB)

Residential Care Management - Child Welfare CPL - Advanced Level (PDF 89kB)

Social Welfare Policy CPL - Advanced Level (PDF 96kB)

Supervision in Human Services CPL - Advanced Level (PDF 95kB)

Training & Development in Human Services CPL -Advanced Level (PDF 82kB)

US Health Systems CPL - Lower Level (PDF 88kB)

Additional Academic Resources

The university has a number of resources and tools to help you in your learning. Pay particular attention to writing support, support with math, and academic support and study skills. Academic Support online workshops are also offered throughout the year on a wide range of topics. These resources and tools are available at the Learning Support website and in MySUNYEmpire, Academic Support.

The Online Library also has many workshops and resources for students, including help with APA style, and searching for and identifying scholarly sources.

Frequently Asked Questions – BS in Addiction Studies Program
I have questions about the addiction studies program. Who do I contact?
• Thalia MacMillan
Thalia.Macmillan@sunyempire.edu


I am interested in this program, but am already a student in a different AOS.  Can I switch to this?
• This would depend on the number of courses that you have completed that count towards the Addiction Studies program requirement.

If I am a student in the Community and Human Services AOS, can I use the concentration title of “Addiction Studies”?
• Yes, only if you are a student who was matriculated prior to August 2019.
• If you are matriculated after August 2019, you will not be able to use the concentration of Addiction Studies unless you are accepted into the BS in Addiction Studies program.

I have a CASAC, CASAC-T, CRPA, or CPS – can I use this towards the BS in Addiction Studies program?
• Yes! The credits can count as some of the courses on the structured program.
• Please discuss with your mentor how many potential credits these credentials are worth.

Does my degree plan have to have all of the courses listed in the BS in Addiction Studies program?
• YES. If you are enrolled in the BS in Addiction Studies program you need to meet all of the course requirements.

I have a large number of transcript credits that I would like to utilize. I don’t want to take all of courses listed for the program. Can I still be part of the BS in Addiction Studies program?
• No. If you are enrolled in the BS in Addiction Studies program you need to meet all of the course requirements. You may wish to discuss another area of study with your mentor.

What if I want to take some of these courses, but do not want to be part of the BS in Addiction Studies program?
• Anyone can take these courses. They are built so that they act independently and together.

I have completed some addictions coursework in my associate’s degree. Will this apply to the BS in Addiction Studies program?
• It may! Please discuss with your mentor how many potential credits may transfer into the BS in Addiction Studies program.

Are there general education requirements for the BS in Addiction Studies program?
• Students will need to meet the SUNY general education requirements for a bachelor’s degree. There are no special requirements beyond this for the BS in Addiction Studies program. You will work with your mentor, to meet the requirements.

Is educational planning required as part of the BS in Addiction Studies program?
• Yes, as per university policy, you are required to take a minimum of 4 credits of educational planning.

Do I still need to write a rationale essay for the BS in Addiction Studies program?
• No, you are not expected to write a rationale essay.

What does the “Or” mean in the list of courses for the BS in Addiction Studies program?
• You can select from two courses based on your needs and interests. For example, you would select either Group Work or Family Intervention. See additional examples below.
      • Substance Abuse Interventions with Special Populations OR Substance Abuse Interventions in the Workplace.
      • Evidence-Based Substance Abuse Counseling OR Internship in Human Services.

Can CPL count toward the BS in Addiction Studies program?
• Yes. You would discuss with your mentor possible topics and follow the usual process for credit for prior learning.

Does Empire State University offer an Associate’s degree program in Addiction Studies?
• No, but you could earn a degree in Community and Human Services or in another area of study.

How are these courses for the BS in Addiction Studies offered?
• The courses can be offered in all of our modes: online, independent study, group, or residency. Please consult the Term Guide for the current listing.

With these courses at Empire, can I receive my CASAC-T?
• Yes.  Empire State University is a CASAC-T granting institution.  Students must earn credit in all of the courses required for the BS in Addiction Studies.

I earned my CASAC-T at a community college, does that mean I receive the credits from the community college and the CASAC-T credit award?
• No. The CASAC-T credit award can only be received if you received your training at a community training provider.
• If you received your CASAC-T training at a SUNY or CUNY community college, you are not eligible for the CASAC-T as your community college courses already represent the credit awards that are in the CASAC-T.

I have my CASAC-T, but I didn’t get it at a college. What do I need to do?
• OASAS needs to provide verification that you have the certification.
Please contact them and have them send that information to Admissions.

I have my CASAC. I would like to count it towards my degree. What do I need to do?
• OASAS needs to provide verification that you have the certification.
Please contact them and have them send that information to Admissions.

Will my student information be listed in Degree Planner or Degree Works?
• Your information will be listed in Degree Works.