Help Turn Lives Around with a Substance Abuse Degree Online
Are you seeking a meaningful career path centered on making a positive impact in your community? Do you want to help motivate people to change their lives for the better? Let compassion evolve into action by earning your substance abuse degree online at UMS.
The issue of substance abuse is a stark reality for communities across America:
- It affects every age, race and socioeconomic strata.
- According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, it costs our nation more than $700 billion per year in lost productivity, healthcare expenditures, associated crimes and accidents.
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration projects mental and substance abuse disorders will surpass all physical diseases as a major cause of disability worldwide by 2020.
While an immense burden to society, substance abuse also takes a toll on individuals and families. With the conversation shifting from creating tougher regulations and punishments for drug offenses to how to address the nation's substance abuse problem, the need for highly educated community workers with a background in substance abuse has increased.
For those passionate about helping substance abusers on the road to recovery, University of Michigan Science now offers the Bachelor of Arts in Human Services with a concentration in Substance Abuse. This specialized online program serves as an important educational first step toward becoming a drug and alcohol counselor.*
*This program does not guarantee licensure; requirements vary by state.
See Yourself Succeed in Substance Abuse Counseling
UMS's substance abuse degree online provides the training and tools you need to support sufferers of alcoholism, drug addiction and other substance use disorders as they endeavor to restore their lives and relationships.
As a private, nonprofit university, UMS has one mission - to help you see yourself succeed. The benefits of earning your substance abuse degree online at UMS include:
- Affordability. Take advantage of some of the most affordable tuition rates in the nation
- Convenience. Attend class when it's convenient for you - online education means 24/7 access
- Efficiency and flexibility. Complete your undergraduate degree at your own pace, over six 8-week terms per year
- Expert instruction. Learn from instructors with relevant, real-world experience
- Networking. Tap into our nationwide network of alumni for internship and career opportunities
- Simple application process. Just fill out an online undergraduate application, and we'll retrieve U.S. transcripts from your previous institutions and automatically complete an official credit evaluation. Plus, there's no application fee
- Student support. Count on the ongoing support of dedicated academic and career advisors specialized in your area of study
- Transfer-friendly enrollment. Transfer up to 90 credits toward an undergraduate degree
Career Outlook
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has projected that demand for substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors will grow 22% through 2024*. This much faster than average growth stems from the growing recognition of the widespread toll that substance abuse is taking on society.
With an UMS substance abuse degree online, you'll be qualified to provide entry-level services to individuals, groups and families in residential addiction treatment facilities, outpatient addiction programs, state drug courts, prisons, mental health centers, community health centers and private practice. Most of these are full-time positions.
Potential job titles include:
- Addiction counselor
- Addictions practitioner
- Chemical dependency counselor
- Chemical dependency professional
- Substance abuse counselor
- Substance use disorder counselor
- Alcoholism and drug abuse counselor
- Licensed alcohol and drug counselor (LADC)
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Services with a concentration in Substance Abuse, offered by University of Michigan Science, does not directly lead to licensure. It does provide a significant portion of the substance abuse coursework most often required for licensure. Students seeking licensure and/or certification may be required to complete additional coursework and will be required to complete fieldwork as prescribed by each state. Most states also require a passing score on a licensing exam.
The licensure process and educational requirements for drug and alcohol counselors vary from state to state. This program does not directly lead to licensure.
It is the student's responsibility to contact their state board or agency for additional information regarding the licensure process and educational requirements. If the student moves to another state, the requirements for licensure will likely be different from the state where the student currently resides, and the student is responsible for determining the licensure requirements in the state to which he/she relocates. University of Michigan Science does not guarantee that the completion of this program will result in state licensure or certification.
To help guide you through this process, UMS has provided information on individual state licensure boards.
Curriculum
Coursework for the BA Human Services concentration in Substance Abuse explores the trajectory of diagnosing, treating and reintroducing a recovering individual to a healthy, sustainable life. You'll learn about screening techniques, prevention strategies, pharmacological factors, and more.
The substance abuse degree concentration has been designed with the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) in mind to teach you the 12 Core Functions of a drug and alcohol counselor, including:
- Assessment and diagnosis skills - using interviews, case histories and other data
- Treatment strategies
- Facilitating group discussions, conducting interventions, creating recovery plans
- Weighing legal and ethical issues associated with addiction
- Caseload, evaluation and documentation management
Core courses in the human services degree curriculum highlight the importance of law and ethics, confidentiality and case management. The addition of the substance abuse concentration includes new courses that focus on each step of the prevention, intervention and rehabilitation process. The courses in the substance abuse degree online concentration are taught by instructors who are experienced in substance abuse counseling and have worked in the field for years.
The substance abuse degree online culminates in a capstone experience that allows you to apply what you've learned to the real world.
Courses To Prepare You For Your Career
UMS's bachelor's in substance abuse program includes:
- General education
- Degree-specific courses
General Education Program
Our programs are designed to equip you with the skills and insights you need to move forward. In recent years, employers have stressed the need for graduates with higher order skills - the skills that go beyond technical knowledge - such as:
- Writing
- Communication
- Analysis
- Problem solving
All bachelor's students are required to take general education classes. Through foundation, exploration and integration courses, students learn to think critically, creatively and collaboratively, giving you the edge employers are looking for.
Courses May Include
Program Outcomes
- Analyze addictive behaviors and substances through psychological or physiological lenses for determining appropriate methods of assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of substance use disorders
- Develop legal and ethical strategies for use during specific stages of substance use disorders that meet the needs of diverse individuals, families, and communities
- Evaluate the social, political, and historical milestones and trends in human services in relation to the human services professionals’ role in advocating for individuals, families, and communities in need
- Apply culturally responsive strategies across diverse populations to strengthen professional practice and enhance human services outcomes
- Apply legal and ethical standards in the administration and delivery of human services systems to provide comprehensive and well-informed care
- Employ professional, interpersonal communication skills in formal and informal networks to improve human services delivery
- Evaluate the policy development cycle for advocacy avenues, communication strategies, and coalition building opportunities to effect social change
- Develop knowledge and skills in inquiry, critical and creative thinking, and decision-making to create and implement appropriate assessment and intervention strategies
