Graduate Certificate in Addictions

Addiction is one of the most severe health and social problems facing our nation. According to a 2009 survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an estimated 22.5 million Americans (8.9 percent of the population aged 12 or older) were classified with substance dependence or abuse in the past year.*

Kaplan University’s Graduate Certificate in Addictions is designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills to pursue employment or career advancement as an addiction professional.^†

Courses in the program focus on chemical and psychological dependency counseling, advanced addictions counseling, group counseling, psychopharmacology, and co-occurring disorders, with an emphasis on application.

The Graduate Certificate in Addictions consists of a minimum of 30 quarter credit hours. Upon successful completion of the program, you will be awarded a certificate

Emphasis Areas | Curriculum | Tuition and Fees

Program Highlights

The Graduate Certificate in Addictions provides you with the opportunity to:

Apply contemporary theories and information technologies to real-world situations, and engage in research in the focal areas of the science of psychology
Analyze and apply theoretical and conceptual foundations of psychology to arrive at appropriate professional practice strategies
Evaluate ethical, legal, individual, and sociocultural implications of decisions within the field of psychology

What are the Career Opportunities?

A graduate certificate from Kaplan University could help you pursue a number of careers in the field of addiction counseling and treatment. Work settings may include hospitals, mental health clinics, behavioral health centers, detox centers, and more.^†

Prepare for Future Studies

Qualified credits earned in fulfillment of this certificate may be applied toward the requirements of certain Kaplan University degree programs. When the time is right, come back and earn your degree online at Kaplan University.

Curriculum for the Graduate Certificate in Addictions

Course #	Course Title	Credits
PS 506	LIFE SPAN DEVELOPMENT	5 LIFE SPAN DEVELOPMENT This course examines human development through the life span from birth to adulthood, concluding with issues surrounding death and dying. The student will use case studies to examine biological, social, and cognitive changes at each stage of life and their relevance to clinical, educational, and social problems. Students also evaluate the major psychosocial issues and conflicts that arise, and identify individual and social needs at each stage of development.
PS 511	CHEMICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DEPENDENCY COUNSELING	5 CHEMICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DEPENDENCY COUNSELING This course provides an overview of dependency counseling strategies using a biopsychological approach to help identify, change, and maintain dependency-free behaviors. Students will use their understanding of the biopsychological model in order to explore how addiction begins and intensifies as a complicated interaction between chemical and behavioral changes occurs during addiction. Students will practice identifying diagnoses using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) and proposing appropriate interventions through evaluating and writing case studies.
PS 516	PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY	5 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY This course surveys basic psychopharmacological concepts, the effects of various psychotropic drugs on the brain, and the actions of hormones released during addiction episodes. In the first part of the course, students focus on basic principles of psychopharmacology and drug-receptor interactions and dose-response relationships. In the second part of the course, students examine how specific drug families affect different parts of the brain causing interference with normal functioning. Students will use their understanding of basic psychopharmacology to propose appropriate diagnoses and interventions for hypothetical clients, and to evaluate current research studies.
PS 521	GROUP COUNSELING	5 GROUP COUNSELING This course focuses on the theory and practice of group counseling and its application to the chemical dependency counseling field. Concepts include stages of group development, theories of group counseling, including the interactional group model, strategies for group motivation, and group process. Students will engage in group simulation exercises wherein they will take on roles of different group archetypes in order to evaluate group situational reactions, evaluate current research studies, write a group session plan, and propose strategies for solving common group problems that arise during the course of treatment. The application of group counseling theory and practice to culturally diverse groups is addressed.
PS 526	ADVANCED ADDICTION COUNSELING	5 ADVANCED ADDICTION COUNSELING This course provides an in-depth examination of dependency and addiction dynamics. Students will use their knowledge of counseling theories common to dependency counseling, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, to evaluate case studies, diagnose dependency, and propose appropriate treatments. Ethical dilemmas that occasionally arise in the counselor/client relationship will be analyzed and discussed. Additionally, students will evaluate case studies that contain ethical, legal, and sociocultural issues using the code of ethics of addiction counseling.
PS 531	CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS AND TREATMENTS	5 CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS AND TREATMENTS This course will prepare students to work with clients diagnosed with an addiction and mental health disorder. Students will survey some of the special problems related to having addiction and various types of mental health disorders. Different treatment models will be discussed and students will practice using their knowledge of co-occurring theory to analyze research and case studies.

Total Program Requirements	30 Total Program Requirements

Certificate Requirements
Total Program Requirements

You Could Save Time and Money on Your Kaplan University Degree

Credit for Prior Learning

If you already earned course credits at another institution, you may qualify for transfer credit that can be applied toward your program requirements at Kaplan University. Qualifying transfer credit may reduce your total costs for graduate programs. Refer to the University Catalog for our transfer of credit policy.

Students in the Military

Kaplan University is proud to support our military and veterans in their educational pursuits by offering significantly reduced tuition. Undergraduate program tuition is reduced up to 55 percent for active-duty servicemembers and up to 38 percent for veterans. In addition, Kaplan University participates in the Yellow Ribbon program for all of our graduate programs, and both active-duty servicemembers and veterans are eligible for special tuition rates for these programs. A 10 percent tuition reduction is also available to spouses of active-duty servicemembers. For more information, call 866.583.4412 (Toll Free) to speak to a military Admissions Advisor or visit the Kaplan University military site.

Tuition and Fees

Cost per credit hour	$385.00
Total program requirements Graduate Certificate in Addictions	30
Total cost of tuition	$11,550.00
This program requires a $100 technology fee per term. A nonrefundable application fee, depending on your program and as described in the Tuition and Fees Supplement, may be required at the time of enrollment. We encourage you to explore the availability of financial aid and scholarships. For more information, contact an Admissions Advisor.

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This program is not eligible for Title IV federal financial aid.
The Graduate Certificate in Addictions is not eligible for Title IV federal financial aid.
The professional practice of psychology is regulated by each state, and the degree requirements in Kaplan University’s Graduate Certificate in Addictions do not guarantee or prepare graduates for state licensure.
*Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Results from the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Volume I. Summary of National Findings (2010), on the Internet at oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2k9NSDUH/2k9ResultsP.pdf.
^†Kaplan University's programs are designed to prepare graduates to pursue employment in their field of study, or in related fields. However, the University does not guarantee that graduates will be placed in any particular job, eligible for job advancement opportunities, or employed at all. Additional training or certification may be required.