Master of Science in Human Development & Family Studies with a Specialization in Addiction Treatment Services – 33-36 credits
The Master of Science (MS) in Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) graduate program allows students to acquire foundation information in development, family studies, and research while also specializing in a topic of academic interest. The Addiction Treatment Services specialization requires specific coursework and an additional internship that prepares the student to become a state licensed alcohol and drug or behavioral health counselor.
The Master of Science in Human Development & Family Studies with a Specialization in Addiction Treatment Services meets the state of Nevada Board of Examiners (BOE) for Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselors educational requirements and may lead to licensure. In addition, students who complete this program will have the required 12 semester units in addiction treatment services needed to reduce the number practical experience hours from 4,000 to 1,500 hours prior to applying for certification. For more information on LADC requirements please review the “Do You Want to Become a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC)” flowchart and visit the BOE’s website.
Currently the University of Nevada, Reno has not determined if this program would lead to licensure outside the state of Nevada.
Program Requirements
HDFS Foundation Core
*Students are required to take both 720 and 730.
Human Development
6 credits
- HDFS 720 – Theories of Human Development (3 credits)*
- HDFS 631B – Advanced Human Development: Childhood (3 credits)
- HDFS 631C – Advanced Human Development: Adolescence (3 credits)
- CAS 637 – Aging and Addiction (3 credits)
- CAS 660 – Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders I (3 credits)
Family Studies
6 credits
- HDFS 730 – Family Theories (3 credits)*
- HDFS 636 – Family Interaction (3 credits)
- HDFS 638 – Children and Families in a Multiethnic Society (3 credits)
- HDFS 658 – Families and Public Policy (3 credits)
- HDFS/CAS 761 – Couple and Family Treatment of Addiction (3 credits)
Internship
3 credits
- HDFS 791 – Internship (3 credits
Research Core
9 credits minimum
- EDRS 700 – Introduction to Educational Research (3 credits)
- EDRS 640 – Educational Measurements and Statistics (3 credits)
- HDFS 796 – Professional Paper (3 credits) OR
- HDFS 797 – Thesis – (6 credits)
Addiction Treatment Services Specialization – 12 credits
- An Overview of Addiction Prevention, Treatment, & Recovery (CAS 674) or its equivalent is a prerequisite for this specialization – 3 credits
Assessment (at least one of the following required)
- CAS 759 – Assessment, Treatment and Case Management – 3 credits
- CEP 642B – Assessment and Diagnosis I – 3 credits
Treatment (at least one of the following required)
- CAS 760 – Addiction Counseling in Community Settings – 3 credits
- HDFS/CAS 761 – Couple and Family Treatment of Addictions – 3 credits
Electives (at least one of the following required)
- CAS 637 – Aging and Addiction – 3 credits
- CAS 639 – Exploring of Gambling Behaviors – 3 credits
- CAS 659 – Special Topics in Addiction* – 3 credits
*Varied topics available: i.e., Women’s Issues, Emotions, Behavioral Addictions, Co-occurring Disorders, etc. - CAS 660 – Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders – 3 credits
- CAS 712R – Neurosciences of Addiction – 3 credits
Internship (3 credits – required)
- HDFS 792 – Internship in Addiction Services – 3 credits
For additional HDFS/CASAT program information and course descriptions visit the UNR General Catalog webpage.
Contact CASAT’s Academic Manager, Terra Hamblin, thamblin@casat.org, or contact the Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) Graduate Coordinator, Lydia DeFlorio, PhD, at ldeflorio@unr.edu for HDFS program questions.