Undergraduate Minor/Certificate

Addiction Counselor Top 35 Bachelor's Counseling Programs 2021

Undergraduate Minor/Certificate in Addiction Treatment Services – 18 Credits

The minor is particularly designed for those students who are pursuing a bachelor’s degree in a health or social science program and are interested in the addiction treatment field as a supplement to their major. The undergraduate curriculum is designed to lead a student from largely didactic and knowledge-based classroom experience to increasing practical application of theory through experiential classroom activities, supervised practice, and observation of clinical situations. All courses in the minor program are offered both online and inperson.

The Undergraduate Certificate has the same program requirements for students who are not seeking a UNR degree.

SPRING 2024 Course Offerings (coming soon)

Course Sequence

CAS 154: Problems of Substance Abuse and Addiction (3 credits)

Overview of how involvement with alcohol, tobacco and other drugs can affect health, personal and social development. Relates social, philosophical, cultural, prevention and treatment issues.

CAS 254: Signs and Symptoms of Addiction (3 credits)

Theories and models of alcohol and other drug addiction with emphasis on the signs and symptoms of problematic use and abuse.

CAS 255: Substance Abuse Prevention or CAS 257: Fundamentals of Behavioral Health (3 credits)

CAS 255 – A basic overview of substance abuse prevention with emphasis on scientifically defensible substance abuse prevention research and practices.

CAS 257- An overview of wellness dimensions, peer support specialists’ ethics, patient advocacy, and systems of care navigation for the mental health and substance abuse services provider.

CAS 354: Screening and Client Engagement (3 credits)

Overview of philosophical and procedural components for providing addictions services, professional characteristics, ethical/legal issues, helping process and initial assessment.

CAS 355: Individual and Group Treatment of Addiction or CAS 357: Behavioral Health in the Justice System (3 credits)

CAS 355-Strategies and core competencies for treating addicted individual and group counseling. Experiential learning is the primary approach utilized in this class.

CAS 357- Provides theoretical, research-based and practical perspectives on the two overlapping fields of criminal justice and behavioral healthcare (including substance abuse and mental health).

Please note, those wanting to pursue a career in addiction treatment counseling or applying to the Addiction Treatment Services Practicum MUSTtake CAS 355 Individual and Group Treatment of Addiction.

CAS 454: Assessment and Case Management (3 credits)

Practical application of providing addiction services; assessment, placement, treatment planning, ethical/legal issues, and case management.

Application Requirements

  • Must be a current UNR student | Visit UNR Admissions
  • Completion of CAS 154 (C or higher)
  • Minimum 2.5 GPA
  • Submit the Online Application (see below)

Undergraduate Program Questions? email academic@casat.org