Addiction Counseling A.A.S.

School: Business and Professional Careers
Academic Dept: Professional Careers
HEGIS: 5506

Important Note about Program Requirements

The requirements listed below are for students entering into this program from Fall 2023 to Summer 2024. Students who entered the program during a prior semester will find their specific requirements listed in the Catalog under which they entered. Archived Catalogs are accessible through the dropdown menu above.

Accreditation

NY State Office of Addiction Services and Supports ETP
1450 Western Avenue
Albany, NY 12203
(518) 488-2048
https://oasas.ny.gov/

Program Description

The Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Addiction Counseling provides all the 350 alcohol and drug-specific class hours needed to apply to be a Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC). There are also 320 experience hours provided in this degree. For full credentialing by the New York State Office of Addiction Service and Supports (OASAS), a CASAC trainee will need additional experience. Experience hours are based on the applicant’s highest degree in addition to the CASAC education. The AAS also reduces the required number of experience hours by 1000. Some of these courses are applicable to the Certified Prevention Specialist and Certified Prevention Professional certificates.

The Addiction Counseling curriculum includes afternoon and evening in-person classes. Some classes are available on-line. Addiction Field Experience (Internship) is arranged in certified addiction treatment programs and supervised by AC professors. Current employment may be approved for field experience. Enrollment in Internship courses requires permission of the Curriculum Chairperson. Students in recovery from their own alcohol or other substance use disorder (AUD/SUD), or the effects of another family member’s AUD or SUD, may take classroom courses, but one (1) year of recovery is required to be eligible for an Internship placement.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, a student will:

Demonstrate the ability to apply the principles of ethical and effective addiction counseling using organized, clear, and precise written and oral communication skills.
Demonstrate competency and broad foundational knowledge in the general education curriculum as required by Westchester Community College.

Program Requirements

62 credits are required for the degree:

General Education - 24 credits
Required Degree Courses - 38 credits

General Education Requirements - 24 Credits

Basic Communication - Written and Research (3 credits): ENG 101 - Writing and Research
Humanities - Writing and Literature (3 credits): ENG 102 - Writing and Literature
Natural Sciences (3 credits): CHEM 145 - Biochemistry of Addiction (and Lab)
Mathematics (3 credits): Choose from this category of general education courses
American History or Western Civilization (3 credits): American History OR Western Civilization
Social Sciences (6 credits): PSYCH 101 - Introduction to Psychology and SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology
The Arts, Foreign Language or Other World Civilizations (3 credits): choose from either category, The Arts OR Foreign Language OR Other World Civilization

Where specific courses are not listed within the categories above, courses must be selected from the list of all General Education Courses .

Required Degree Courses - 38 credits

Program Map

The program map is a recommended semester-by-semester schedule of courses based on degree requirements and serve as a general guideline to help students complete their program in two years. Although designed for full-time enrollment, these are easily adaptable for part-time study. For additional, individualized guidance, students should review Degree Works and consult an Academic Counselor or Faculty Advisor to ensure they are on track to complete their program.

Semester 1

Course	Credits
AC 102 - Ethics in Addiction Counseling	3
AC 110 - Addiction Counseling Methods	3
AC 111 - Case Management in Addiction Counseling	3
AC 202 - Addiction Field Experience 1	4
CHEM 145 - Biochemistry of Addiction (and Lab)	3
Semester Total Credits	16

Semester 2

Course	Credits
AC 101 - Psychosocial Issues in Addiction	3
AC 103 - Addiction and Family Dynamics	3
AC 201 - Addiction Group Counseling	3
AC 203 - Addiction Counseling Models	3
AC 204 - Addiction Field Experience 2	4
Semester Total Credits	16

Semester 3

Course	Credits
HSERV 101 - Introduction to Social Work	3
ENG 101 - Writing and Research	3
PSYCH 101 - Introduction to Psychology	3
SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology	3
The Arts or Foreign Language or Other World Civilization Gen. Ed. Course	3
Semester Total Credits	15

Semester 4

Course	Credits
HSERV 102 - Human Behavior in the Social Environment	3
HSERV 200 - Diversity & Social Justice	3
ENG 102 - Writing and Literature	3
Mathematics Gen Ed Course	3
American History or Western Civilization Gen. Ed. Course	3
Semester Total Credits	15

Minimum Total Credits: 62

Transfer Opportunities

Westchester Community College is committed to facilitating a smooth transfer process to ensure that graduates of the college are prepared to transfer with junior status, and are able to complete a bachelor’s degree within two years of full-time study upon transfer. View 4-year institutions’ transfer agreement information by program here.

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