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 2024 to Summer 2025. 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

63 credits are required for the degree:

General Education - 22 credits
Required Degree Courses - 41 credits

General Education Requirements - 22 Credits

Communication - Written and Oral (3 credits): ENG 101 - Writing and Research
Humanities (3 credits): ENG 102 - Writing and Literature
Mathematics (and Quantitative Reasoning) (4 credits): choose from this category of general education courses
Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) (4 credits): BIOL 103 - Human Biology (and Lab)
Diversity: Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice; and Social Sciences (3 credits): SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology
Social Sciences (3 credits): PSYCH 101 - Introduction to Psychology
US History and Civic Engagement (3 credits): POLSC 102 - American Government and Issues

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 - 41 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 203 - Addiction Counseling Models	3
CHEM 145 - Biochemistry of Addiction (and Lab)	3
ENG 101 - Writing and Research	3
PSYCH 101 - Introduction to Psychology	3
Semester Total Credits	15

Semester 2

Course	Credits
AC 101 - Psychosocial Issues in Addiction	3
AC 103 - Addiction and Family Dynamics	3
AC 201 - Addiction Group Counseling	3
ENG 102 - Writing and Literature	3
HSERV 101 - Introduction to Social Work	3
Semester Total Credits	15

Semester 3

Course	Credits
AC 110 - Addiction Counseling Methods	3
AC 202 - Addiction Field Experience 1	4
BIOL 103 - Human Biology (and Lab)	4
HSERV 102 - Human Behavior in the Social Environment	3
Mathematics (and Quantitative Reasoning) Gen. Ed. Course	3
Semester Total Credits	17

Semester 4

Course	Credits
AC 111 - Case Management in Addiction Counseling	3
AC 204 - Addiction Field Experience 2	4
HSERV 200 - Diversity & Social Justice	3
POLSC 102 - American Government and Issues	3
SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology	3
Semester Total Credits	16

Minimum Total Credits: 63

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.

Career Opportunities

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