This major offers students a scientific understanding of addiction and the process of recovery, along with ways to prevent, treat, and advocate for policy changes that will help address the epidemic that is affecting our community, nation, and world. Students will learn how individual, family, peer, school/work, and community factors may serve as both risk and protective factors in the development of addiction, and how these factors are essential to successful outcomes for prevention, treatment, and recovery. With this training, students will be prepared to enter the workforce in a variety of settings or to continue their education in graduate school, medical school, or law school. This program of study is ideal for students interesting in pursuing careers in counseling, family therapy, prevention, policy, community outreach, ministry, medicine, or law. This major has a one-semester internship requirement. Students who choose to gain additional hands-on experience (beyond the internship) at prevention agencies or treatment centers may apply for certification as prevention specialists or alcohol/drug counselors through Alabama Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association (AADAA).
Career Opportunities
Graduates will be prepared to work in entry-level positions at nonprofit substance abuse treatment centers and work toward their Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) Certification from AADAA, the Alabama Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association. Students who gain supervised experience at a prevention agency during their internship will be eligible to apply for their Associate Prevention Specialist (APS) credential upon graduation and then work toward their Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS) credential after accruing additional supervised hours of experience. These credentials are also offered by AADAA.
Graduates will be qualified to work in a variety of agencies that serve at-risk children and families.
January 2025
College of Human Environmental Sciences
729 Colonial Drive,
TUSCALOOSA,
Alabama,
35487, United States
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.