The Associate Degree in Chemical Dependency Counseling provides students with a liberal arts background, focused study in addictions and career-oriented clinical experiences leading to the development of competent addictions counselors. Students are prepared for employment in entry-level positions in a variety of program settings ranging from inpatient hospital facilities to residential programs or outpatient clinics. Courses of the Associate Degree focus on basic counseling skills and relationships, group counseling, record documentation, pharmacology and addictions theory prerequisite for skill development in defined sequence of clinical application courses. Academic and clinical application coursework is built around the knowledge, skill and competencies necessary to help clients move from life threatening addictions to recovery.
Coursework moves students sequentially from academic understanding to clinical application.
Students seeking admission to chemical dependency clinical coursework must meet specific chemical dependency coursework admission criteria in addition to completing identified addiction theory courses. The Minor in Chemical Dependency Counseling allows students pursuing other human service, counseling or criminal justice or education degrees to learn about the many facets of chemical dependency. Credits from the Minor may be submitted for application to the Montana Chemical Dependency Counselor Certification Board. The coursework required for the minor are built around the topics, issues and competencies required to understand addictions and effective counseling. The curriculum in counseling psychology is designed to provide students with a broad understanding of the discipline of psychology and with the knowledge and introductory skills essential to counseling.