Advanced Certificate Concentration: Schedule and Curriculum
The curriculum consists of the six 4-credit courses (24 credits) required of students. Due to the nature of the programme, courses/modules are completed in a specific sequence, and there are currently no electives available. The course sequence for the part-time program is listed below, followed by a description of each of the courses/modules. Part-time students will take two courses per term in their first year, and one course per semester in their second year. Start dates of courses taken at one time in the first year are staggered to allow for periods of uninterupted study focus.
Part-time Program, Year 1
Semester 1 (Fall)
Public Health Issues and Approaches to Addiction (Aug-Nov)
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Treatment of Addiction: Critical Issues (Sept-Decl)
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Semester 2 (Spring)
Treatment of Addiction: Psychosocial Interventions (Jan-April)
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Addiction Policy (Feb-May)
Part-time Program, Year 2
Semester 1 (Fall)
Biological Basis of Addiction (Aug-Nov)
Semester 2 (Spring)
Treatment of Addiction: Pharmacotherapies (IDAS 604) (Feb-May)
Course Descriptions
This course provides an introduction to basic concepts and research methods in Public Health and Epidemiology as they relate to the study of addictions, as well as an in-depth consideration of the personal, social, economic, and cultural burdens/costs associated with drug and alcohol abuse and dependence. Individual and community-based risk and protective factors related to addictions and primary and secondary prevention efforts aimed at reducing the addictions-related public health burden are also a focus. An online lecture format featuring presentations by leading researchers and policymakers in the field of addictions will be used, along with readings, online discussions, and writing assignments, to (1) gain a greater understanding of the enormous costs of addictions at every level of society, and (2) introduce students to some of the current thinking and programs related to the primary and secondary prevention of addictions.
This course/module is designed to enable students to gain advanced understanding of the critical issues involved in the identification, recruitment, assessment, diagnosis and classification of individuals who misuse substances. Local, national and international barriers to treatment (stigma, culture, religion, politics, legal issues, civil commitment, cost, attitudes and beliefs) will be considered. Students will explore and critically examine treatment options in special settings (for instance, prisons and the workplace) and in special populations (for instance, addicted healthcare professional, co-morbid patients, pregnancy).
This course/module is designed to explore the scientific basis and treatment of substance misuse from a psychological perspective germane to the management of drug, alcohol and nicotine dependence. Students will have the opportunity to evaluate the principles of different theoretical approaches underlying psychological assessment and evidence-based practice. During this course students will develop a critical awareness of the current literature related to psychological theories of addiction. Students will examine the use and comparative efficacy of different psychological therapies in clinical practice including brief interventions, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Motivational Interviewing /MET. Other interventions (case management, group work, self help, integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders etc) will also be examined along side the evidence base for Relapse Prevention, Contingency Management and Therapeutic Communities. Students will also have the opportunity to explore psychological approaches used with specialist populations such as young people and adolescents.
This course is designed to provide students of differing backgrounds an understanding of the process by which international addiction health policy is formed and reformed around the use and misuse of both licit and illicit drugs. The course will look at the epidemiology of addiction around the world and the relationship between the burden of addiction and the corresponding effects of national and international drug policies.
This course/module is designed to provide an overview of the neuropharmacology of drugs of abuse and dependence, including basic principles of drug action as well as comprehensive coverage of the major classes of drugs (opioids, stimulants, nicotine, alcohol, sedatives, cannabis, hallucinogens). Students will study mechanisms of action, effects, pharmacokinetics as well as tolerance and dependence for each of these drugs/drug classes. The reasons for addiction including biological, genetic, cultural and other determinants will be discussed. Students will learn about laboratory-based methods used in addiction research.
This course is designed to provide an overview of the pharmacological management of alcohol and drug addiction. It will cover the management of withdrawal from alcohol, sedatives, opioids, cannabis and stimulants as well as long term management of dependence on opioids, tobacco and alcohol. Additional topics include international perspectives on management of dependence, management of dependence during pregnancy and the process of medication development.
