Substance Abuse Counselling diploma/certificate
Alcohol and drug abuse is a growing problem in our society and an increasing
number of individuals are seeking help in treating their addiction problems.
Similarly there is an increasing number of people working in the social services
and related fields who are seeking additional training in order to become more
effective with their client groups.
The Substance Abuse Counselling
programs are designed to produce beginning professionals who recognize their own
limitations and strengths and are prepared to undertake professional development
on an ongoing basis. Intervention skills will be developed on individual, group,
and family levels. Emphasis in the programs will be on providing knowledge of
alcohol and drug dependencies, techniques of working with clients with
dependencies, and knowledge and skills relating to specific client groups.
Substance abuse counsellors may or may not be recovering people, but undertaking
this training is not part of the recovery process. Prospective students are
expected to lead a life free from substance abuse or risk being removed from the
program.
The certificate program is offered
as a post-graduate certificate to those holding diplomas, certificates, or
degrees in allied fields (such as education, health care, criminal justice,
social services, etc.) and is geared towards a post-basic level of educational
achievement
The diploma program is available
for those with little or no post-secondary education.
Entrance requirements
Substance Abuse Counselling diploma program
See Entrance
Requirements for the Social Services diploma.
How to apply
Diploma program
See How to Apply in the Social
Services diploma section. See the
Admissions Guide
for a complete list of application dates and general information.
Entrance requirements
Substance Abuse Counselling certificate program
As this program is structured as a post-secondary program for those already
holding professional or para-professional credentials, all applications will be
assessed on an individual basis by the program head. The admissions requirements
are as follows:
1. Interview with the Substance Abuse program
head, during which time your personal suitability for working with people with
addiction problems will be assessed.
2. Sustained work history (approximately five
years) evidencing stability.
3. Evidence of professional or para-professional
credentials.
4. Formal training in counselling skills.
Individuals lacking such training may be provisionally accepted but required to
complete HSER 120 and 200 (or acceptable equivalents) prior to registering in
HSER 400, 401, and 402. Students may substitute a videotape demonstrating
counselling skills in lieu of formal training.
5. Two recent letters of reference.
6. Minimum of four years sobriety for
recovering individuals.
7. Willingness to undergo a criminal records
check.
How to apply
Certificate program
1. Submit the UCFV application for admission form to the Admissions and
Records (A&R) office. Application forms are available from any A&R or Student
Services office. You are advised to mail in your application as it will receive
priority over hand-delivered applications, based on the postmarked date. See
Application Dates
for a complete list of application dates and general information.
Additional documents required for a complete application:
• Official sealed transcripts from all previous post-secondary institutions.
• An additional application information form detailing all your past work and
volunteer experience and education (include social service related and other).
• A letter stating why you want to enter the program and what has brought you to
make this career choice. Please refer to the kinds of experiences you have had
in this field, either paid or volunteer.
• At least one recent letter of reference from a past employer, teacher, or
volunteer supervisor who can comment on your suitability to work in the field.
2. You must attend an interview. Out-of-province applicants may be able
to make special arrangements with the program head.
3. Applicants for the certificate program will be accepted until the
program is full.
Academic and practicum regulations
A GPA of 2.0 (C average) is required for graduation and practicum placement.
Students who do not complete a prerequisite course may be allowed to register
for a subsequent course at the discretion of the program head. UCFV reserves the
right to cancel any course for which there is insufficient registration.
Continuation of the program will be dependent upon adequate enrolment.
Acceptance into the program does
not guarantee practicum placement. Students will be individually assessed as to
their readiness, in terms of skills, attitudes and knowledge, for the practicum.
Practica are primarily in the Fraser Valley and students are not guaranteed the
placement of their choice. Students will generally begin their practica after
the completion of the first semester, although the practicum can be started
later. Students working in the field may be allowed to do some, but not all, of
their practicum hours in their workplace.
Location
While the certificate program is offered only in Abbotsford, students may
complete the first year of the diploma program in either Abbotsford or
Chilliwack. They should indicate the preferred campus on their application.
Fees and additional costs
Fees stated are in effect for 2004/05 and are subject to change for
2005/06.
Tuition fees for most full-time
students are about $1,900 per semester (based on enrolment in five courses or 15
credits). See the Fees
and Other Costs section for more information. However, HSER 400, 401, 402,
410, 411, 412, and 430 are offered on a cost-recovery basis with higher tuition
fees.
The certificate program is offered
part-time only, and does not qualify for financial aid. Some bursaries are
available. Contact the Financial Aid office for more information.
Some employers may be willing to
sponsor their employees; prospective students are urged to approach their
employers about this possibility.
Workload and classroom expectations
In addition to the classroom modules, you will be required to read, study, and
prepare assignments outside of class and you can expect to spend an additional
three to six hours per week outside of class. In addition you will be required
to make videotapes in our lab.
Program outline
For complete details on courses see
Course descriptions.
Substance Abuse Counselling diploma
Semester I
Course | Title | Credits |
CMNS 155 | Communications for Human Services | |
or ENGL 105 | The Reading and Writing of Prose | 3 |
HSER 120 | Introduction to Interpersonal Communications | 3 |
HSER 129 | Seminar | 1 |
PHIL 110 | Morality and Politics | 3 |
PSYC 101 | Introduction to Psychology I | 3 |
SOWK 110 | Intro to Social Work & Human Services | 3 |
Total | 16 |
Semester II
Course | Title | Credits | |
HSER 130 | Practicum I | 6 | |
SOWK 210 | Introduction to Social Welfare | 3 | |
SOC 101 | Introductory Sociology | 3 | |
Elective | (Data Manipulation) (Group A) (See Note 1) | 3 | |
Total | 15 |
Semester III
Course | Title | Credits |
SOWK 225 | Human Behaviour and the Social Environment | 3 |
HSER 200 | Counselling Skills | 3 |
HSER 400 | Counselling Skills for Addictions Work | 2 |
HSER 401 | Group Facilitation Skills for Addictions | 2 |
HSER 410 | The Nature of Substance Abuse | 2 |
HSER 427 | Integrative and Self-care Seminar | 1.5 |
CMNS 250 | Report Writing for Business, Information Technologies, Social and Human Services) | 3 |
Total | 16.5 |
Semester IV
Course | Title | Credits |
HSER 402 | Family Work in Addictions | 2 |
HSER 411 | Pharmacology and Psychobiology of Addictions | 2 |
HSER 412 | Community Treatment: Assessment and Referral | 2 |
HSER 428 | Integrative and Self-care Seminar | 1.5 |
HSER 430 | Substance Abuse Practicum | 6 |
HSER 150 | Approaches to Helping: A Theoretical Overview | 3 |
Total | 16.5 | |
Total program credits | 64 |
Substance Abuse Counselling certificate
Semester I (Sept–Dec)
Course | Title | Credits |
HSER 400 | Counselling Skills for Addictions Work | 2 |
HSER 401 | Group Facilitation Skills for Addictions I | 2 |
HSER 410 | The Nature of Substance Abuse | 2 |
HSER 427 | Integrative and Self-care Seminar | 1.5 |
Total | 7.5 |
Semester II (Jan–April)
Course | Title | Credits |
HSER 402 | Family Work in Addictions | 2 |
HSER 411 | Pharmacology and Psychobiology of Addictions | 2 |
HSER 412 | Community Treatment: Assessment and Referral | 2 |
HSER 428 | Integrative and Self-care Seminar | 1.5 |
Total | 7.5 |
Semester III (May–June or later)
Course | Title | Credits |
HSER 430 | Practicum | 6 |
Total | 6 | |
Total program credits | 21 |
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