Vancouver Island University

Course Details

Addiction Studies Certificate

Course Description

This certificate gives students the opportunity to take a collection of courses (by their own design) that specialize in the area of addictions. Students must satisfy the Degree English Requirement, and complete 6 credits of required courses in psychology and one required second year methods course. A senior course in theories of addiction is also required but offered across a number of departments. These courses were selected/created to give students an appreciation for research, a strong background in pharmacology and addiction. The remaining courses can be chosen from a variety of disciplines that deal either directly or indirectly addictions. This credential is considered embedded as it has been designed to be to be taken as part of a degree or diploma in an area of the student’s primary interest. For example, students interested in criminology could benefit from a working understanding of addictions if they were going into policing, probation or juvenile services. Courses have been selected from 8 different departments. However, there are no guaranteed seats for students registered for this credential. Each department has its own rules for reserved seating and cross-department enrolment policies. Students attempting to register in classes across this credential are encouraged to contact individual instructors or program advisors and enquire about enrolment possibilities. Success in this program is in the hands of each student: the more you focus on addictions in each of the courses the more knowledge you will accumulate on this complex and difficult topic. A student’s primary degree will in part define where each student will focus. Students graduating with a degree and this credential should be better prepared to understand the interaction between their area of interest and addictions

Course Duration

NumberDuration
30credit

Career outcomes

As this credential is designed to supplement a student’s primary degree or diploma, employment opportunities will be based on their primary degree.




Addiction Studies Certificate Vancouver Island University