Bachelor of Arts Addictions and Mental Health Treatment

Courses

When earning your addictions and mental health treatment online degree in the field of behavioral health, you’ll complete 123 credits, including the Liberal Arts core, general electives and major requirements. The major includes 12 credits of practicum experience. Additionally, the program offers a 12-credit concentration in addiction studies.

Liberal Arts Core (31-55 credits)

All Alvernia University students are required to complete between 31-55 credits toward the Liberal Arts Core. Transfer work may be applicable for this area. As part of the application process, students receive specific information regarding remaining credits. Students entering the program with 70 or more transfer credits or an associate degree must complete 30-31 Liberal Arts Core credit hours.

General Elective Requirements (as needed)

A total of 123 credits, including three credits in a human diversity course, are required to earn a bachelor’s degree. To adhere to Franciscan values, community service hours are also required.

Major Requirements (54 credits)

Addictions and Mental Health Treatment Core Requirements (24 credits)

Course	Description	Credits
AMH 201	Foundations of Chemical Dependency Concepts from psychopharmacology, genetics, counseling theory, law, medicine, sociology, and other disciplines are applied to provide a basic understanding of the practical issues surrounding the prevention and treatment of substance abuse and dependence. Satisfies Social Science requirement.	3
AMH 202	Origins of Mental Illness This course will introduce students to the fundamentals of mental illness and psychiatric disorders. Particular emphasis will be placed on investigation of the etiological factors that cause mental illness, as well as the common protocols used in their treatment. Students will receive a comprehensive perspective on: anxiety disorders, mood disorders, disorders of childhood and adolescence, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and other disorders related to the field of mental health treatment.	3
AMH 204	Counseling Theories Major theoretical counseling orientations are examined with an emphasis on how each of these theories applies to the treatment of addiction and mental health disorders. Theories and types of therapeutic approaches considered include: Freudian Theory, Person-Centered Theory, Gestalt Theory, Reality Therapy, Rational-Emotive Therapy and other cognitive behavior theoretical approaches.	3
AMH 230	Assessment and Evaluation Students are introduced to the various instruments used in the assessment and evaluation of addiction and mental illness, and the interviewing skills that facilitate this process. Students will examine the components of clinical reasoning that are utilized in determining the various levels of counseling and treatment interventions.	3
AMH 303	Counseling Techniques I The basic elements of interpersonal communication such as attending, reflection of feeling, paraphrasing, summarizing, self-disclosure, and interpretation are emphasized. Various styles are also explored with regard to appropriateness of use with the various client populations.	3
AMH 305	Group Counseling I The dynamics of group interaction and the role of the group therapist are examined. Emphasis is placed on understanding the special demands on the group leader which are unique to group therapy with behavioral health clients.	3
AMH 310	Legal & Ethical Issues in Counseling This course will examine specific knowledge and skills of ethical, legal and professional issues in behavioral health counseling practice. Students will learn the ethical values that underlie professional ethical standards as well as ethical decision-making based upon these standards. Students will also learn the major applicable laws governing professional counselors. Issues of cultural competency, client’s rights and professional boundaries will also be addressed.	3
AMH 330	Crisis Intervention This course focuses on Crisis Theory, teaching the student how to more effectively identify and manage crisis situations; how to clearly and quickly recognize the behaviors which may precede certain crisis situations; and how to implement proven intervention techniques designed to deescalate volatile or potentially dangerous situations. An overview of voluntary and involuntary commitments will be presented, along with proven strategies for safely addressing these circumstances. Management of counselor stress and other legal and ethical issues will be discussed. Prerequisites: PSY 101, BH 201.	3

Field Experience (12 credits)

Course	Description	Credits
AMH 404	Practicum Field Experience The student will participate in fieldwork in a behavioral health agency setting, consistent with the student's desired area of practice. Practicum field placements will occur only at facilities that have a signed agreement in place with Alvernia University. Prior to beginning field placements students must obtain all necessary background clearances. The fieldwork practicum promotes the integration of classroom and experiential learning in the development of clinical skills, self-reflection, cultural competence, ethical decision making and professionalism. This practicum involves 100-hours of fieldwork, and may be taken alone or in conjunction with another 3-credit practicum course for total of 6 credits or 200 hours. Prerequisite: 24 credits in BH.	3
AMH 405	Practicum Field Experience The student will participate in fieldwork in a behavioral health agency setting, consistent with the student's desired area of practice. Practicum field placements will occur only at facilities that have a signed agreement in place with Alvernia University. Prior to beginning field placements students must obtain all necessary background clearances. The fieldwork practicum promotes the integration of classroom and experiential learning in the development of clinical skills, self-reflection, cultural competence, ethical decision making and professionalism. This practicum involves 100-hours of fieldwork, and may be taken alone or in conjunction with another 3-credit practicum course for total of 6 credits or 200 hours. Prerequisite: 24 credits in BH.	3
AMH 406	Practicum Field Experience The student will participate in fieldwork in a behavioral health agency setting, consistent with the student's desired area of practice. Practicum field placements will occur only at facilities that have a signed agreement in place with Alvernia University. Prior to beginning field placements students must obtain all necessary background clearances. The fieldwork practicum promotes the integration of classroom and experiential learning in the development of clinical skills, self-reflection, cultural competence, ethical decision making and professionalism. This practicum involves 100-hours of fieldwork, and may be taken alone or in conjunction with another 3-credit practicum course for total of 6 credits or 200 hours. Prerequisite: 24 credits in BH.	3
AMH 407	Final Practicum Field Experience The student will participate in this final fieldwork in a behavioral health agency setting, consistent with the student's desired area of practice. Practicum field placements will occur only at facilities that have a signed agreement in place with Alvernia University. Prior to beginning field placements students must obtain all necessary background clearances. This fieldwork practicum will serve as the capstone experience for behavioral health majors, integrating previously presented professional principles and practices with Alvernia's liberal arts and Franciscan traditions. Students will complete a capstone project culminating in a paper and/or presentation. This practicum also involves 100-hours of fieldwork, and may be taken alone or in conjunction with another 3-credit practicum course for total of 6 credits or 200 hours. Prerequisite: 24 credits in BH.	3

Related Requirements (9 credits)

Course	Description	Credits
PSY 101	Introduction to Psychology Introduction to major concepts and findings in psychology with emphasis on basic processes underlying human behavior. Prerequisite for all other psychology courses except PSY 306.	3
PSY 208	Human Development across the Life Span Focuses on physical, cognitive, social, personality and moral development through life span from conception to death. Cross cultural, gender and minority issues are integrated when appropriate. Prerequisite: PSY 101.	3
PSY 215	Multicultural Issues in Psychology Study of the universals of human behavior as well as the differences brought about by the specific needs, experiences and characteristics of diverse populations. The course examines communication, understanding and awareness among culturally different people. This course fulfills the human diversity graduation requirement. Prerequisite: PSY 101.	3

Major Electives (9 credits)

Three courses in behavioral health, criminal justice, psychology or social work. Six credits must be 300-400 level.

Addiction Studies Concentration (12 credits)

Course	Description	Credits
AMH 240	Addictive Behaviors The primary goal of this course will be to educate students to the biochemical aspects of the human brain and the influence of chemicals within the brain. Students will become familiar with the neurological implications of drug abuse and its effects on brain function. This course will also focus on the most commonly utilized medications in the treatment of depression, psychosis, mania, schizophrenia and other related psychiatric disorders. Prerequisite: 100 level human Biology; preferred BIO 109.	3
AMH 300	Case Management This course integrates case management theory and practice as it is applied to individuals, agencies, and communities. Students will learn about core case management components, and will gain valuable knowledge in the areas of assessing, planning, linking, monitoring, recording, and evaluating client care. Issues of diversity, community resources and the various arenas of case management will be explored. Actual case examples will be discussed and reviewed using a “best practices” model.	3
AMH 304	Counseling Techniques II Skills developed in Counseling Techniques I are built upon and applied to various behavioral health case studies. In addition, specific techniques such as relaxation training, assertiveness training and family intervention are introduced. Prerequisite: BH 303.	3
AMH 306	Group Counseling II Skills developed in Group Counseling I are expanded upon and further developed. Skills are applied in simulated group process. Participants co-lead simulated group sessions, review videotapes, critique and reflect on their performance and then revise performance. Prerequisite: BH 305.	3
AMH 315	Treatment Planning and Case Conceptualization This course will instruct students on how to conceptualize and understand the nature of clients’ concerns and problems from a number of major theoretical perspectives, incorporating various biopsychosocial domains including age, gender, race and ethnicity, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status. Students will learn to develop comprehensive treatment plans which containing therapeutic interventions and strategies that are most helpful to address the complexity of human experiences.	3
AMH 320	Neuropharmacology The primary goal of this course will be to educate students to the biochemical aspects of the human brain and the influence of chemicals within the brain. Students will become familiar with the neurological implications of drug abuse and its effects on brain function. This course will also focus on the most commonly utilized medications in the treatment of depression, psychosis, mania, schizophrenia and other related psychiatric disorders. Prerequisite: 100 level human Biology; preferred BIO 109.	3
AMH 400	Marriage and Family Counseling This course is designed to acquaint the student with the various theoretical schools of thought associated with family and family-systems counseling. The content will provide a review and practice of the basic techniques associated with family counseling. Students will be provided with various video examples of those techniques practiced by known experts in the field, and students will have an opportunity to practice the skills they are learning. Prerequisite: PSY 101, AMH 201.	3
AMH 402	Management of Human Service Agencies With a primary focus on the inner workings and structures of human service agencies, students will be afforded an opportunity to broaden their understanding of the administrative aspects of drug and alcohol, mental health, and child welfare services. Funding, federal and state regulations, licensing, credentialing, and the changing environment of managed care will be some of the primary issues addressed in this course.	3

Select one of the following:

Course	Description	Credits
AMH 411	Counseling Special Populations Issues relevant to working with members of special populations are examined. Impact of group membership on individual identity is explored. In addition, special populations such as the disabled, adolescents, elderly, women, sexual minorities, ethnic groups, and various professional groups (such as physicians, clergy and lawyers) are considered. This course fulfills the human diversity graduation requirement.	3
AMH 413	Special Issues Seminar This course will address current issues within the field of addictions and mental health treatment. Possible topics include: The role of gender and culture in therapeutic relationships, Bereavement, HIV, Adolescent Issues, Specialized Testing, the “Cultures” of Addiction and Recovery, Family Issues, Life Span Issues related to behavioral health and Program/outcomes assessment. These courses are offered to broaden the student’s experience, as well as assuring that advancements and changes have a mechanism to be addressed within the program structure. Course may be repeated for credit with different topics. Depending on the issue(s) identified, this course can be utilized as an elective for one, two, or all three areas of concentration.	3

Career Outcomes

After completing the addictions and mental health treatment online degree, you can pursue a variety of careers, including:

• Community health worker
• Health services manager
• Correctional treatment specialist
• Substance abuse counselor