Addiction Studies, Certificate in (Graduate certificate) with a concentration in advanced international addiction studies

VCU, King’s College London and the University of Adelaide collaborate to offer a fully online Certificate in Addiction Studies available to students around the globe. No on-campus attendance is required, and students receive a degree from all three participating universities.

Program mission

The mission of the addiction studies certificate with a concentration in advanced international addiction studies is to offer students around the world an in-depth, evidence-based, multidimensional and cross-cultural understanding of both essential and advanced topics in the field of addiction studies, including biological, psychological and public health perspectives on the etiology and treatment of addiction and evidence-based addiction policy. This will be accomplished through distance-learning technologies.

Program goals

1. Knowledge of field of addiction science: Students in the program will develop an in-depth knowledge of the field of addiction science to enhance their ability to succeed in a variety of addiction-related settings.
2. Ability to synthesize and apply advanced addiction-related knowledge: Students of the program will be able to synthesize and apply advanced addiction-related knowledge, including comparative international perspectives and approaches, to address key issues related to the treatment or prevention of addiction.
3. Understanding and application of experimental results from addiction-related research: Students will develop the ability to interpret experimental approaches and results, and apply them to address key questions in addiction science and policy, as well as conceptualize the translation from research to policy, treatment or prevention.
4. Communication skills related to addiction: Students will develop skills in communicating both core knowledge of addiction as well as the interpretation of research findings in a variety of formats.

Student learning outcomes

1. Written communication skills: The candidate will use effective written communication skills to present information related to addiction causes, interventions, treatments and policies using appropriate vocabulary, figures, tables and citations.
2. Advanced knowledge of addiction science: The student will demonstrate an advanced level of knowledge of the current elements of addiction science.
3. Familiarity and understanding of research: Students will demonstrate an advanced level of fluency with the research literature, become familiar with research methods used in addiction science and demonstrate the ability to evaluate and critique publications.

VCU Graduate Bulletin, VCU Graduate School and general academic policies and regulations for all graduate students in all graduate programs

The VCU Graduate Bulletin website documents the official admission and academic rules and regulations that govern graduate education for all graduate programs at the university. These policies are established by the graduate faculty of the university through their elected representatives to the University Graduate Council.

It is the responsibility of all graduate students, both on- and off-campus, to be familiar with the VCU Graduate Bulletin as well as the Graduate School website and academic regulations in individual school and department publications and on program websites. However, in all cases, the official policies and procedures of the University Graduate Council, as published on the VCU Graduate Bulletin and Graduate School websites, take precedence over individual program policies and guidelines.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on academic regulations for graduate students.

Graduation requirements

As graduate students approach the end of their academic programs and the final semester of matriculation, they must make formal application to graduate. No degrees will be conferred until the application to graduate has been finalized.

Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following graduation requirements as published in the Graduate Bulletin for a complete list of instructions and a graduation checklist.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on graduation requirements.

Apply online today.

Admission requirements

In addition to meeting the minimum requirements for graduate study at VCU, successful applicants to the certificate program in addiction studies with an advanced international addiction studies concentration must:

1. Have qualified in a related discipline for an international honors degree (level 2A or 1) or a bachelor’s degree from a recognized tertiary institution in the U.S. (For students with a U.S. bachelor’s degree, a GPA of 3.0 or higher is strongly preferred. Applicants who have completed a bachelor’s degree but who do not meet these criteria may be considered if holistic review of the application demonstrates significant commitment to the field and potential for success in graduate study as evidenced by significant work or volunteer experience or successful completion of additional post-graduate coursework in a related area and strong academic or professional letters of reference.)
2. Submit two letters of recommendation from university instructors or professional references in the applicant’s intended field of study. (Letters should address the applicant’s academic and professional abilities and preparation for graduate study. Personal character references are not accepted.)
3. Submit a one-page letter of intent indicating reasons for their interest in the program and the educational and professional objectives they hope to achieve by pursuing their planned course in addiction studies
4. Submit a current curriculum vitae
5. Have a high level of proficiency in English demonstrated by completion of a university degree studied in English, or by successful completion of VCU’s English Language Program (minimum score of 70) or King’s Pre-sessional English Language courses (Pass, Band 7)

Students not meeting the level of proficiency criteria must take an English-language proficiency test. The following tests and associated scores are considered acceptable.  Please note that all test scores are valid for two years from the test date.

• International English Language Testing System (academic or online): 7.0 overall (Writing and Speaking 7.0)
• TOEFL iBT, TOEFL iBT home edition or TOEFL iBT paper edition: 100 overall (Writing minimum of 25)
• Pearson Test of English (academic): 75 for graduates (Writing and Speaking minimum of 70)
• Duolingo Test Score: minimum overall of 125

Students who are enrolled in the Certificate in Addiction Studies intermediate concentration and maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher may elect to change their program to the advanced concentration at any time during their enrollment with the permission of the program director. Students will be awarded only one certificate which will reflect their highest level of attainment.

Students completing either concentration in the addiction studies certificate program may petition the VCU program director to be admitted to the Master of Science in Addiction Studies program.  Final decisions on acceptance into the M.S. program will be made by the program committee, comprised of the program directors of the three participating universities. If accepted, students may have the courses completed during their certificate program count toward the M.S. as long as they meet all admission requirements of the Graduate School. Courses taken more than four years prior to enrollment in the M.S. program will not be considered current and must be repeated.

Degree requirements

In addition to the general VCU Graduate School graduation requirements, students are required to successfully complete 24 credit hours in the six required graduate courses.

Curriculum requirements

The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this certificate is 24.

Students who complete the requirements for this program will receive a Certificate in Addiction Studies.

Contact
Mary E. Loos, Ph.D.
Associate professor, Department of Psychology, and graduate program director
meloos@vcu.edu
(804) 828-8019

Program website: ipas.vcu.edu