UNIVERSITY CERTIFICATE IN DRUG & ALCOHOL STUDIES - ONLINE

Sunday Times Scottish University of the Year 2009/2010, the University of Stirling (charity no SC 011159) teaches Scottish Addiction Studies which has offered a University Certificate in Drug & Alcohol Studies since 1995. Since 1997, the course has been offered as an entirely online qualification.
Applications are now being considered for the academic year 2010/2011.

There is no formal qualification requirement, but prospective students should satisfy tutors that they have the appropriate skills to study at this level (4th or Honours year of a standard 4 year Scottish undergraduate degree) and are prepared to devote the required study time, usually estimated at 10-12 hours per week.

Click here for full details of this online course on the University website.

Details include: a complete timetable, a downloadable version of the undergraduate handbook for the course, links to Student Registration for application packs, and links to SSA and AERC for study grants in
respect of addiction-related courses.  Brief details are set out below.

UNIVERSITY CERTIFICATE IN DRUG & ALCOHOL STUDIES
New course commences September 2010

The Course makes use of internet technologies (including: email, online discussion groups etc). Students will therefore undertake the Course from their own home or workplace. The total commitment is equivalent to 52 study days. The course is undertaken over one year and is offered in two modules:
Module 1 - Policy & Practice and Module 2 - Understanding & Evaluating Addiction Treatment. Prospective students should note that successful completion of Module 1 is a prerequisite for Module 2.

Each module is subject to formal assessment with a 2,000 word essay plus a 2,000 word literature review required for Module 1 and a 5,000 word extended essay required for Module 2. The Course is at undergraduate level. No formal qualifications are stipulated but students should have an appropriate qualification and/or relevant experience. Completion of the Course will result in the award of a University Certificate rated at 44 Credits - Level 10 in the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) .
 
COURSE CONTENT DETAILS

Module 1 (DAS901) - Policy and Practice
This module covers a number of areas or themes as outlined below.

Drugs & Society offers an introduction to addiction demonology: some of its recent history and an examination of its current icons. Drugs and Society includes a series of on-line study lectures, an enquiry site and discussion group. Each lecture is posted on the Internet on a weekly basis.

This section of the course aims to help students to examine the links between theories of addiction and agency practices; between drug use and fashion, music and the environment. Subjects covered include: drugs and their effects; theories of addiction; drugs and the family/gender issues/race issues; drugs and popular culture.

Drugs & Addiction - to understand current practice and legislation around drug and alcohol problems/use it is necessary to understand the history of drug use, drug legislation and medicine; both within the UK and worldwide. This will allow students to examine the current legislation in perspective.

This section of the course includes a series of online study lectures, an enquiry site and discussion group. Each lecture is posted on the Internet on a weekly basis. Subjects covered include: the British policy framework; the global context; the development of services (alcohol and drugs); abstinence and harm reduction; the legalisation debate; the role of prescribing etc.

Drugs & Health - for most of the 20th Century, drug and alcohol problems have been associated with mental health. Increasingly however, recent concerns have focussed on the associated physical problems. This section of the course will provide students with a working knowledge of the associated disorders and their treatment. This section of the course includes a series of online study lectures, an enquiry site and discussion group. Each lecture is posted on the Internet on a weekly basis. Subjects covered include: overdose aid; blood-borne disease & organ dysfunction; safer injecting; CSA/trauma; dual diagnosis, poverty, class & disease etc.

Module 2 (DAS903) - Understanding & Evaluating Addiction Treatment
This module covers a number of areas or themes as outlined below.

Critical Appraisal of Treatment Interventions - there is very little that hasn't been done to 'dope fiends' and 'alcoholics' in the name of human science. This section of the course examines the theoretical framework and effectiveness of the most orthodox of these intervention techniques. The section includes a series of on-line study lectures, an enquiry site and discussion group. Each lecture is posted on the Internet on a weekly basis.

Students will be able to examine some of the techniques and discuss their application in various settings. Subjects covered include: assessment; groupwork theory; individual interventions; education and prevention initiatives etc.

Understanding Organisations - with an ever-contracting public purse, there is increasing pressure on practitioners to provide firm evidence of the effectiveness of their services (or of the probable effectiveness of proposed services). This requires a working knowledge of service planning and evaluation. This section of the course includes a series of on-line study lectures, an enquiry site and discussion group. Each lecture is posted on the Internet on a weekly basis. Students will be given the opportunity to develop their skills and practical knowledge in this area. Subjects covered include: service planning, needs assessment, contracts and business planning, outcome measurement, operations management etc.

Individual Study Project - this section of the course comprises a 10-day individual study project, researching, analysing and evaluating a particular aspect of the drug and/or alcohol problem or of the work of a drug/alcohol agency or agencies The study project can, by agreement with the Course Director, commence at any time during the course but must be completed by the first week in May in any academic year. Online tutorial and enquiry services will be available as necessary. Students will learn how to plan, negotiate and complete a complex initiative as independent practitioners.

Technology

Course students will require access (either at home or at work) to a personal computer (PC) that can run Windows '95 or later, or a Macintosh computer running System 8.5 or later. Students will also require a modem with associated PPP software (the software that enables you to transfer information via a telephone connection) and an account with an Internet Service Provider. Advice and information on all aspects of the technology will be provided both before and during the Course. In addition, the Course Director will offer an optional half-day workshop on the use of the technology prior to the commencement of the course.

Teaching

The Course Director is Rowdy Yates, Senior Research Fellow (Addiction Studies). He has worked in the drugs field for almost 40 years and, prior to this appointment, was the Director and co-founder of the Lifeline Project; one of the longest established drug specialist services in the UK. He has published widely on addiction issues, has travelled and lectured in Africa, the USA, South America and Western Europe and in 1994 was awarded the Order of Member of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the prevention of drug misuse. He is the current president of EWODOR (the European Working Group on Drugs Oriented Research) and Vice-president (Teaching & research) of the European Federation of Therapeutic Communities (EFTC).

Applications

Applications forms can be obtained from Student Registration and should be completed and returned to that office on or before 14th August 2010.

However, prospective applicants should know that places are extremely limited and early applications are advisable. Course fees for the academic year 2010-2011 have been set at £450.00 per module (ie £900.00 for the whole course).

IMPORTANT: SCHOLARSHIP & BURSARY SCHEMES

Please note that both the Society for the Study of Addiction and the Alcohol Education & Research Council run small grants schemes for students undertaking addiction-related courses of study.

Rowdy Yates
Senior Research Fellow
Scottish Addiction Studies
Dept. of Applied Social Science
University of Stirling
Scotland

T: +44 (0) 1786-467737
F: +44 (0) 1786-466299
www.dass.stir.ac.uk/sections/showsection.php?id=4  (home)
www.drugslibrary.stir.ac.uk/ (online library)

Comments

[Frugal Dougal]

I'd love to do this course, but I can't give the time commitment, which makes the other considerations academic. A shame.

[Bobby]

This is good news for addicts. The more drug and alcohol studies the better. Online courses are convenient and many good people who would not normally have the opportunity to study about drug and alcohol abuse are now able to. Drug and alcohol studies are evolving fields and I am glad to hear that the online studies program is embracing them.

[Tim King]

I am interested as I have been in recovery for over 33 years. I am of Scottish descendant living in the United States. I have spent much time working with both addicts and mostly alcoholics and though both parallel they are much more differant than most people think or know. Most folks also do not know that it has nothing really to do with will power either. Many are born with it and some become very prospersous and think they can buy a cure. Some stop for many years for certain reasons and will full themselves they are cured only to die a miserable death for they never learned life tools.
Yes I would be interested from this side of the pond if you will.