Addiction Studies
Look What You Can Do
A career as a professional addiction counselor offers a chance to have a valuable
impact on people's lives. Through using effective sets of skills and knowledge, addiction
counselors are able to meet the various needs of the individuals and families who
seek assistance. Counselors address complicated emotional, physical, mental and social
concerns that are a result of addiction. As one addiction counselor put it, "You're
dealing with patients (clients) who have the potential to get better and when they
do it's incredibly gratifying."
Addiction professionals work in chemical dependency residential/inpatient treatment
for youth and adult, community outpatient treatment agencies, methadone programs,
hospitals, therapeutic communities, detoxification centers, health maintenance organizations
(HMOs), state government, public and private social services agencies, psychiatric
and mental health programs, schools, criminal justice facilities for youth and adult,
employee assistance programs (EAP), and the military.
"The Addiction Studies program has been an invaluable investment into my future. It was engaging, challenging, and prepared me to excel as a student and clinician. Graduating from this program at COCC has opened vocational opportunities and provided me with a rewarding career path."
— Sarah W, COCC Addiction Studies graduate and Portland State University Masters in Social Work graduate
Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer (AAOT) with Focus in Human Services
Interested in moving up the treatment career ladder or supervising other drug and
alcohol counselors? What about preparing for your bachelor's or master's degree in
counseling? Then COCC's Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree with a focus in Human
Services is the degree for you. Designed so that students can easily transfer to an
Oregon public university to pursue a bachelor's degree, the AAOT in Human Services offers students a wide array of courses and an introduction to the counseling field.
Better yet, students have the opportunity to add an additional 1,000 hours of on-the-job
training, preparing them for the State of Oregon CADC, level II exam. Please see the
Human Services AAOT in the online catalog for program requirements.
Addiction Studies and Human Services Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
The Addiction Studies and Human Services AAS is designed for students who wish to
sit for the Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) II exam, but aren't pursuing
a specific bachelor's degree option. Please see the Addiction Studies and Human Services AAS in the online catalog for program requirements.
Addiction Studies and Human Services Two Year Certificate
The Two Year Certificate in Addiction Studies and Human Services provides the coursework
and 1,000 hours of supervised experience that are required to qualify to sit for the
Oregon Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) I exam. The certificate also provides
coursework in the addiction field to other human services and criminal justice workers
who help addicted persons and their families. Please see the Addiction Studies and Human Services Two Year Certificate in the online catalog for program requirements.
Career Pathways
The COCC Addiction Studies program is proud to offer a Career Pathway to help students
achieve their academic and career goals in related fields. View Career Pathway information.
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Department Contact
For more information, please contact Monica Vines.