Want to make a difference? Substance abuse and behavioral disorders counselors, also referred to as addiction counselors, work with individuals, families and groups to assist people recovering from substance use disorders or other damaging behavioral disorders such as gambling. These counselors teach people coping skills while facilitating cognitive and behavioral changes that will help clients create the lives they desire.
Become a part of the behavioral health treatment community by earning your Associate of Arts in Substance Abuse Counseling at Mohave Community College. At the core of each course are the related Addiction Counseling Competencies established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Technical Assistance Publication (TAP) Series 21. Upon completion, students will be prepared for paraprofessional work in behavioral health at any place in the Behavioral Health Continuum of Care Model.
Job duties may focus on, but are not limited to: assessment and treatment of individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems involving the abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. Activities may include individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education. Places of employment include: behavioral health agencies, social service agencies, jails/prisons, prevention programs, residential treatment centers, transitional homes, or group homes.
The AA in Substance Abuse Counseling can also afford many options for employment in any field requiring knowledge of substance use, such as psychology, social work, criminal justice, public health, or any occupational field in which one works with people.
Coursework involves theory and application in assessment, diagnosing and treatment planning for substance use disorders throughout the continuum of care, psychopharmacology, ethics, co-occurring disorders, working with diverse individuals and groups, and service coordination.
Become job ready by learning nationally-recommended standards and how to apply them when working on a treatment team: engaging and retaining clients, assessing risk, and assigning levels of care. Be instrumental in helping others achieve recovery. The AA in SAC degree is one of MCC’s Competency-Based Education programs and the SAC courses are delivered in an online format. This format works well for full-time or part-time students, those wishing to accelerate through the program or those who prefer a traditional pace. Please note that only the SAC classes have the accelerated-pace option. The general education courses required for this degree following more traditional formats of on-ground, online, or hybrid course offerings. To ensure your success, students interested in this program must contact the SAC Academic Success Coach prior to registering. This initiates the working relationship emphasized in these Competency-Based courses, providing a new approach to education. These are not traditional online courses due to the nature of the Competency-Based education format and required interactions with the instructor. Students must be diligent in keeping up with assignments as courses must still be completed within the semester of enrollment. This is accomplished by the individualized guidance and support students receive as needed from the SAC instructor. Students in Competency-Based courses are graded on their mastery of specific competencies within each course. Once a competency is mastered with 80% or higher students move on to the next one. Successful completion of each SAC course will reflect an “A” or “B” on college transcripts.
All required General Education coursework (AGEC-A) must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher and a grade point average of 2.0 or above must be maintained for the duration of the SAC degree program.
For more information regarding the AA in Substance Abuse Counseling see the Substance Abuse Counseling webpage.
Important Program Notes:
- It is the responsibility of each student to check with the state’s regulatory body to assure this degree meets the state’s requirements for certification or licensure.
- Although SAC classes are offered in a self-paced format, SAC courses must be completed sequentially and within the semester of enrollment.
- Coordinate with the SAC instructor to accelerate your course completion.
Notes:
- For a course to be eligible for transfer, the student must receive a “C” or better. Acceptance of a transfer course is determined by the receiving institution.
- Competency Based Education operates under the MCC Student Handbook and the CBE Student Handbook 2022-23 .
