COURSE CURRICULUM

The Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) department requires students pursuing the Addiction and Recovery major to complete both core and specialized coursework that builds a strong academic and practical foundation. As part of the university core, students must complete courses in biology, such as Principles of Biology I with a lab or an alternative non-majors biology course, along with Life Span Human Development and Introduction to Psychology, totaling 10 credit hours. These courses provide essential knowledge about human growth, behavior, and biological systems. The Addiction and Recovery major itself requires 48 credit hours and includes a comprehensive set of courses covering topics such as understanding addiction, child and adolescent development, psychopathology, human sexuality, addiction policy, prevention strategies, counseling foundations, treatment and recovery processes, family dynamics, and program evaluation. Students must also select electives from specific categories, including subjects like trauma and stress, chemical dependency, research or statistical methods, and social or criminal justice topics, allowing some flexibility based on career interests. A critical part of the program is the required field experience, HD 499 Internship in Addiction, which is worth 6 credit hours and provides hands-on training in professional settings where students can apply their knowledge. To enroll in the internship, students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 in both their major and overall coursework, although exceptions may be granted with special permission from the internship coordinator. In addition to these requirements, students must complete an ancillary course, HES 310 Professional and Multidisciplinary Collaboration, which adds 3 credit hours and focuses on developing teamwork and collaboration skills across different professional disciplines, further preparing students for careers in this field.