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Addiction Studies Major, Bachelor of Arts (BA)

The Bachelor of Arts in Addiction Studies program offers an excellent opportunity for graduates to make a significant impact on the lives of people suffering with substance use disorders.  This degree provides students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills for working in addiction treatment agencies offering support for persons with substance use disorders.

The main focus of the Addiction Studies Bachelor of Arts degree is to provide students the educational requirements needed to prepare them for Washington State Certification as Substance Use Disorder Professionals (SUDP) through the Department of Health. 

Additional Requirements
  • An optional practicum is offered for those students who are interested in working in the substance use disorder treatment field. 
  • 2,000 hours in a state approved treatment agency.
  • Students who complete all state required courses for certification are eligible to take the NAADAC Exam before completing the final state hours requirements needed for certification.

Certification/licensing requirements differ from state to state please check with your local certification/licensing board to confirm this is the right program for you.  Contact Addiction Studies for more information. 

Addiction Studies (ADST) is an approved education provider with NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals.

Note: two years of a single high school world language or one year of a single college-level world language is required.

Note: one course in human development or lifespan development is required for students seeking certification as Substance Use Disorder Professionals.

Required Courses
ADST 300SURVEY OF ALCOHOL/DRUG PROBLEMS4
ADST 302COUNSELING THEORIES FOR THE ADDICTION PROFESSIONAL4
ADST 303HIV/AIDS AND ADDICTION TREATMENT2
ADST 308CULTURAL ISSUES IN ADDICTION TREATMENT AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH4
ADST 410COMMUNITY PREVENTION METHODS4
ADST 412PHYSIOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY OF ADDICTIONS4
ADST 420ALCOHOL/DRUG CASE MANAGEMENT4
ADST 430ADDICTION TREATMENT WITH FAMILIES4
ADST 440ALCOHOL/DRUG GROUP COUNSELING3
ADST 442SCREENING, ASSESSMENT, AND MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATION FOR CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS4
ADST 444TREATING CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS4
ADST 448MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT2
ADST 454TRAUMA INFORMED CARE IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH4
ADST 460CONFIDENTIALITY, LAW AND ETHICS FOR THE ADDICTION PROFESSIONAL4
ADST 462ADOLESCENT ADDICTION ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT4
ADST 464RELAPSE PREVENTION2
Required Senior Capstone
ADST 490ADST SENIOR CAPSTONE4
Optional Practicum Placement–available for students not currently working in a substance use disorder treatment agency.
ADDICTION STUDIES PRACTICUM SEMINAR
ADDICTION STUDIES PRACTICUM I
ADDICTION STUDIES PRACTICUM II
Total Credits61

Plan of Study

The following plan of study is for a student with zero credits. Individual students may have different factors such as: credit through transfer work, Advanced Placement, Running Start, or any other type of college-level coursework that requires an individual plan.

Courses could be offered in different terms, checking the academic schedule is paramount in keeping an individual plan current. Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.

All Undergraduate students are required to meet the Undergraduate Degree Requirements.

This major requires the completion of the World Language requirement. Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree must complete two years of a single language in high school or one year of a single language in college.

First Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
ENGL 1015ENGL 2015Humanities & Arts BACR 215
Humanities & Arts BACR 115MATH 1075Social Science BACR 215
Natural Science BACR 115Social Science BACR 115Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5
 15 15 15
Second Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
Natural Science BACR 215Global Studies - graduation requirement15Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5
Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5
Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5
 15 15 15
Third Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
ADST 3004ADST 4124ADST 3024
ADST 3032ADST 4482ADST 4104
ADST 308 (Diversity - graduation requirement)4Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5
ADST 4304Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5
 14 16 18
Fourth Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
ADST 35022ADST 38522ADST 4444
ADST 4204ADST 4424ADST 4642
ADST 4403ADST 4604ADST 48522
ADST 4544ADST 4624ADST 490 (Senior Capstone - graduation requirement)4
  Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective3
 13 14 15
Total Credits 180
1

University Graduation Requirements (UGR) and Breadth Area Course Requirements (BACR) courses may be less than 5 credits and additional credits may be required to reach the required 180 total credits needed to graduate.  Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.

2

Optional Practicum Placement–available for students not currently working in a substance use disorder treatment agency.

University Competencies and Proficiencies

English 
Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning
Placement and Clearance 
Prior Learning/Sources of Credit AP, CLEP, IB


General Education Requirements (GER)
  • Minimum Credits—180 cumulative credit hours 
    • 60 upper-division credits (300 level or above)
    • 45 credits in residence (attendance) at Eastern, with at least 15 upper-division credits in major in residence at Eastern
  • Minimum Cumulative GPA ≥2.0

Breadth Area Core Requirements (BACR)

Humanities and Arts 
Natural Sciences 
Social Sciences


University Graduation Requirements (UGR)

Diversity Course List
World Language (for Bachelor of Arts)
Global Studies Course List
Minor or Certificate
Senior Capstone Course List


Application for Graduation (use EagleNET) must be made at least two terms in advance of the term you expect to graduate (undergraduate and post-baccalaureate).

Use the Catalog Archives to determine two important catalog years.
Requirements in Degree Works are based on these two catalog years:

  1. The catalog in effect at the student's first term of current matriculation is used to determine BACR (Breadth Area Credit Requirements) and UGR (Undergraduate Graduation Requirements).
  2. The catalog in effect at the time the student declares a major or minor is used to determine the program requirements.

Students who earn a BA in Addiction Studies from EWU should be able to:
  • apply intervention and recovery knowledge and methods to practice;
  • demonstrate basic knowledge about substance use disorders;
  • demonstrate competence around issues related to self-awareness, diversity, ethics, and continuing education;
  • demonstrate familiarity with behavior change and recovery models.