Addiction Studies

M.A. in Addiction Studies

This Master’s programme in Addiction Studies is designed for graduates in health and human sciences as well as disciplines such as nursing, social care, social work, psychology and programmes in the cognate area.



This programme will provide students with theoretical and practical opportunities for working in addiction counselling within various contexts in the statutory, community and voluntary sectors. The programme has been designed to facilitate students who wish to become professionally accredited by Addiction Counsellors Ireland to meet their pre-accreditation criteria.



Students will develop the knowledge and skills to become flexible through a positive openness to change. Each student will develop the ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate professional actions and activities from planning through implementation and evaluative stages.



Equally, the programme is designed to accommodate the educational needs of learners who wish to enhance their skills and apply them within addiction services (including health promotion/preventative services, treatment settings and policy development and implementation contexts).



Who is this course for?

This programme is designed for those who wish to access evidence-based interventions and create opportunities for high-quality treatment experiences for those who need them. Modules within the course are designed to build personal capacity, collaborative problem-solving skills, and understanding of the systems and context where clients and their families may be best supported.



As part of this M.A. programme, learners study the fundamental theories of addiction counselling, psychotherapeutic skills & competencies in Addiction Counselling, community reinforcement approaches, family aspects in addiction, comorbidity and trauma informed care. In addition, learners study evidence-based practice and research methods and design, complete a dissertation and may engage in clinically supervised practice with clients.



How can I complete this Course?

The Programme can be completed on a Full time basis over one year ( 3 Semesters) or on a Part-time basis over two years (6 semesters).



The programme uses a blended learning approach. In that regard, learners are required to engage in classroom-based learning, both traditional face-to-face contact and synchronous (live) delivery through the VIRI classroom, in addition to directed web-based e-learning. Learners have to engage in work-based learning and independent research and will receive tutorial support for these modules.



These weekly lectures will be delivered primarily through synchronous classroom-based learning and the VIRI classroom, which will be normally timetabled on one evening per week and Saturdays across the Academic Year with Practice Support and Academic supervision extending into the Summer Semester.



This programme will facilitate graduates of programmes to access professional accreditation, where the programme is taken over 2 years

(Part-Time) and where the Knowing Self (5 ECTS) and Professional Placements (10 ECTS) are taken. However, students who specifically want to work towards professional accreditation will be directed to the MA in Addiction Counselling as a more appropriate Award for their specific needs in that case.



Structure of Course:

The Programme is divided into 11 modules each of which has Educational Credits (ECTS) associated with them (please see a list of the individual module titles and the associated credits below). Each Module may also be taken on a standalone basis. It is also important to note that learners who complete 60 ECTS and who wish to exit the programme without completing their Dissertation may be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Addiction Studies.



Learners on the MA in Addiction Studies are required to complete 90 ECTS (as outlined above) over one academic year (Full Time) or two academic years (Part Time) and are required to take two elective module from the list above, one 5 ECTS module and one 10 ETCS module. For more details on module aims can be found here.



The programme has been designed to enable learners to demonstrate their academic and reflective learning in appropriate ways. Each module requires completion of an assessment type which will normally consist of 1 or 2 components. The assessment strategy accommodates different learning styles and therefore the programme assesses learners using a range of practical assignments, including; essays, learning journals, examinations, reflective exercises, and projects.



The completion of a research-based dissertation is a central part of the Masters programme and each student is supported by an academic supervisor for the entire period of their dissertation.

The course covers a range of subjects that are structured to develop competent professional practitioners. The subjects covered are designed to be both practical and theoretical as per the table below:



Modules

• Understanding Addiction 5 ECTS

• Skills & Competencies in Addiction Counselling 5 ECTS

• Contemporary Evidence Based Interventions in Addiction Recovery 10 ECTS

• Research Methodologies & Design 10 ECTS

• Community Reinforcement Approach & Family aspects in Addiction 10 ECTS

• Comorbidity & Trauma Informed Care 5 ECTS

• Elective 1- 5 ECTS

• Elective 2- 10 ECTS

• Dissertation 30 ECTS



Elective 1 (students must choose one of the following)

• The Recovery Model in Addiction

• Knowing Self



Elective 2 (students must choose one of the following)

• Professional Placement

• Behavioural & Process Addictions

• Substance Use Disorders & The Recovery Model

• Gambling Addiction & The Recovery Model

• Neuropharmacological Aspects of Substance Use Disorders

Entry Requirements & Selection Criteria

• A minimum of a Second Class Honours (2:2) award in a relevant Human Science Degree at Level 8 on the NFQ – or equivalent.

• Those who have completed other relevant education programmes or have relevant professional experience etc., where Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) and Acquired Prior Learning (APL) can be applied, may apply for admission to the programme by submission of programme content, qualification and assignments

equivalent to an appropriate Second Class Honours (2:2) award at Level 8.

• The minimum English language proficiency requirement for this programme is B2+ in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages which is equivalent to an IELTS score of 6.5.

• All applicants will be required to attend for interview to ascertain their suitability for the Programme.

• Garda Vetting is a requirement for all successful applicants.

1 Year Full-Time / 2 Years Part-Time



Available at our Dublin and Limerick Campuses

Start Date: September 2024

Where Can I progress to on completion of the course?

On successful completion of the MA in Addiction Studies, students will be qualified to access Level 10 Programmes on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).



Careers

The Masters in Addiction Studies will enhance employability and career progression/opportunities in statutory, community and voluntary sectors and Addiction Service environments. It will enable learners to critically evaluate institutionalised practices and values, and act as agents for challenge and change in their professional contexts.



The programme will address the needs of practitioners and graduates who wish to develop their professional competence in areas of addiction recovery principles and practice through advanced study, and develop personal and professional capacity and collaborative problem solving skills, underpinned by evidence-based practice and reflection. The programme will also develop leaders in professional practice who are capable of engaging with and initiating necessary professional discourse at policy levels.



This programme will facilitate graduates of programmes in cognate areas who wish to study towards and meet professional addiction counselling accreditation requirements where the programme is taken over 2 years (Part-Time) and where the Knowing Self (5 ECTS) and Professional Placements (10 ECTS) are taken. However, students who specifically want to work towards professional accreditation will be directed to the MA in Addiction Counselling as a more appropriate Award for their specific needs in that case.