Addiction Studies

Introduction

The MA in Addiction Studies is a rigorous and formal exploration of addictions from a variety of academic and scientific perspectives: sociological, cultural, psychological, anthropological, and psychoanalytic. The programme is concerned with how these perspectives interact and how they differ from each other.



The aim is to educate students so that they can carry out research in the field of addiction and thereby critically inform policy making, as well as management of addiction services. The programme also provides clinicians with a strong theoretical foundation from where to approach the treatment of addictions.



This programme is designed for students with a background in Psychology, Psychoanalysis, Anthropology, Sociology, Social Science or a cognate discipline, who wish to acquire a postgraduate qualification in the area of Addiction. It is also very suitable for applicants with a clinical training in health or social care who wish to apply knowledge of the theory and approaches to addiction to their clinical work. In addition, the course provides an exciting and thought-provoking foundation for students who may wish to subsequently pursue training in the counselling or psychotherapy of addiction.



Key Features of the MA in Addiction Studies

• Suited to those with a Humanities/Social Science degree seeking to acquire a postgraduate qualification in the area of Addiction



• Also suitable for applicants with clinical training in health or social care who wish to apply a knowledge of the theory and approaches to addiction to their clinical work



• Graduates will be qualified for relevant position in academia, as well as in research for public and private bodies



• In addition, graduates can work at a strategic level in healthcare settings, in semi-state bodies and in government agencies shaping polices on addiction treatment both within institutions and in society as a whole.



Structure

The full-time day programme is one year in duration and contains three twelve week semesters. The course has four key components:



• An academic programme of lectures

• A weekly seminar with emphasis on research

• Clinical visits to addiction treatment centres

• A period of research for an extended thesis



The academic component and weekly integrative seminar provide a firm foundation in core addiction issues while the clinical visits provide students with direct experience of the nature of the problems posed by addiction. The concluding period of research provides students with the opportunity to collate their study and develop a thesis question in the field of addiction studies. The taught courses cover semesters 1 and 2 (October to May), and the clinical visits straddle semesters 2 and 3 (February to August). Independent research is pursued during semester 3 (May to August). There is also the availability of a January intake.



For part-time students, delivery of the programme is structured over two years and contains 5 twelve-week semesters and will require daytime attendance.

The Master of Arts (MA) in Addiction Studies programme has the following content:

Core Modules

• Dialogical Meanings in Addiction: Theory, Practice and Policy

• A Psychoanalytic Perspective on Addiction

• Research Methods and Analysis

• Addiction Psychopharmacology

• Cultural Issues in the Study of Addiction

• Women and Addiction

• Integrative Tutorial

• Supervised Clinical Visits

• Research Project

To be considered for admission, applicants must:

• Have a minimum Second Class Honours (2.2) Degree in any humanities or social science discipline from a recognised third level institution, or equivalent qualification Or



• Be a graduate of any non-cognate discipline and hold a qualification in a conversion style programme such as a Postgraduate Higher Diploma in Psychology or



• Have an equivalent professional qualification



• Have an IELTS score of a minimum 6.5 or equivalent, where full-time study has been conducted in a language other than English or applicants whose first language is not English.

We are now accepting applications for programmes taking place in 2025.

The MA in Addiction Studies is an academic programme informed by the clinical and academic experience of the lecturers. Assessment is approached creatively with a range of assessment strategies including essay writing, in-class presentation, graded group dissertation and examination. Instructions and guidelines for all assessment are clearly communicated to students.

Full-time: 12 months

Part-time: 2 years

Next Intake dates:

January 2025

September 2025

Career Opportunities

The MA in Addiction Studies qualifies graduates to pursue careers that involve the generation and use of information relating to the problems of addiction. Graduates will be ideally qualified for relevant positions in academia, as well as in research for public and private bodies. Importantly, graduates can work at a strategic level in healthcare settings, in semi-state bodies, and in government agencies, shaping policies on addiction treatment both within institutions and in society as a whole. The MA can also provide a theoretical basis for clinicians faced with the challenge of understanding the presentation of addictive behaviours in their clinical practice.