Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Concentration in Alcohol and Drug Counseling

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Psychology involves the scientific study of individual behavior and mental processes. The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology is a generalist program emphasizing the breadth of the field of psychology. Completion of this degree program provides education for students who wish to pursue graduate study in the subfields of psychology, e.g., counseling, child development, or educational psychology. Students are also prepared for entry-level occupations in human services including therapeutic, industrial, educational, or governmental positions. Unique aspects of the psychology degree program include a three-part capstone experience in which the student learns about the psychology profession, participates in community service to develop service learning skills, and produces an original project that explores an area of personal interest.

Student Learning Outcomes of Program

Develop a foundation of knowledge to support core studies in psychology, including basic knowledge of research methods and statistics.
Demonstrate a broad knowledge of the core areas of psychology following the Guidelines for the Psychology Major established by the American Psychological Association, which establishes best practices by four-year colleges and universities.
Demonstrate knowledge in specific areas of interest outside of the psychology core.

Students will explore the psychology profession through a capstone experience that integrates theory and practice, emphasizes service learning, and provides opportunities to evaluate future directions.

Concentration in Alcohol and Drug Counseling

The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with an Alcohol and Drug Counseling concentration will provide training in the special skills and techniques required in the profession of addiction counseling. Courses in the program will cover the 12 core functions (screening, intake, orientation, assessment, treatment planning, counseling, case management, crisis intervention, client education, referral, reports and record keeping, consultation) of addiction counseling. In addition to these core functions, courses will also provide training on confidentiality, ethics, and practice in the form of in-class case presentations, in-class demonstration of individual and group therapy techniques, and supervised practicum experiences with licensed community mental health providers. Courses may be taught during the evenings and/or Saturdays.

Practicum placements, work contracts, and work with a community mental health provider must have faculty approval. The concentration in Alcohol and Drug Counseling will take the place of a minor for students enrolled in the BA degree program in psychology. The goal of this program is to assist the student in acquiring necessary training and hours towards the required amount of practice experience needed for certification as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor in the state of Kentucky. Additional hours will be required beyond what is offered through the program and will be the student’s responsibility. For students who already have a bachelor’s degree, the program can serve as a standalone certification opportunity in preparation for certification as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor. During the last two semesters in this program, students will have to complete full-time practicum placements that will require approved supervision by licensed or certified mental health providers. Students earning this degree will complete all academic and curriculum requirements needed for certification as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor in the state of Kentucky. In addition, students in the concentration will be able to accumulate a portion of the required supervised, clinical hours needed for certification through supervised practicum opportunities.