Indiana University at South Bend issued the following news release:

A graduate certificate in Alcohol and drug counseling will be offered next fall at Indiana University South Bend. Applications are now being accepted by the program coordinator Jeremy Linton, assistant professor of counseling and human services in the School of Education.

The 15-credit certificate will train those who desire to become Alcohol and drug abuse counselors. The state of Indiana has a professional certification for substance abuse counselors, the Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (CADAC) designation. This program was designed to fill the gap in quality training for substance abuse counselors in Indiana and Michigan, provide students with relevant and up-to-date research based training and ultimately to provide substance abuse services to the community.

Applicants must have a four-year bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited institution and they must provide official transcripts. The preferred grade point average for the program is 3.0 or 3.25 GPA in the final 60 credits of that degree. Those who do not meet the GPA requirements must complete the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and score at least 450 on the verbal reasoning and at least 3.5 on the analytical writing section.

Applicants will be interview, provide a personal statement and three letters of recommendation.

Classes include introduction to Alcohol and drug counseling, screening and assessment of Alcohol and drug abuse problems, counseling approaches with addiction, legal and illegal drugs of abuse and a practicum in Alcohol and drug counseling. The practicum is a 220 hour field experience at an agency approved by the program faculty.

The certificate can be completed in one year, with two classes offered in both the fall and spring semesters. The field experience practicum will be scheduled for the summer. For information contact Linton at (574) 520-5466.

Contact: Kathy Borlik, 574/520-4345, [email protected]

Kathy Borlik, 574/520-4345, [email protected]