# Addiction Studies AA (A.A. Degree)

Lake Tahoe Community College · 2026-2027 Catalog · Department: Addiction Studies

Source: https://ltcc.elumenapp.com/catalog/2026-2027/program/addiction-studies-aa-winter-2024

**Units:** 90 units

The Addiction Studies degree is designed to prepare students for entry-level employment in alcohol and drug treatment programs and to provide continuing education for health care and human services professionals. The curriculum provides a broad base of knowledge regarding approaches to drug education and prevention, treatment issues, counseling skills, ethical issues, and practical knowledge about drugs and their effects. Students will gain basic competencies in counseling, case management, record keeping, and treatment planning. The Addiction Studies program includes core courses in psychology, sociology, and counseling in order to provide students with a broad understanding of the roots of addiction. When combined with nine units of field experience, the Addiction Studies program meets the education requirements established by the California Consortium for Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP).

### Program Learning Outcomes

-   Correctly define and explain abuse, addiction and dependency as key concepts in the discipline.

-   Explain the interaction between genetic, biological, psychological, and environmental factors in the causes of substance misuse problems.

-   Describe the role of family dynamics in addiction and recovery and identify the characteristics of codependency within a family system.

-   Describe the legal and ethical issues of chemical dependency counseling.

-   Demonstrate effective counseling and group leadership skills.

-   Appreciate multiculturalism as it relates to the field of addiction counseling.

-   Apply principles of effective oral and written communication skills with clients, their families, and colleagues.

### Program Requirements

| Course | Title | Units |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Addiction Studies AA (Total 44)** | |  |
| **Complete all of the following** | |  |
| **B.1. Take all ten courses (40 units) (Total 40)** | |  |
| **Complete the following number of credits: 40** | |  |
| COU 109 | Introduction to Counseling | 4 |
| COU 120 | Introduction to Substance Use Disorders | 4 |
| COU 121 | The Physical, Chemical, and Behavioral Effects of Substance Use Disorders | 4 |
| COU 122 | Rehabilitation and Recovery from Substance Use Disorders | 4 |
| COU 123 | Substance Use Prevention | 4 |
| COU 124 | Group Leadership and Process | 4 |
| COU 125 | Impact of Substance Use on Families | 4 |
| COU 126 | Intervention and Referral Techniques | 4 |
| COU 127 | Co-occurring Disorders | 4 |
| COU 128 | Legal and Ethical Issues in Human Services for Counselors | 4 |
| **B.2. Select one course (Total 4)** | |  |
| **Complete the following number of credits: 4** | |  |
| PSY 101 | General Psychology | 4 |
| PSY 202 | Abnormal Psychology | 4 |
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 4 |