Undergraduate Course Descriptions
Note: Course titles may be different based on catalog year. Check with your advisor if you have questions about course offerings. For example, ADA 3300 changed from Addiction and Addiction Process to Foundations of Substance Use Disorders in fall 2025.
ADA 2250 Drug Use: Personal and Social Impact
This course is designed to increase understanding of substance abuse and addiction through the public health disease model with an emphasis on psychological, physiological and social consequences of use. An overview of prevention and treatment strategies are provided. This course satisfies WMU Essential Studies Level 2: Exploration and Discovery – Personal Wellness Category.
ADA 3300 Foundations of Substance Use Disorders
This foundational course will focus on models and theories related to substance use and co-occurring disorders. Students will learn about screening and assessment, diagnostic criteria, and evidence-based treatment approaches.
ADA 3360 Clinical Approaches to Substance Use Disorders
This course examines the various aspects of substance use disorder treatment processes and interventions. Students will learn about the development of an individualized treatment plan through the screening and intake processes that address an identified substance use disorder, as well as other issues related to the treatment process.
ADA 3370 Substance Abuse Treatment Strategies
Students will be introduced to a variety of helping strategies to use with substance abuse clients. This course will focus on treatment services, medical and pharmacological resources and crisis management.
ADA 3380 Addiction Assessment, Recovery, and Illness Management
Different philosophies, policies, and outcomes most generally accepted for the treatment, recovery, relapse prevention and continuing care of addiction are addressed in this course. There will also be a strong focus on how to include all resources within an individual's life system to help them with their addictions.
ADA 3410 Diversity and Substance Use Disorders
This course helps students explore diverse cultures and learn the relevant strengths and needs of various populations in an effort to understand culturally responsive addiction treatment. Students examine individual and systemic aspects related to substance use, addiction, and recovery, as well as their own worldview and perspectives on diversity and substance use disorders. This course meets the student learning outcomes in the WMU Essential Studies (WES) Level 2 – Exploration and Discovery, Societies and Cultures Course Category. This course also satisfies the Diversity and Inclusion student learning outcome.
ADA 4230 Ethics in Addiction Treatment
This course provides students with an overview of the ethical principles and professional standards that exist in the field of addiction treatment. Students will develop an understanding of the ethical issues that can arise in a clinical setting and examine case studies to explore potential ethical dilemmas. The topics of diversity, forensic and legal issues, trauma, harm reduction strategies, and co-occurring disorders are also discussed in relation to addiction and ethics.
ADA 5200 A Family Systems Approach to Addiction
This course allows students to learn how family systems impact substance use, treatment, and recovery. Students gain an understanding of family dynamics and how they influence a person’s continued use or a pathway toward recovery. This course includes information on enabling versus supportive behaviors, trauma, codependency, and traits that are often seen with adult children of individuals with substance use disorders.