Academic Program Proposal

Date Proposal Activated	Institution and Proposal	Degree Awarded	Academic Program Name	Objection Deadline	MHEC Final Action	Final Decision Date
	Notre Dame of Maryland University Proposal	Post-Baccalaureate Certificate (P.B.C.)	Alcohol and Drug Counseling	9/15/2018	Recommended	10/5/2018
Alcohol and Drug Counseling Program Description
Notre Dame of Maryland University seeks to build on success of its undergraduate bachelor’s program in Psychology by offering a focused concentration resulting in a Post-Bachelor’s Certificate (P.B.C.) in Alcohol and Drug Counseling. This program is built with specific curricular requirements to provide preparation and education to students to sit for state certification, Certificate Associated Counselor – Alcohol and Drug (CAC-AD). The P.B.C. is also intended to respond to the Maryland state mandate and workforce growth/shortages for this profession. The program will include a dual modality format: both online and face-to face.  Coursework includes content in psychopathology, human development, group and family counseling, counseling theory and techniques, two levels of a practicum experience, and explores relevant topics in substance related and addictive disorders. <br> <br>To enter the program, students will have already been awarded a Bachelor’s degree in a human service field. To culminate certification, students are required to complete not less than 1 year (with a minimum of 2,000 hours) of a clinically supervised experience in alcohol and drug counseling approved by the Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists, and pass the International Certification Reciprocity Consortium (ICRC)/Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) Examination and the Maryland Law Test for Counselors. <br>