MA in Drugs, Health and Society
Whether it is the opioid overdose crisis or the psychedelic boom, the need for expertise in drugs has never been greater. Yet drug expertise has often been divided between science and medicine, and society and politics.
The MA in Drugs, Health and Society is a unique multidisciplinary program that brings together experts from across the University to train students in all dimensions of drugs and addiction: scientific, therapeutic, social, and political. It prepares students for a wide range of careers, including addiction treatment, addiction research, or other drug-related scientific or medical disciplines, as well as drug policy or advocacy, and related fields such as journalism, human resources, or criminal justice where expertise on drugs and addiction is important.
The Learning Environment
Students take classes from a diversity of expert faculty in Social Sciences, Humanities, Medicine, Public Health, Nursing, Law, Social Work and Education. All students receive advanced training in both the science and the politics of drugs and addiction, and choose a specialty emphasis in one of two concentrations: Science and Health or Society and Politics.
Program Requirements and Curriculum
MA Coursework (27 credit hours)
Sciences and Health Sciences Core (18 credits)
- CHB 501 Study of Health Behavior
- CHB 529 Cannabis
- CHB 532 Harm Reduction from a Public Health Perspective
- Select one:
- NPM 553 Primary Care of Individuals and Families Experiencing Addictions
- NPM 569 Neurobiological Basis of Mental Health and Addictive Disorders
- PMY 516 Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology
- PSY 830 Psychology of Drug Addiction
- SW 560 Nature and Treatment of Drug and Alcohol Problems
Humanities and Social Sciences Core (6 credits)
- HIS 563 The Politics of Alcohol and Other Drugs in the US
- Select one:
- HIS 566 A History of Madness
- HIS 568 History of Women, Illness, & Health
- HIS 576 Introduction to Disability Studies
- HIS 577 Disability History I
- HIS 578 Disability History II
- SOC 526 Race Crime and Punishment
- SOC 529 Sociology of Punishment
- SOC 530 Crime and Public Policy
- SOC 541 Sociology of Health and Illness
- SOC 569 Social Inequities and Health
- APY 604 Culture and Disability
- HIS 552 Advanced Readings
Elective (3 credits)
- Select one:
- APY 604 Culture and Disability
- CEP 504 Introduction to Addiction and Substance Use
- CHB 502 Health Behavior Change
- CHB 525 Health Disparities
- CHB 533 Corporations and Public Health
- HIS 566 A History of Madness
- HIS 568 History of Women, Illness, & Health
- HIS 576 Introduction to Disability Studies
- HIS 577 Disability History I
- HIS 578 Disability History II
- NPM 553 Primary Care of Individuals and Families Experiencing Addictions
- NPM 569 Neurobiological Basis of Mental Health and Addictive Disorders
- PMY 516 Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology
- PSY 757 Psychoneurochemistry
- SOC 526 Race Crim and Punishment
- SOC 529 Sociology of Punishment
- SOC 530 Crime and Public Policy
- SOC 541 Sociology of Health and Illness
- SOC 562 Sociology of Law
- SOC 569 Social Inequities and Health
- SW 561 Dual Disorders
Culminating Experience
- APY 600 Master Project
- HIS 598 Project for MA students
- PMY 517 Project Guidance
- SOC 600 Project Guidance
- PSY 600 Graduate Work
Sciences and Health Sciences Core (12 credits)
- CHB 501 Study of Health Behavior
- CHB 532 Harm Reduction from a Public Health Perspective
- PSY 830 Psychology of Drug Addiction
- SW 560 Nature and Treatment of Drug and Alcohol Problems
Humanities and Social Sciences Core (12 credits)
- HIS 563 The Politics of Alcohol and Other Drugs in the US
- Select two:
- HIS 566 A History of Madness
- HIS 568 History of Women, Illness, & Health
- HIS 576 Introduction to Disability Studies
- HIS 577 Disability History I
- HIS 578 Disability History II
- SOC 541 Sociology of Health and Illness
- SOC 569 Social Inequities and Health
- APY 604 Culture and Disability
- HIS 552 Advanced Readings
- Select one:
- SOC 526 Race, Crime, & Punishment
- SOC 529 Sociology of Punishment
- SOC 530 Crime and Public Policy
- SOC 562 Sociology of Law
Elective (3 credits)
- Select one:
- APY 604 Culture and Disability
- CEP 504 Introduction to Addiction and Substance Use
- CHB 502 Health Behavior Change
- CHB 525 Health Disparities
- CHB 529 Cannabis: A Review of its Pharmacology, Mythology, and Implications for Public Health
- CHB 533 Corporations and Public Health
- HIS 566 History of Madness
- HIS 568 History of Women, Illness, & Health
- HIS 576 Introduction to Disability Studies
- HIS 577 Disability History I
- HIS 578 Disability History II
- NPM 553 Primary Care of Individuals and Families Experiencing Addictions
- NPM 569 Neurobiological Basis of Mental Health and Addictive Disorders
- PMY 516 Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology
- PSY 757 Psychoneurochemistry
- SOC 526 Race, Crime, & Punishment
- SOC 529 Sociology of Punishment
- SOC 530 Crime and Public Policy
- SOC 541 Sociology of Health and Illness
- SOC 562 Sociology of Law
- SOC 569 Social Inequities and Health
- SW 561 Dual Disorders
Culminating Experience (3 credits)
- APY 600 Master Project
- HIS 598 Project for MA students
- PMY 517 Project Guidance
- SOC 600 Project Guidance
- PSY 600 Graduate Work
Learning Goals and Competencies
By the completion of their studies in the proposed advanced certificate program in Drugs, Health, and Society, students are expected to demonstrate the following primary student learning outcomes:
- Knowledge of the sciences of drugs, drug use and addiction. Students will become familiar with, understand and be able to apply biomedical, psychological and public health knowledge about drug use and addiction.
- Knowledge of addiction treatment. Students will become familiar with, understand,and be able to apply the main modalities of addiction treatment.
- Critical thinking about drugs, health and society. Students will develop analytical skills needed to understand and communicate effectively about the social and political dimensions of drugs, drug policy, addiction and addiction treatment.
The Admissions Process
Each application is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Applications include a written statement of goals, academic transcripts, and two letters of recommendation (at least one must be an academic recommendation). Particular attention and consideration will be given to applicants with lived expertise, including those with experience as peer counselors, who when appropriate may be given exceptions from some admissions requirements.
Want to learn more? Complete this form for additional program information.
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