Dr. Evelyn Harrell L.C.S.W., L.S.A.C.

Program Director

Park Campus

Multipurpose 222

(504) 286-5234

The Substance Abuse Counseling Program (SACP) is a two-degree program, the Bachelor of Science degree and the Associate of Arts degree. The Bachelor of Science degree is a four-year degree which prepares students for counseling clients with addictions. The Program is viewed as a trans-disciplinary and maintains integrity in its independence as a counseling program that specializes in the training and preparation of addiction counselors.

The Bachelor of Science degree program prepares students for professional careers and/or advanced academic study. In order to complete the BS program, majors must complete 39 credit hours in substance abuse in addition to general education credits.

The following are required Substance Abuse courses: 215, 230, 310, 321, 325, 418, 425(x2), 432, 494, and three SUBA electives. This cluster of courses gives students a strong foundation, and the opportunity to choose electives that will complement their specific career goals. In the senior year, students will be required to successfully complete a Senior Paper/project. Substance Abuse BS majors may minor in any discipline. However, they are encouraged to select minors in Criminal Justice, Psychology, or Sociology. The Substance Abuse Counseling Program is an Approved Institution of Higher Education Provider for the Addictive Disorders Regulatory Authority, (ADRA). All SUNO SACP classes can be applied toward certification by ADRA.

The Associate of Arts degree requires 60 credit hours. It is designed to meet the Louisiana State Board of Regents General Education Requirements, the Southern University at New Orleans and the Accreditation Standards of the Southern Regional Accreditation Boards. As is true with the Bachelor’s degree program, the academic program is designed to provide students with a thorough understanding of the knowledge, skills and attitudes (KSA’s) of Substance Abuse Counseling and related fields.  However, the target population is the paraprofessional. Students with this degree satisfy the education requirements for licensure with the state regulatory authority (ADRA) as a Registered Addictions Counselor.

GOAL
The goal of the Substance Abuse Counseling Program is to provide comprehensive, academic opportunities for students in a variety of practice arenas including those focused on prevention, treatment, and research.  The program equips students for professional careers and graduate studies.

Graduates are able to successfully complete courses that lead to certification in substance abuse counseling, gambling addiction counseling, and prevention specialist. To facilitate this, the Substance Abuse Counseling Program maintains its status as an Approved Institution of Higher Education for the Louisiana State Board of Certification for Substance Abuse Counselors.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Once a student is admitted to Southern University at New Orleans, several opportunities exist for students to declare substance abuse as their major. Students declare their major upon admission to the University as beginning freshman, returning, or transfer students. They also may inquire at the Program level after they begin their matriculation at the University. Students also may change their major from another program.

Regardless of the pathway, the process must be completed in the Registrar’s office in order for the student to be officially tracked as a substance abuse major. It is the student’s responsibility to complete this process.  As a student is admitted to the SACP by the Registrar, the student is linked to the College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Social Sciences . Once the student declares the intention of becoming a substance abuse major, the student is assigned an advisor from the SACP to assist the student’s matriculation through graduation. Students are expected to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0.