A new major

UTRGV’s brand-new bachelor of science in addiction studies will allow students to prepare to become licensed chemical dependency counselors in Texas.

“It is to meet the educational requirements for licensure as a [licensed] chemical dependency counselor,” said Eluterio Blanco Jr., a clinical instructor and coordinator of the Addiction Studies program. “We are hoping that this degree not only satisfies the educational requirements, but also prepares them to take and pass the [state] exam.”

The program will include two  new courses in Spring 2019: Current Issues in Addiction Studies (REHS 3380) and Principles of Addiction Counseling (REHS 4365). In Fall 2019, the courses also offered will be Special Populations in Addiction Studies (REHS 4320) and Addiction Counseling Skills (REHS 4370).

“With this new degree comes a development of at least four new courses that are specific to addiction counseling and addiction studies,” said Fidencio Mercado, associate director and undergraduate coordinator for the School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling.

Clinical placements will be offered at the end of the degree, and will provide students with opportunities such as clinical and work experience, and possible job placement, according to Mercado.

The program is seeking accreditation from the National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission (NASAC).

“We are not eligible to apply for [NASAC] until our program is actually between year two or three,” Blanco said.

The program is fully online and will facilitate students from other parts of Texas to enroll.

“We decided to kind of reach out to more students, and anybody who lives within the state who wants to … pursue this profession,” Blanco said. “We wanted to make it accessible for them so they can also enroll.”

UTRGV is the second university to offer this major. The other is the University of Houston-Clear Lake, whose program is called addictions counseling, which is similar, according to Blanco.

“This is only the second bachelor’s in addiction in Texas,” Blanco said. “The University of Houston-Clear Lake, they actually launched theirs … a year and a half ago, but theirs is only on campus.”

UTRGV’s program will be a standard four-year bachelor degree plan, and the only prerequisite is general psychology.

Students who are currently enrolled in the rehabilitation services bachelor’s degree with a concentration in addiction studies will have an easier transition into the addiction studies program, according to Blanco.

The minor in addiction studies will continue, and students in any major can pursue it. However, the concentration in addiction studies is no longer available.

“Beginning this semester, Fall 2018, that concentration will be phased out. … Students will have to choose either a degree in rehab services or a degree in addiction studies,” Mercado said.

Students already in the concentration will be allowed to complete the degree. New students will have to decide if they want to become an addiction studies major.

According to Blanco, the feedback from students and staff has been good with the new major.

 “I think there are a lot of people who are working in the field … who might already be [a licensed chemical dependency counselor],” said Lynn Fischer, a lecturer and Rehab Club adviser. “They might wanna take advantage of that to get a bachelor’s degree.”

Fischer said the program being online makes it available to more people who are interested in this career, without having to move from other parts of the state.

“There is a big need for addiction counselors,” Fischer said. “I think that … having that degree available is being responsive to what the needs are in our area and in the country.”

The School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling will host a town hall meeting, which will be open to students interested in pursuing the major. It will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Sept. 10 in Health Affairs West 1.402 on the Edinburg campus.