Substance Abuse Counselor (SAC) Training Program

at Wichita State University

We are pleased to offer the courses needed to become certified by the State of Kansas as a Substance Abuse Counselor. In order to be certified, the student must complete (a) 29 hours of specific , approved course work, as listed below; (b) an Associate of Arts degree, and (c) Earn a grade point average of 2.5 or higher in the specified, approved coursework.

WSU Requirements Contact Information about Entering WSU Contact Information to apply for state certification Contact Information for WSU SAC Curriculum

WSU SAC requirements
At WSU the requirements are as follows:

1. State-approved substance abuse counseling related courses:

COURSE NAME COURSE # HOURS
Addictions I (Alcohol Use and Abuse) PSY 336*

3

Introduction to Individual Counseling PSY 306*

3

Introduction to Group Counseling PSY 326*

3

Addiction Services Coordination PSY 118

3

Ethics/Confidentiality PSY 138

3

Pharmacology PA 128#

1

Medical High Risk Issues PA 158#

1

Special Populations and Multicultural Issues PSY 168

3

Family and Addictions CESP+ 517

3

Abnormal Psychology PSY 554*

3

Field Experience PSY 148**

3

* Psychology 111Q or the equivalent is a prerequisite for these courses.
# Physician Assistant Department, College of Health Professions.
+ Counseling, Educational, and School Psychology Department, College of Education - course number to be determined.
** Field Experience, which includes a field placement, should be taken after the other courses have been completed. Instructor permission to enroll is required.
2. General Education Requirements (see Undergraduate Catalog, or www.advising.wichita.edu/lasac/aadegree.html for details):
Basic skills: English 101 or 100; English 102; Comm. 111; Math 111 or an advanced math course that requires 111 or 112 as a prerequisite. These must be completed with grades of C or higher, within the first 48 credit hours of enrollment.
Fine Arts/Humanities: 12 hours - one fine arts, two humanities disciplines, and a second course in one discipline.
Social/Behavioral Sciences: 9 hours in two disciplines. Substance abuse courses in the Psychology department can count for 6 hours in one discipline.
Natural Sciences/Mathematics: 9 hours in two disciplines, with a 2nd course in one of the two disciplines.
Note: Students interested in earning a Bachelor's degree in a Liberal Arts and Sciences department should consider taking the following courses, which are required for the B.A. and will apply toward the Associate of Arts degree.
History 131, or History 132, or Political Science 121. (Humanities or Social Science)
One Biology course and one course in Geology, Chemistry, or Physics; one of the courses must have a laboratory experience. (Natural Science)
An English literature course or a foreign language literature course. (Humanities)
3. To complete the Associate of Arts degree courses must total a minimum of 65 credit hours, with at least 15 hours at WSU and 50 of the hours in Liberal Arts and Sciences departments. A minimum of 2.0 WSU and cumulative grade point average is required.
Contact Information about Entering WSU
WSU Admissions Office
Box 124
Wichita State University
Wichita, KS 67260-0124
Contact Information to apply for state certification
Amanda Schaffer
Kansas Association of Addiction Professionals
PO Box 1732
Topeka, KS 66601
(800) 880-2352 ext. 357
Contact Information for WSU SAC Curriculum
R. Lance Parker, Ph.D.
Psychology Department, Room 426
Wichita State University
Wichita, KS 67260-0034
(316) 978-3745



This site is maintained by THE PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT. This page last modified on Thursday, August 28, 2008 2:44:06 PM Central US Time. If you find errors please bring them to the attention of Veronica Hinkle (vdhinkle@wichita.edu).