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Chemical Dependency Studies Certificate

Full Time

This program roadmap represents one possible pathway to complete the program. Please see a counselor to create an education plan that is customized to meet your needs. This roadmap is not a guarantee of course availability or financial aid applicability.

Catalog:
2026-27
Total Units:
38

First Year

Semester 1

12 Units
CAT. COURSE UNIT Prerequisites
Req
SWCD 300
Introduction to Social Work
3
Req
SWCD 310
Ethical Issues and Client's Rights
3
RE
PSYC 305
Psychology Applied to Modern Life
3
Req
SWCD 340
Introduction to Chemical Dependency or
3
PSYC 400
Introduction to Chemical Dependency
3

Semester 2

13 Units
CAT. COURSE UNIT Prerequisites
Req
SWCD 341
Physiology and Pharmacology: Alcohol & Other Drugs or
3
SWCD 340 or PSYC 400
PSYC 401
Physiology and Pharmacology: Alcohol & Other Drugs
3
Req
SWCD 360
Techniques of Interviewing and Counseling
3
SWCD 300
Req
SWCD 330
Issues of Diverse Populations or
3
PSYC 365
Issues of Diverse Populations
3
Req
PSYC 340
Abnormal Behavior or
3
PSYC 481 H
Honors Abnormal Behavior
3
Req
HEED 310
Heartsaver First Aid, Adult and Pediatric CPR and AED
1

H honors courses

Second Year

Semester 3

11 Units
CAT. COURSE UNIT Prerequisites
Req
SWCD 342
Alcoholism: Intervention, Treatment & Recovery or
3
SWCD 341 or PSYC 401
PSYC 402
Alcoholism: Intervention, Treatment & Recovery
3
Req
SWCD 362 1
Practices in Social Work and Chemical Dependency
3
Req
SWCD 365
Techniques of Group Counseling
3
SWCD 360
Req
SWCD 498 1
Work Experience in Social Work and Chemical Dependency
2

1 Students must take SWCD 498 concurrently with SWCD 362 unless they are in the second semester of the Chemical Dependency internship.

Semester 4

2 Units
CAT. COURSE UNIT Prerequisites
Req
SWCD 498
Work Experience in Social Work and Chemical Dependency
2
Explanation of Categories
Req Required Core A course that is required for this program
RE Restricted Elective A course selected from a list of elective courses specified for this program in the course list in the catalog, which can be replaced with another course from the same list

Career path

Career Options:

Upon completion of this program, students possess the coursework required for initial certification as a California drug and alcohol counselor (CDAC).

Scheduling Notes:

  • The program is designed for students to take 2 units of SWCD 498 in one semester and 2 units in another semester, so all 12 counselor core functions are covered by the end of the second semester of SWCD 498.

Advising Notes:

  • SWCD 362 has SWCD 365 and 498 as corequisites.
  • SWCD 360 has SWCD 310 as a corequisite.
  • SWCD 310 has SWCD 300 as a corequisite.

Other Notes:

  • To enroll in SWCD 362, students must complete the ARC Human Services internship selection process, which includes an out-of-class orientation and application process.
  • The second semester internship (SWCD 498) involves approximately 24 hours of work experience plus three 50-minute sessions on campus.

Published June 10, 2026

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