Understanding Substance Abuse
In this subject, students will explore a spectrum of substance use disorders and the compounds commonly misused. Topics include: anabolic steroids, inhalants, infectious diseases associated with substance misuse, and the medical marijuana debate. Students will also learn about synthetic drugs; preferred language in referring to those who struggle with substance use disorders as well as substance use and misuse in older adults.
Abnormal Psychology
In this subject, students will learn the interactions of various forces that contribute to psychopathology. Balancing biological, psychological, social, and cultural approaches, this subject takes an integrative approach with a modern, and scientifically valid method for studying abnormal psychology.
Understanding Concurrent Disorders
In this subject, students will be provided with an overview of concurrent disorders, and be introduced to treatments options about substance use and mental health problems and how they interact. Students will also learn about the impact on families and social supports and explore treatment and support for people affected by concurrent disorders.
Sociology of Healthcare
In this subject, students will learn the three main areas in the field: the social patterning of health and illness, the social construction of health and illness, and the social organization of health care. Students will be introduced to structural functionalism, conflict theory and symbolic interactionism, and recent theories such as Foucaultian theory, postmodernism, Bourdiesian theory and sociology of the body.
Cognitive Development and Mental Health Across the Lifespan
In this subject, students will learn the framework of physical, cognitive, social and emotional development across the lifespan including: birth and infancy, early and middle childhood, adolescence and early adulthood and middle and late adulthood.
Case Management
In this subject, students will learn a step-by-step guide through the case management process, from intake and assessment to referrals and termination. Students will also explore current practice trends and considerations, current legal issues, and ethics and ethical issues. Students will also focus on the importance of maintaining accurate client information and collaborating with other service providers.
Medications (Pharmacology)
In this subject students will learn the principles of pharmacology and calculations in a simplified step-by-step process. Students will also learn medication preparation, supplies, and specific information on each route of administration by following administration checklists allow the learner to put the knowledge into practice. Students will also learn how to organize drugs by classifications including their purpose, side effects, cautions, interactions, and contraindications.
Family and Social Support
In this subject, students will learn how counselors work with families where a family member has an addiction or mental health issue. Students will explore several different family structure models and theories, and how counselors can use them with their clients. The main focus of the process will focus on working with families must be how the client and families can make systemic changes within their family structure.
Trauma-Specific Care
In this subject, students will be provided with an overview of trauma response and treatment. Students will explore the assessment and treatment of various forms of posttraumatic distress disorder and interventions that stress a nonpatholgizing, growth-oriented and hopeful view of recovery from trauma.
Issues and Ethics in Healthcare and Self Care Practices
In this subject, students will learn the basis for discovering their own guidelines for helping within the broad limits of professional codes of ethics and divergent theoretical positions. Students will develop their critical thinking skills when dealing with ethics issues and focus on self-care strategies.
Community Development and Outreach
In this subject, students will explore the issues facing Canadian social work, human services and community health professionals towards influencing community change. Students will learn to identify the issues related to change and discover how they can become effective agents of promoting community change; and how local actions bringing clients, families, and other community members into an active role in building a healthier community for themselves, their families, and their neighbours.
Virtual Project
In this subject, students are provided with an experiential opportunity to practice emerging skills, knowledge, and attitudes required to be an effective helping professional in a professional mental health setting. Students complete a comprehensive virtual project, simulating the real-world experience of working with a client through multiple steps in the case management process.