Course details
Key Features of the MA in Addiction Studies
- Suited to those with a Humanities/Social Science degree seeking to acquire a postgraduate qualification in the area of Addiction
- Also suitable for applicants with clinical training in health or social care who wish to apply a knowledge of the theory and approaches to addiction to their clinical work
- Graduates will be qualified for relevant position in academia, as well as in research for public and private bodies
- In addition, graduates can work at a strategic level in healthcare settings, in semi-state bodies and in government agencies shaping polices on addiction treatment both within institutions and in society as a whole.
The MA in Addiction Studies is a formal exploration of addictions from a variety of academic and scientific perspectives: sociological, cultural, psychological, anthropological, and psychoanalytic. The programme is concerned with how these perspectives interact and how they differ from each other. The aim is to educate students so that they can carry out research in the field of addiction and thereby critically inform policy making, as well as management of addiction services. The programme also provides clinicians with a strong theoretical foundation from where to approach the treatment of addictions.
This programme is designed for students with a background in Psychology, Psychoanalysis, Anthropology, Sociology, Social Science or a cognate discipline, who wish to acquire a postgraduate qualification in the area of Addiction. It is also very suitable for applicants with a clinical training in health or social care who wish to apply knowledge of the theory and approaches to addiction to their clinical work. In addition, the course provides an exciting and thought-provoking foundation for students who may wish to subsequently pursue training in the counselling or psychotherapy of addiction.
Entry Requirements
To be considered for admission applicants must:
- Hold a minimum Second Class Honours (2.2) Degree in any humanities or social science discipline from a recognised third level institution, or equivalent qualification or
- Be a graduate of any non-cognate discipline and hold a qualification in a conversion style programme such as a Postgraduate Higher Diploma in Psychoanalytic Studies or
- Have an equivalent professional qualification
- Have an IELTS score of a minimum 6.5 or equivalent, where full-time study has been conducted in a language other than English or applicants whose first language is not English.
Programme Content
The Master of Arts (MA) in Addiction Studies programme has the following content.
Semester 1
- Basic Concepts in Psychoanalysis
- Approaches to the Theory and Treatment of Addiction
- Research Methodology 1
- Transference Issues in Addiction Treatment
- Addiction Psychopharmacology
Semester 2
- Psychoanalysis & Addiction: Theory & Technique
- Cultural Issues in the Study of Addiction
- Social Policies and Social Context of Addiction
- Research Methodology 2
- Integrative Tutorials
- Supervised Clinical Visits 1
Semester 3
- Supervised Clinical Visits 2
- Research Project
Assessment Methods
The MA in Addiction Studies is an academic programme informed by the clinical and academic experience of the lecturers. Assessment is approached creatively with a range of assessment strategies including essay writing, in-class presentation, graded group dissertation and examination. Instructions and guidelines for all assessment are clearly communicated to students.
Updated on 08 November, 2015Course Location
About Dublin Business School
We_They specialises in the provision of career focused business and law education as well as the delivery of contemporary programmes in the areas of arts, media, social science, humanities and psychology. This is an exciting time for you as you lay the foundations for the rest of your life. At We_They we will do all that we can to help you to make the right choices for your future and a programme of study at We_They will give you the best possible start in your career. We have developed our courses in collaboration with industry and professional bodies, so that when you graduate, in addition to your academic qualifications, you will have the skills and knowledge to begin a successful career. Our ethos is to provide programmes which are highly focused and relevant to domestic and international students which employ innovative approaches to teaching and learning.
One of these innovations is We_They Advantage. We_They Advantage is an initiative which gives students the opportunity to engage in a development programme run parallel to their academic studies that prepares students for the workplace. It has long been recognised that the role of third level is not simply to impart knowledge but to contribute to maintaining a competitive and a ‘smart’ economy, and also to play a valuable part in the holistic development of the person. Part of this development relates to the fostering of ‘transferable’ or ‘generic’ skills in inpiduals. Examples of such skills are communication skills, planning, leadership, multi-tasking etc. – skills that are essential not just in learning or work situations, but in all areas of life. We_They Advantage assists We_They students in developing these important skills.
See all Dublin Business School courses