Counseling and Addiction Recovery Sciences

 

Bachelor of Science in Counseling and Addiction Recovery Sciences

The in-person Counseling and Addiction Recovery Sciences (CARS) degree at Texas Tech University prepares you for a career in Human Services and serves as a strong foundation for graduate coursework in counseling, couple, marriage, and family therapy, addiction counseling, and other helping fields. You may choose to complete an optional concentration in Applied Relational Counseling or Addictive Disorders and Recovery Studies. Pre-professional health career options are also available.

As a national leader in the study of addiction and recovery as well as couple, marriage, and family therapy, Texas Tech University offers a well-rounded curriculum introducing counseling and human services skills that prepare students for graduate study or related careers.

Choose Your Own Path in Our Counseling and Addiction Recovery Sciences Undergraduate Degree

Texas Tech's Counseling and Addiction Recovery Sciences program offers two (optional) specialized concentrations:

• Applied Relational Counseling. This concentration provides a focused study of relationships for students interested in pursuing careers in Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, or other helping fields. Students may choose to complete a concentration in Applied Relational Counseling by completing CARS 3325, CARS 4314, and CARS 4331, then HDFS 2322 and HDFS 3324 as guided electives.  
• Addictive Disorders and Recovery Studies. The ADRS concentration was designed for students wishing to pursue a career in Addictions Counseling or Prevention. Courses focus on assessment and treatment of addictive disorders, understanding family dynamics of addiction, and eating disorders. Along with the completed major, this concentration provides the educational requirements to begin accruing supervised hours towards the Texas Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor designation. The concentration requires ADRS 3327, ADRS 3329, ADRS 4324, ADRS 4325, and ADRS 4329.

Choosing a concentration does not add hours or time to completing the degree plan, and are only available to CARS majors. All concentration courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher. 

Make a difference in the lives of others with a Counseling and Addiction Recovery Sciences degree.

Our counseling and addiction recovery sciences degree helps you develop practical skills to make a positive impact on other peoples' lives while building the foundation for a rewarding career or graduate study. You will develop a holistic perspective preparing you for the professional challenges involved in counseling, administration, advocacy, addiction and recovery, family therapy, and family studies.

You will learn in a progressive environment with groundbreaking service programs and research initiatives in fields such as social work, addiction counseling, family therapy, and human services. Students have the unique opportunity to participate in innovative undergraduate research studies.

Texas Tech's Counseling and Addiction Recovery Sciences bachelor's degree enables you to:

• Gain career experience. The program features an intensive 150-hour practicum allowing you to gain first-hand experience in a community agency. You'll have the opportunity to research and choose a practicum site that is unique to your interests and matches your career goals.
• Prepare for a career in counseling or an advanced degree.You will gain expertise in counseling and human services, professional communication and leadership, addictive disorders and addiction recovery, and the skills needed to work effectively with diverse populations. These areas of study further prepare Texas Tech graduates for careers in counseling, marriage and family therapy, clinical mental health counseling, social work, and the public health sector as well as for continued study in graduate school.
• Learn from faculty who are also practitioners. Texas Tech Community, Family, and Addiction Sciences faculty members are not only well-versed in academia, they are also well-trained, professional practitioners. Courses in the program are taught by faculty licensed in marriage and family therapy and psychology.
• Get involved in Texas Tech's pioneering programs. You will have opportunities for first-hand participation in student organizations and undergraduate research conferences that allow you to apply classroom knowledge to real-world problems. Our Collegiate Recovery Community is a nationwide model for the prevention of substance abuse on college campuses and students are encouraged to participate in undergraduate research projects.
• Build strong relationships with faculty and classmates. ·       Texas Tech fosters a supportive culture that promotes personal and career development. You will become part of a tight-knit community uniting faculty, graduate students, undergraduates, and professionals in counseling and addiction recovery sciences.

Gain a Broad, Interdisciplinary Perspective on Counseling, Addiction, Family Dynamics, and Human Development

The Counseling and Addiction Recovery Sciences program includes coursework from a wide variety of departments. You will gain comprehensive knowledge of human growth, behavior, addiction, organizational management and more, taking courses in subjects such as:

Career Opportunities and Graduate Study in Counseling and Addiction Recovery Sciences

The bachelor's degree in Counseling and Addiction Recovery Sciences prepares you for a successful experience in graduate school. Many CARS majors go on to complete graduate degrees in counseling, marriage and family therapy, or clinical mental health services. CARS majors have also successfully pursued graduate degrees in law, social work, public health, and public administration. 

Students who do not wish to pursue a graduate degree have successfully secured positions in: