Master of Addictive Behaviours

The Master of Addictive Behaviours is offered through Turning Point, Eastern Health Clinical School.

This course provides students with a comprehensive overview of addiction science, policy and practice. It is a multi-disciplinary, modular post-graduate degree that is delivered online but which retains a strongly interactive and dynamic focus.

Covering key contemporary issues such as problem drinking and gambling, and misuse of prescribed and illicit drugs, the course is delivered by a team of national and international experts from Monash University, Turning Point and other leading universities. This master's program is built on a strong conceptual and theoretical foundation and covers key topics in epidemiology, public health and policy, prevention and treatment and research methods.

The course is suitable for graduates in psychology, criminology, nursing, medicine and social work, and for professionals engaged in criminal justice, mental health, community health and public policy. It enables students to enhance their career development, improve their academic skills and gain a rewarding and satisfying educational experience.

All units in this course are delivered online. Contact with teaching staff is available via forum discussions, announcements, email and telephone.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 9, the Bologna Cycle 2 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 9, the Bologna Cycle 2 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

On completion of this course, graduates will be able to:

• critically analyse biopsychosocial models of addiction and current discourses around addictive behaviours
• identify and describe the historical, political, economic and social factors that influence addictive behaviours in Australia and Internationally
• evaluate the impact of addictive behaviours on individuals, families, communities and social systems
• examine addictive behaviours in relation to special population groups (dual diagnosis, indigenous, youth, older adult, GLBTI, transcultural)
• outline the process by which addiction health policies are formed and reformed
• recognise and compare the basic concepts and research methods used in the area of addiction studies
• evaluate evidence based models of interventions for various addictive behaviours.

In addition, students who complete the research stream will be able to:

• design, undertake and write up a research project (minor thesis) in the area of addiction studies.

Maximum credit available is 24 points.

Individuals who have relevant post-graduate experience (in alcohol and drug/addiction studies and in related fields) will be considered for credit for prior learning on a case by case basis.

This course consists of six 12 point units.

Students can complete either the coursework stream or the research stream. The streams develop specialist skills related to the student's field of interest/practice. Students who choose the research stream complete an agreed research project with appropriately qualified supervisors.

Students can complete either the coursework stream or the research stream.

Coursework stream

Students must complete:

(a.) four core units (48 points):

• ASC5001 Addiction science: A biopsychosocial overview
• ASC5002 Sociocultural perspectives of addiction
• ASC5003 Addiction policies, prevention and public health
• ASC5004 Addiction assessment and treatment: Practice and innovation

(b.) two electives (24 points) from the following units:

• ASC5007 Recovery principles
• ASC5008 Co-occuring disorders in mental health and addiction
• ASC5009 Developmental factors - children and families, youth and early interventions
• ASC5010 Gambling and other process addictions

Research stream

Students must complete:

(a.) three core units (36 points):

• ASC5001 Addiction science: a biopsychosocial overview
• ASC5002 Socialcultural perspectives of addiction
• ASC5003 Addiction policies, prevention and public health

(b.) three research units (36 points):

• MAP5001 Preparatory minor thesis
• MAP5002 Minor thesis
• SRH5003 Designing and conducting health research

The proposed research project will need to be discussed with and approved by a supervisor from within Turning Point, Eastern Health Clinical School before students can enrol in the units MAP5001 or MAP5002.