Dec 05, 2025

2025-2026 Graduate Catalog

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2025-2026 Graduate Catalog

Drugs, Health, and Society MA

The Drugs, Health, and Society M.A. is a multidisciplinary program that will educate students in all aspects of addiction, including scientific, health, social, and political. It will have two overlapping concentrations. The Science and Health Concentration prepares students for careers in addiction treatment or addiction research. The Society and Politics Concentration prepares students to join a national drug policy workforce through a range of careers in the public sector as well as in fields such as journalism, human resources, or criminal justice.

Program Requirements

This inter-disciplinary program requires 27 credits of coursework and 3 credits of MA project supervision for a total of 30 graduate credits, taken across 3 or 4 semesters. This program offers specific requirements based on the concentration chosen - Science and Health or Society and Politics, as detailed below.

Science and Health Concentration

Sciences and Health Sciences Core (18 credits)

3 courses in Public Health
CHB 501LEC - Study of Health Behavior Credits: 3
CHB 529SEM - Cannabis: A Review of its Pharmacology, Mythology, and Implications for Public Health Credits: 3
CHB 532LEC - Harm Reduction Credits: 3
1 course in Nursing OR Pharmacology & Toxicology
NPM 553LEC - Primary Care of Individuals and Families Experiencing Addictions Credits: 3
NPM 569LEC - Neurobiological Basis of Mental Health and Addictive Disorders Credits: 3
PHM 516LLB - Self-Care Therapeutics Credits: 2
1 course in Psychology
PSY 830SEM - Psychology of Drug Addiction: Theory, Assessment, and Treatment Credits: 3
1 course in Social Work
SW 560LEC - Natur/Treat-Alc/Drug Prob Credits: 3

Humanities and Social Sciences Core (6 credits)

1 course in History
HIS 563SEM - The Politics of Drugs in the United States Credits: 3
1 course in History OR Sociology OR Anthropology
APY 604SEM - Culture and Disability Credits: 3
HIS 552TUT - Advanced Reading Credits: 1 - 6
HIS 566SEM - A History of Madness Credits: 3
HIS 568SEM - History of Women, Illness, and Health Credits: 3
HIS 576SEM - Introduction to Disability Studies Credits: 3
HIS 577SEM - Disability History I: An Introduction to Disability History Credits: 3
HIS 578SEM - Disability History II: Special Topics in Disability History Credits: 3
SOC 526SEM - Race, Crime and Punishment Credits: 3
SOC 529SEM - Sociology of Punishment Credits: 3
SOC 530SEM - Crime and Public Policy Credits: 3
SOC 541SEM - Soc of Health & Illness Credits: 3
SOC 562SEM - Sociology of Law Credits: 3
SOC 569SEM - Social Inequalities & Health Credits: 3

Electives (3 credits)

Select from the following or any not taken above:

CEP 504LEC - Introduction to Addiction and Substance Abuse Credits: 3
CHB 502LEC - Health Behavior Change Credits: 3
CHB 525LEC - Health Disparities Credits: 3
CHB 533LEC - Commercial Determinants of Hea Credits: 3
PMY 516LEC - Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Credits: 3
PSY 757LEC - Psychoneurochemistry Credits: 3
SW 561LEC - Dual Disorders Credits: 3

Society and Politics Concentration

Sciences and Health Sciences Core (12 credits)

2 courses in Public Health
CHB 501LEC - Study of Health Behavior Credits: 3
CHB 532LEC - Harm Reduction Credits: 3
1 course in Psychology
PSY 830SEM - Psychology of Drug Addiction: Theory, Assessment, and Treatment Credits: 3
1 course in Social Work
SW 560LEC - Natur/Treat-Alc/Drug Prob Credits: 3

Humanities and Social Sciences Core (12 credits)

1 course in History
HIS 563SEM - The Politics of Drugs in the United States Credits: 3
2 courses in Disability/Culture
APY 604SEM - Culture and Disability Credits: 3
HIS 552TUT - Advanced Reading Credits: 1 - 6
HIS 566SEM - A History of Madness Credits: 3
HIS 568SEM - History of Women, Illness, and Health Credits: 3
HIS 576SEM - Introduction to Disability Studies Credits: 3
HIS 577SEM - Disability History I: An Introduction to Disability History Credits: 3
HIS 578SEM - Disability History II: Special Topics in Disability History Credits: 3
SOC 541SEM - Soc of Health & Illness Credits: 3
SOC 569SEM - Social Inequalities & Health Credits: 3
1 course in Crime/Law
SOC 526SEM - Race, Crime and Punishment Credits: 3
SOC 529SEM - Sociology of Punishment Credits: 3
SOC 530SEM - Crime and Public Policy Credits: 3
SOC 562SEM - Sociology of Law Credits: 3

Electives (3 credits)

Select from the following or any not taken above:

CEP 504LEC - Introduction to Addiction and Substance Abuse Credits: 3
CHB 502LEC - Health Behavior Change Credits: 3
CHB 525LEC - Health Disparities Credits: 3
CHB 528LEC - Tobacco Control Credits: 3
CHB 529SEM - Cannabis: A Review of its Pharmacology, Mythology, and Implications for Public Health Credits: 3
NPM 553LEC - Primary Care of Individuals and Families Experiencing Addictions Credits: 3
NPM 569LEC - Neurobiological Basis of Mental Health and Addictive Disorders Credits: 3
PMY 516LEC - Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Credits: 3
PSY 757LEC - Psychoneurochemistry Credits: 3
SW 561LEC - Dual Disorders Credits: 3

MA Project

Students reserve the final 3 credits of the program for their final culminating project, chosen between the following variable credit courses

APY 600TUT - Master Project or Thesis Guidance Credits: 1 - 6
HIS 598TUT - Project for MA Students Credits: 1 - 6
PSY 600TUT - Graduate Work Credits: 1 - 6
SOC 600TUT - Project Guidance Credits: 1-6
PMY 517TUT - Project Guidance Credits: 1 - 5

Total Credit Hours: 30

3.0 Degree GPA required

SED Statement

This program is officially registered with the New York State Education Department (SED).