Degree Requirements & Course Sequence

Completion of the M.S. degree requires 30 credits of coursework, of which 24 are from core requirements.

Full Time

SUMMER I (5.5 credits) July 3, 2023-August 11, 2023 (virtual)

ADPP 502 Health Care Financing (2) / Tuesdays & Thursdays 5:00pm-7:00pm EST / instructor TBA

ADPP 500 Data Analysis & Statistics in Drug Policy I (1.5) / Wednesdays 4:00pm-7:00pm EST / Professor Christopher Jones

ADPP 501 US Addiction Policy (2) / Tuesdays & Thursdays 1:30pm-3:40pm EST / Professor Taleed El-Sabawi

FALL (9.5 credits) August 23, 2023-December 16, 2023

ADPP 515 Fundamentals of Neurobiology I (2)

ADPP 600 Foundations of Addiction I (Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment) (1.5)

ADPP 700 Integrative Seminar (3)

Epidemiology Elective (3)

SPRING (9.5 credits) January 10, 2024-May 19, 2024

ADPP 603 Addiction and Mental Health Law & Policy (2)

ADPP 602 Foundations of Addiction II (Comorbidities, Recovery, and Supports) (1.5)

ADPP 702 Integrative Seminar (3)

Policy Elective (3)

SUMMER II (5.5 credits) May 22, 2024-June 30, 2024

ADPP 511 Comparative Addiction Policy (2)

ADPP 512 Mentored Capstone Seminar (2)

ADPP 510 Data Analysis & Statistics in Drug Policy II (1.5)

Part Time

SUMMER I (3.5 credits)

ADPP 500 Data Analysis & Statistics in Drug Policy I (1.5)

ADPP 501 US Addiction Policy (2)

FALL I (4.5 credits)

ADPP 600 Foundations of Addiction I (Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment) (1.5)

ADPP 700 Integrative Seminar (3)

SPRING I (4.5 credits)

ADPP 602 Foundations of Addiction II (Comorbidities, Recovery, and Supports) (1.5)

ADPP 702 Integrative Seminar (3)

SUMMER II (3.5 credits)

ADPP 502 Health Care Financing (2)

ADPP 500 Data Analysis & Statistics in Drug Policy II (1.5)

FALL II (5 credits)

ADPP 515 Fundamentals of Neurobiology I (2)

Epidemiology Elective (3)

SPRING II (5 credits)

ADPP 603 Addiction and Mental Health Law & Policy (2)

Policy Elective (3)

SUMMER III (4 credits)

ADPP 511 Comparative Addiction Policy (2)

ADPP 512 Mentored Capstone Seminar (2)

Integrative Seminar

In the fall and spring semesters, students will meet in a weekly seminar taught by the program director. The goal of the course is to allow students to integrate academic coursework with real-world experience by introducing them to individuals working in various aspects of addiction policy across the continuum of care (social determinants of health, treatment, and recovery), as well as in the criminal justice and harm reduction settings.

The curriculum will track with other course work, including the integration of science into policy, and will introduce students to other aspects not otherwise covered; at least one third of the course will involve engagement with scientific material and quantitative analysis. Class discussions will be combined with guest speakers and observational site visits in the DC area to addiction treatment and recovery facilities, as well as harm reduction and criminal justice venues.

During the spring semester, students will continue to meet weekly for structured discussions. In the summer, students will work toward completing their capstone project.

Mentored Capstone Seminar

The capstone assignment required of all ADPP students is developed through the integrative seminar and will take place in May and June. Students work closely with a faculty advisor to design and complete their capstone projects allowing them to apply their ADPP skills. The final written assignment may take a variety of forms, including research papers or policy-focused white papers.