The courses offered through the USC Institute for Addiction Science embody the spirit and mission of the institute.
Our undergraduate and graduate courses are designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to better understand the nature of addiction. We aim to train the next generation of researchers, healers, advocates, and other professionals who are passionate about solving the problem of addiction. Keep a look out for the ADSC prefix in the USC Schedule of Classes!
“In the academic world, we often hear terms like “multidisciplinary” being used very casually… In my experience it was usually used by those who wanted to pad their research grants, but at the end of the day did not fully utilize or realize the concepts. That changed for me when I joined IAS – it is beyond multidisciplinary and interdepartmental it is both extra- and intra-scholastic. It involves people from a large number of academic disciplines at USC working together with a central focus / theme of addiction. It allows the flexibility to use our expertise while simultaneously working towards issues that impact our communities, focus on education of our students, enhance the training of our colleagues, and participate in making a difference in how academics work. The partnerships and participation from all of the schools involved is amazing! The exposure to different ways of thinking and new paradigms to explore with colleagues outside of my area of expertise is such an energizing experience. To be able to understand addiction and to help build solutions from diverse perspectives is what makes IAS unique, and it is a true honor to be part of such a dynamic and progressive group.”
Terry D. Church, DRSc, MA, MS
USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
IAS Director of Education
Explore the courses below to learn more:
ADSC 250 – Fundamentals of Addiction Science (4 units)
Undergraduate course. Offered in Fall semester only.
Addiction science is the transdisciplinary scientific study of the nature, causes, consequences, prevention, intervention, and treatment of the broad spectrum of addiction-related problems. Addiction science also bridges the gap between science, practice, and policy to educate and be educated by those impacted by addiction. Addiction science spans the study of all addictive behaviors, substance and nonsubstance, acknowledging both the common and unique elements across different manifestations of the disease. It takes a real-world approach, recognizing that addictive behaviors exist within a complex environment involving commercial-economic, political, cultural, and social forces.
This course examines current studies of the nature of various forms of addiction and substance use in the context of individual and cultural use. The course takes a transdisciplinary approach to the study of addiction science. Themes of this course include
- Addiction as a brain disease (the pharmacology and neuroanatomy of addiction and dependence)
- Addiction as a chemical process,
- Addiction as a public health problem (characteristics of addiction as elucidated in ethnographies, epidemiological studies, and biomedical research),
- Addiction as a heritable process (genetics and epigenetics),
- Addiction as a sociological process (the history of drug addiction, theories of addiction treatment and recovery, international and national drug policies related to addiction).
The course will examine these facets of the addiction process and apply these theories to the study of specific classes of substance and nonsubstance addiction, including e-cigarettes and tobacco products, sedatives, alcohol, stimulants, opioids, cannabis, hallucinogens, and behavioral addictions (digital media, technology, sex and love, pornography, self-harm, gambling, food addiction). The course will conclude with discussion of the prevention, treatment, and recovery from addiction, legal and ethical issues, and hot topics in the area of addiction science. These themes will be presented in ways that are designed to lead to lively discussions during class.
ADSC 501 – Foundations in Addiction Science (4 units)
Graduate course – D-Clearance Required
- Contact Jillian Boelke for D-Clearance: boelke@usc.edu
- Click here to view the course in the USC Course Catalogue
This course addresses foundational concepts and skills for conducting and applying addiction science—the transdisciplinary scientific study of the nature, causes, consequences, prevention, intervention, and treatment of the broad spectrum of addiction-related problems. As this field is not aligned with a single discipline nor directed towards only scholar or practitioners, the goal of this course and addiction science is to bridge the gap between science, practice, and policy, incorporating the perspective of all of those impacted by addiction, including families and communities.
The course will examine these facets of the addiction process and apply these themes to the study of specific classes of substance and nonsubstance addiction, including e-cigarettes and tobacco products, sedatives, alcohol, stimulants, opioids, cannabis, hallucinogens, and behavioral addictions (e.g., digital media, gambling, food addiction) and poly-addictions or poly-drug use. In each case the course will overlay the substantive topic with the corresponding prototypical research design (e.g., in discussing medication treatments, this course will review phase II medication clinical trials. The course will include discussion of the prevention, treatment, and recovery from addiction, legal and ethical issues, and will interweave timely concepts in the area of addiction science and the current societal and healthcare milieu. These themes will be presented though the use of class activities and lectures that are designed to lead to lively discussions during class. Expert guests will be brought in throughout the course to lecture and lead discussions on key topics within their expertise area. At the conclusion of this course, students will:
- Understand the psychological, sociological, and physiological components of addiction for the individual and as a public health problem
- Understand the effects of substance use throughout the lifespan of addiction from initial exposure to recovery
- Define the nature of addiction as related to behavior, brain, societal, and cultural influences
- Become knowledgeable about interventions for addiction and the addiction healthcare system
- Analyze the consequences of addictive behavior and its relationship to health, economy, well-being and society
ADSC 505a – Research Methods in Addiction Science (4 units)
Graduate course – D-Clearance Required
- Contact Jillian Boelke for D-Clearance: boelke@usc.edu
- Click here to view the course in the USC Course Catalogue
This course serves as an introduction to research in the addiction sciences and is the first in a series of two classes. Students will learn about each phase of the research process through directed readings outside of class, and short in-person lectures on each topic, with an opportunity to apply learning directly through development of an independent research project. The course will begin by discussing initial development of research ideas and hypothesis generation, including review of the literature. Students will then develop a testable research question related to addiction science, and will design an observational study to test this research question. To help solidify and formulate the background, hypothesis, and research plan, students will develop a grant application to describe their study, which will serve as the final project for this course. The course will also include instruction in ethical issues in addiction science, including obtaining IRB approval for research. This course is intended to be a practical, applied course to introduce students to research in addiction science. At the conclusion of this course, students will be able to:
- Review the scientific literature on a given topic and summarize what is known
- Develop a testable research question
- Design a study to test this research question
- Develop survey instruments to collect data
- Prepare and submit an IRB protocol through the USC system to secure approval the proposed study
- Develop a grant application to request funding for the proposed study
ADSC 505b – Research Methods in Addiction Science (4 units)
Graduate course – D-Clearance Required
- Contact Jillian Boelke for D-Clearance: boelke@usc.edu
- Click here to view the course in the USC Course Catalogue
This course serves as an introduction to research in the addiction sciences. Students will learn about each phase of the research process through directed readings outside of class, and short in-person lectures on each topic, with an opportunity to apply learning directly through development and execution of an independent research project. The course will build upon ADSC505a: Research Methods in Addiction Science – Part 1. ADSC505a introduced students to scientific literature review, development of research questions, design of studies, development of survey instruments, preparation of IRB protocols, and development of grants. In the second course in this series, students will implement the study designed in ADSC505a. They will collect data for an observational study to test their proposed research question (students will be given the option to survey USC students or to implement their study via an online panel, and will have a modest budget for participant compensation, generously donated by the Institute for Addiction Science). Then, students will learn how to manage data, clean data, and analyze data, using data collected from their study. Students will develop a scientific manuscript and corresponding poster presentation to present their findings, and dissemination of study findings will be covered in the final unit of the course. This course is intended to be a practical, applied course to introduce students to all aspects of research in addiction science, and to prepare them for a research career in the addiction sciences. At the conclusion of this course, students will be able to:
- Review the scientific literature on a given topic and summarize what is known
- Develop a testable research question
- Design a study to test this research question
- Develop and refine survey instruments to collect data
- Collect data from a specified sample population (online via existing panels or in person data collection at USC)
- Clean data and prepare for analyses
- Conduct analyses of collected data
- Prepare a scientific publication for submission
Prepare a poster presentation of findings
ADSC 506 – Considerations in Addiction Science for Practitioners (4 units)
Graduate course – D-Clearance Required
- Contact Jillian Boelke for D-Clearance: boelke@usc.edu
- Click here to view the course in the USC Course Catalogue
The goal of this course is to provide students on the Clinical Track of the Master ofAddiction Science with the opportunity to gain additional exposure to evidence-based, practical, and theoretical treatment modalities employed in the treatment of substance use disorders. Students enrolled in this course are expected to identify treatment programs and settings where they will interview key personnel and staff and observe organizational dynamics. Students will utilize a standardized reflection tool to integrate their clinical and organizational knowledge. Students are expected to gain practical experience in understanding substance abuse interventions and organizational structures in which they are delivered. This course is designed to:
- Integrate the current literature and practice regarding the epidemiology, etiology, prevention, and treatment of substance misuse and dependence into clinical practice
- Express basic understanding of the several etiological models of substance use and dependence including: a) biological models, b) psychological models, c) social work models, d) sociocultural models, and e) biopsychosocial models
- Discuss evidence-based assessment, prevention, and treatment planning of substances of use
- Articulate sociocultural impacts upon the development and implementation of treatment for substance use disorders within diverse populations
- Discuss the mezzo organizational and leadership structures where treatment is delivered
We are advancing science, treatment, and policy to improve the lives of those touched by addiction.
The USC Institute for Addiction Science is the nation’s first university-wide transdisciplinary addiction science institute. We aim to break down silos that have historically prevented scholars and practitioners from different disciplines from working together. Join us!