Course Syllabus

Independent Study in Idaho

ISI Website | indepst@uidaho.edu | 208-885-6641

PSYC 5810: Professional Ethics in Addictions Counseling

COURSE FORMAT: Independent Study in Idaho (Self-Paced)

SPONSOR INSTITUTION: University of Idaho

COURSE AVAILABILITY: 365 Days

CREDITS: 3

INSTRUCTOR

NAME: Cindy Hansen, M.A., AADC, CC

EMAIL: cindyh@uidaho.edu ; cindyhansen@hotmail.com (response time is typically within a few days)

OFFICE HOURS: Email for appointment.

Copy the ISI office at indepst@uidaho.edu on all communications.

INSTRUCTOR BIO: M.A., Sociology (Medical Sociology, Health, and Illness). Ms. Hansen has a vast breadth of experience and expertise in the areas of medical sociology, health, illness, prevention theories, chemical dependency, and education.  She is an Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC), Certified Clinical Supervisor (CS), and a Certified Prevention Specialist (CP).  Ms. Hansen has been teaching Addiction Study courses at the University Level for over fifteen years.  She is currently the President of the Idaho Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselor Certification (IBADCC) and oversees the Ethics Committee on the Board.   She is also a clinical director for two substance use disorders treatment facilities- adult and adolescent.  

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is designed for the student seeking information regarding ethical and legal issues in the field of substance abuse counseling. Topics will include the counselor as a professional, values and helping relationship, client rights and counselor responsibilities, ethics and cultural sensitivity, plus professional competency training.

REQUIRED MATERIALS

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

  • Be able to distinguish between “law” and “ethics”.
  • Demonstrate “critical thinking skills”.
  • Understand problem solving skills as it applies to ethical dilemmas.
  • Understand and explain personal ethical standards.
  • Knowledge of the Code of Ethics for Substance Abuse Counselors.
  • Conduct an on-going self-evaluation of professional performance applying legal, ethical and professional standards.
  • Understand ethical implications of a multicultural perspective.

Students completing this course will be proficient in the following tasks:

  1. Adhere to established professional codes of ethics and standards or practice.
  2. Adhere to jurisdictionally specific rules and regulations regarding best practices in coordinating and/or providing co-occurring substance use, mental health, and health services.
  3. Demonstrate cultural competence.
  4. Recognize personal biases, including feelings, concerns, and other issues to minimize impact of these variables in the counseling process.
  5. Continue professional development through education, self-evaluation, clinical supervision, and consultation.
  6. Identify and evaluate the needs of the person served that are outside of the counselor’s scope of practice and refer to other professionals as appropriate.
  7. Understand and apply current, relevant research literature to improve the care of the person served and enhance the counselor’s professional development.
  8. Understand and utilize technological advances in service delivery.
  9. Protect the integrity of the profession and best interests of persons served by identifying, addressing, and advocating for impaired professionals.
  10. Protect the integrity of the profession and best interests of persons served by identifying and addressing unethical practices.
  11. Uphold the rights of persons served to privacy and confidentiality according to jurisdictionally specific rules and regulations.
  12. Obtain required written consent to release information from person served and/or legal guardian.
  13. Prepare timely, concise, clinically accurate, and objective reports and records.
  14. Advocate for and assist the person served in navigating the service delivery system.
  15. Provide all services in a trauma-informed manner.

COURSE RULES & POLICIES

You will be provided an ethical dilemma assignment during each module. I recommend that you complete each ethical dilemma assignment one week after starting the module. I encourage you not to procrastinate in case somethings comes up (life happens).  Read the Chapter, listen to the power point lecture, and then compete the assignment.  There will be ten ethical dilemmas and three exams.  Please support your answers with examples from the book and the IBADCC Code of Ethics.  This course involves critical thinking, therefore AI cannot be used.  Be aware of grammar and spelling.  Be thoughtful and thorough. 

ATTENTION: Each course module requires that the assignment from the previous module be graded before you can proceed with the next module.

Refer to the ISI Policies for the most current policies and procedures, including information on setting up accounts, student confidentiality, exams, transcripts, course exchanges, refunds, academic integrity, library resources, disability support and other services.

GRADING

Your final grade will be comprised of:

  • 4 exams (100 points each)
  • Ethical Dilemmas (100 points)
  • TOTAL points that can be earned 500

A standard grading scale will be used:

A: 90% - 100%
B: 80% - 90%
C: 70% - 80%
D: 60% - 70%
F: Less than 60%

Exams

There will be three exams and a quiz to develop your knowledge of the material. Each exam will be open book and review of power points. Each exam will be comprised of multiple-choice questions and/or true and false. The content of the exams will be derived from lectures and information from the texts

Ethical Dilemmas

There will be ten (10) ethical dilemmas that will correlate with
identified chapters. Please read them carefully. You will be graded on critical thinking skills and your ability to articulate your answer. This will include justifying your answers based on information from the Chapter and the IBADCC Code of Ethics. The combination of 10 ethical dilemmas will be worth 100 points. I will comment on each and every one of your ethical dilemmas.  If you do not hear from me then I may not have received it.  PLEASE check your emails regularly.      

 

Grade Rubric Sample
Criteria  Exceptional (4) Proficient (3) Developing (2) Needs Work (1)
Content Exceptionally clear and detailed. Clear, focused, and accurate. Mostly accurate but lacks detail. Lacks clear focus or accuracy.
Organization Exceptionally logical flow. Logical flow and structure. Some logical gaps. Confusing or unorganized.
Mechanics No errors in spelling/grammar. Few minor errors. Some errors that hinder reading. Major errors impede understanding.

UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO POLICIES AND RESOURCES

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

A core value at UI is the ideal of academic honesty and integrity. UI students live and work in a community which emphasizes their responsibility for helping to determine and enforce high standards of academic conduct. The University of Idaho expects all students to adhere to the highest standards of academic honesty, and to refrain from any action which infringes upon academic freedom of other members of the community. Please review the UI Student Code of Conduct Article II - Academic Honesty. 

PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism is using someone else’s words, ideas, or work and presenting it as your own. This includes copying, rewording, or summarizing someone else’s writing without giving them credit, as well as taking another person’s ideas and putting them in new words without citing them.

Your assignments should be your original work. When using outside sources, you must cite them. If you use someone’s exact words, put them in quotation marks and give proper credit. If you use their ideas, make sure you cite them even if you’ve rewritten the wording. When you fail to do so, it constitutes academic dishonesty. 

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

AI Use Prohibited

As artificial intelligence tools become more widely available, it is important to clarify how they may or may not be used in this course. The following policy is designed to support your learning and ensure academic integrity.

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools—including but not limited to ChatGPT, Copilot, Perplexity, Grammarly, image generators, and automated coding/writing assistants—is not permitted in this course.  

Unauthorized use of AI tools is considered a form of unauthorized assistance and undermines the core learning objectives of the class. This course is intentionally designed to build foundational skills—such as critical analysis, discipline-specific reasoning, original writing, and independent problem-solving—that require your direct engagement. Using AI tools to generate or revise work may hinder the achievement of these objectives and may compromise the integrity of your academic development.

Any use of AI tools for coursework, unless explicitly allowed by the instructor for a specific assignment, will be treated as a violation of academic integrity and may result in sanctions as outlined in the University of Idaho Student Code of Conduct. Students are responsible for reviewing and adhering to all university policies regarding academic honesty and should consult the Student Code of Conduct for further guidance.

LEARNING CIVILITY

In any environment in which people gather to learn, it is essential that all members feel as free and safe as possible in their participation. To this end, it is expected that everyone in this course will be treated with mutual respect and civility, with an understanding that all of us (students, instructors, professors, guests, teaching assistants, etc.) will be respectful and civil to one another in discussion, in action, in teaching, and in learning.

Should you feel any classroom interactions do not reflect an environment of civility and respect, you are encouraged to reach out to me or an appropriate campus resource to discuss your concern.

Some appropriate campus resources to express a concern or request support include the Dean of Students Office (208-885-6757 or VandalCARE referral), the Counseling and Mental Health Center (208-885-6716), or the Office of Civil Rights and Investigations (208-885-4285).

CENTER FOR DISABILITY ACCESS & RESOURCES (CDAR)

UI is committed to ensuring an accessible learning environment where course or instructional content are usable by all students and faculty. If you believe that you qualify for disability-related academic adjustments for this class, please contact CDAR to discuss eligibility. A current accommodation notification from CDAR is required before any modifications above and beyond what is otherwise available for all other students in this class will be provided.

Please be advised that disability-related academic adjustments are not retroactive. CDAR is located at the Bruce Pitman Building, Suite 127. Their phone number is 208-885-6307 and email is cdar@uidaho.edu.

For a complete listing of services and hours visit www.uidaho.edu/student-resources/disability-accessibility-resources.

NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY

UI has a policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran status. This policy applies to all programs, services, and facilities, and includes, but is not limited to, applications, admissions, access to programs and services, and employment. Sexual harassment violates state and federal law and policies of the Board of Regents, and is expressly prohibited. UI also prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, as stated in FSH 3215. The entire FSH can be accessed online at www.uidaho.edu/policies/fsh.

Complaints about discrimination or harassment should be brought to the attention of the Office of Civil Rights and Investigations (ocri@uidaho.edu, 208-885-4285). Retaliation for bringing forward a complaint is prohibited by FSH 3810.

UI MOSCOW LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The University of Idaho welcomes and respects all people. UI Moscow is located on the homelands of the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce), Palus (Palouse), and Schitsu’umsh (Coeur d’Alene) tribes. We extend gratitude to the indigenous people that call this place home, since time immemorial.

TECHNOLOGY HELP

Keep Learning / CAPE Tech Support provides information on authentication and login issues, enrollment and registration, CANVAS help, dropping courses, profile updates, etc. You can also submit a support request if needed which can be directed to the Independent Study in Idaho office.