Certificate Description

Required Courses

The ADAC consists of eight courses for a total of 24 credits (courses are three credits each). Please consult the URI catalog to review prerequisites; permission numbers may be required to enroll in some courses depending on your major. It is highly recommended that you follow the curriculum map on this page to plan out your certificate courses.

• PSY 113 – General Psychology
  Introductory survey course of the major facts and principles of human behavior. Prerequisite for students interested in professional work in psychology or academic fields in which an extended knowledge of psychology is basic.
• PSY 255 – Health Psychology
  Investigates the relationship between behavior and health; emphasizes the theory and science of health behavior change; explores specific behaviors and behavior change strategies from an individual and public health perspective.
• PSY 381 – Physiological Psychology
  Physiological mechanisms operative in human behavior. Sensory, neural, endocrine, and response systems as related to sensation, perception, attention, emotions, motivations, and learning
• PSY 436 – Psychotropic Drugs and Therapy
  Cross-listed as (BPS), PSY 436. Interaction of drug and non-drug therapy and of physiological and psychological origins of psychopathology. Intended for advanced undergraduate and graduate students interested in clinical psychology. 
• PSY 460 – Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Policy
  Introduction to substance use and disorders using an interdisciplinary science-based lens. Explores therapeutic and illicit drug use, prevention/intervention efforts, and the effects and implications of social and public policies.
• HDF 230 – Couple and Family Relationships
  Intimate romantic and family relationships are explored across the life span. An emphasis is placed on understanding how personal, cultural, and economic factors impact the quality of family life.
• HDF 357 – Family and Community Health
  Individual, family and community health concerns throughout the lifespan. Focus on health disparities amongst groups.
• HDF 450 – Introduction to Counseling
  Introduces students in human sciences to interviewing and counseling skills in both professional and paraprofessional settings. Integrates theory, practice, and application by didactic and experiential learning.

Suggested Course Plan:

	Fall Semester	Spring Semester
Year 1	PSY 113	HDF 230
Year 2	PSY 255	PSY 381
Year 3	HDF 357	PSY 460
Year 4	HDF 450	PSY 436

How do you get the certification?

Anyone, regardless of your major at URI, can take the courses that make up the certification. Students can use certificate courses towards their major, minor, general education or free electives, as appropriate.

However, students are required to apply to complete the certificate prior to completing three out of the eight mandatory courses. Failure to submit the application before reaching 40% completion of the required courses will result in the rejection of the certificate application by the Registrar’s office. Although students can still enroll in and complete all necessary courses for the certificate, they will not receive the formal certificate at graduation, nor will it be acknowledged on their transcripts if the application is not completed before the student has completed two of the required courses. To prevent this, students are strongly advised to submit the application before finishing three of the required courses, even if they are uncertain about completing the entire certificate program.

Note: All certificate courses must be taken at URI; credits earned through transfer coursework or test credits (like AP scores) are not eligible for this certificate. Should you have credit for any of these courses in transfer, you have the option to repeat the course at URI, with a total of three credits earned across all attempts.

Upon completion of the application, students must obtain the signature of Dr. Mark Robbins, the certificate director. Then, students are required to either take the form to the College of Health Sciences Dean’s Office (Quinn 101) or email it to chs-group@uri.edu. This form should be returned to the College of Health Sciences even if your “home” college is elsewhere (i.e. if you are a student in the College of Arts and Sciences, the form must still be returned to CHS.

For questions, please consult your advisor or reach out to Dr. Mark Robbins.

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