Please note that this is a generic interaction plan and the official course syllabus will be available to you once the course begins.  Some things in the final course syllabus may be different.  However the text book is accurate.

HOLYOKECOMMUNITY COLLEGE

SOC208 Substance Abuse- DL 

Instructor's Name: Lee Murray, RN, MS, CS, CADAC

Email: lmurray@hcc.mass.edu 

Catalog Description: This course introduces concepts relevant to the diagnosis and treatment of substance abuse, including the disease concept; the effect of alcohol and other drugs on the body; medical complications; the effect of substance abuse problems on the family and others; and special issues related to populations such as adolescents, individuals at risk for suicide, women, the elderly, and individuals with a dual diagnosis. 

Course Objectives: The successful student will be able to:

• define substance abuse 
• discuss various models of alcohol/drug dependence 
• discuss the societal implications of substance abuse, including risk factors, and systemic problems 
• discuss the major perspectives on alcohol/drug use 
• discuss drug specific information 
• demonstrate understanding of the effects of substance abuse on the body 
• describe the medical complications of substance abuse 
• discuss the process of screening, evaluation, and diagnosis of substance abuse/dependence 
• discuss the intervention process and treatment issues 
• discuss disorders co-occurring with substance abuse 
• discuss substance abuse and family systems 
• identify special populations and related treatment issues 

Credits:3 

Required Textbook and Materials: Ksir, C., Hart, C.L., & Oakley, R. Drugs, Society, and Human Behavior 13th edition.  Boston: McGraw-Hill. 

Communication: I will check email on a daily basis during the week. While it is unlikely that it will happen, it may take me as much as 48 hours to respond to any questions you ask. Please be patient if I don't respond immediately. On weekends, I might not check email regularly, so if you have a question regarding assignments, it would be good to ask it early in the week rather than later. 

Interaction Plan: Your best option for contacting me is through the course¡¦s mailbox. This course is delivered asynchronously, which means you do not have to be on line at a particular time. There will be no required chat room for the course,however, you may decide to use a chat room to communicate with other students. 

Attendance Policy: As stated in the college catalog: "All students are expected to report to all classes on time. Persistent absence or tardiness may result in grading penalties or the student's dismissal from class and a grade of F." For the purposes of this online course, a grade of AW may be given if you have not posted something on the bulletin board or contacted me for 7 days, or if you fail to meet 2 deadlines for assignments. Please note that failure to meet any one of the criteria above is sufficient reason to assign an AW, and for you to be withdrawn from the course. The instructor has no obligation to warn you prior to submitting an AW grade. 

Participation: I will post discussion questions each week, related to the chapters we are covering. In addition, you are encouraged to start discussion threads on whatever aspects of the course material seem thought provoking and interesting to you. While each student will be required to contribute relevant comments to the discussion a minimum of three times per week, grading of participation will emphasize the quality and substance of the comments made. Effective comments will be ones that demonstrate critical thinking about the topic and which show initiative in generating further discussion and exploration. Be creative! 

Course Calendar: The course calendar lists all assignments, exams, and due dates. It is your responsibility to check this and submit assignments on time. All written assignments are due by 11:55 pmon the specified date, unless otherwise noted. Assignments not submitted by the due date/time MAYNOT be accepted. If an assignment is accepted, 10% of the possible points will be deducted for each day it is late. Technical problems on your end (i.e. in your computer) are not an excuse for late submission. If there is a system wide problem originating at the college, deadlines will be extended. 

Objective Tests:There will be Essay exams for each section in your text as noted on the calendar. You will have one opportunity to take each exam. Please note deadlines for completion. The exam shuts down and you will not be able to access it after the designated time. 

Teaching Methods/Procedures:Teaching methods may include lecture, discussion, small group activities, audio-visual presentations, web-based research and supplementary readings, guest presenters, written work, and examinations. 

Methods of Instruction: Online Distance Learning Students are required to engage in the following interaction(s) for successful completion of this course: This course is delivered asynchronously, which means you do not have to be online at a particular time. There will be no required chat room for the course; however, your group may decide to use a chat room to communicate. The discussion forum is asynchronous. You can be online participating in the discussion forum at midnight, 6AM, 5PM, or whenever it works for you. 

Grading:Final grades will be determined by the following percentages:

Written assignments 40% 

Chapter Quizzes 40% 

Participation 20% 

Students with Disabilities:HCC is committed to full inclusion of all students. Students who, by nature of a documented disability, require accommodations should notify the instructor at the beginning of the semester. Students may also speak with the Office for Students with Disabilities to request accommodations. Your immediate attention to these arrangements is necessary to assure a positive learning experience. 

Academic Integrity: To quote the HCCcatalog: "Academic integrity is expected of all students. Any dishonesty in the performance of course work, such as plagiarism or cheating in other forms, will be reported. In the event the student is charged with some form of dishonesty, the Student Discipline Policy will be followed (see the Student Policy Guide)." If you do not have a copy of the Student Discipline Policy, one can be obtained at the Office of Student Development. Students who are dishonest in the performance of course work will be subject to dismissal from the class with a failing grade. 

Evaluation of Student Progress: Students will be evaluated on an ongoing basis. Students will have chapter quizzes, assignments, and exams throughout the course. Grades will be posted in WebCT once the assignments are corrected. Student assignments will be returned to students via e-mail with feedback.