Course structure
Our Addiction course is delivered as follows:
Week 1: Meaning and Nature. Multiple conceptions of addiction in current practice, reflecting more than substance-related issues. Addiction and Psychiatry
Week 2: Current neuro-biological, psychological, sociological and cultural understanding of the causes of addiction. Overview of different theoretical positions in conceptualising addiction (i.e. Medical, Religious, Psychological etc.)
Week 3: Focus on disease models of addiction
Week 4: Understanding addiction from a psychoanalytic perspective
Week 5: The bio-psycho-social model
Week 6: Overview of treatments of addiction: Psychotherapeutic, Pharmacological, etc
Week 7: Focus on conditioning models of treatment: Behaviourism, contingency management; cognitive-behavioural models of treatment: Self –regulation, relapse prevention; Emotion-regulation and mindfulness-based models of treatment
Week 8: Stages of change in the treatment of Addiction
Week 9: Addictive behaviours from the perspective of family systems theory
Week 10: Impact of addictive behaviours on society: health, culture and criminality – the Irish context
The details given above for the Addiction course are the latest example of the curriculum available on this programme. Please note that programme structures and individual modules are subject to change from time to time. The reason for this includes curriculum enhancement, staff changes, student numbers, improvements in technology, changes to placements or regulatory or external body requirements.
This addiction course can support progression into further education or roles within health, social care and community support services that work with individuals affected by addiction.
| Course Location | Dublin |
| Location Postcode | Dublin 2 |
| Course Category | Addiction Studies, Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Course Type | Classroom Based |
| Course Qualification | Diploma |
| Awarding Body | Institute of Commercial Management |
| Awarding Body Details | Professional Diploma in Addiction Studies |
| Course Start Date | 11th May 2026 |
| Course Duration | 10 Weeks |
| Course Time | 6:30pm - 9:30pm |
| Course Fee | 895 |
| Career Path | The module would be of interest to practitioners in a wide variety of disciplines (Psychology, Social Care, etc.) who may wish to deepen their knowledge of current thinking in addiction studies, to those who may be considering future study in the area of addictive behaviours and wish to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the area, and indeed, anyone who wishes to learn more about this pervasive and disabling condition. |
Course structure Our Criminology and Forensic Psychology Course is delivered as follows: Introduction: nature or nurture? Measuring crime – separating fact from fiction.
Course structure The focus of this Psychology course is theoretical although discussion and practical examples of relevance will be discussed throughout.
Entry requirements To be eligible for these exams, students must have an approved Law degree or have completed the King’s Inn Diploma in Legal Studies course.
