Harm Reduction Approaches to Substance Use (Online)

Certificate

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Meet people where they are, with care and expertise. Montclair State’s Graduate Certificate in Harm Reduction Approaches to Substance Use is the nation’s first graduate certificate of its kind, designed to close the gap between knowledge and action amid the overdose crisis.

The program gives you the tools to support individuals with compassion and evidence-based strategies. Delivered fully online in an asynchronous format, this 9-credit, three-course certificate offers you the flexibility to learn non-stigmatizing, trauma-informed harm reduction strategies while working in related human services fields.

Required Courses in the Harm Reduction Approaches to Substance Use Program:

  • Biomedical and Psychosocial Perspectives on Drugs – Explore the biomedical and psychosocial dimensions of drug use, learning everything from physiological effects to policy and ethics.
  • Harm Reduction Interventions in the Management of Substance Use and Misuse – Dive into the core principles and global context of harm reduction methods like syringe access, naloxone distribution, medication-assisted treatment, and supervised consumption sites.
  • Engaging Individuals Affected by Substance Use and Misuse – Practice trauma-informed and social-justice engagement strategies, refining your ability to engage without stigma and honor each person’s lived experience.

Enroll in our Harm Reduction Approaches to Substance Use Program Graduate Certificate program and step into a field where your skills can directly save lives and strengthen communities. See the curriculum.

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Admission Requirements

  • Equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree.
  • Applicants with non-U.S. degrees: Please visit the international applicants page to review U.S. degree equivalency information.
  • *Students seeking an F1/J1 visa are not eligible for this certificate program unless they are currently pursuing a master’s degree at Montclair State University and are able to simultaneously pursue both programs while maintaining their student visa requirements.

Admission Checklist

  • Application Deadline: Rolling admission.
  • Online Application: Submit application and $60 non-refundable fee (or waiver if applicable).
  • Transcript: One from each college attended.
  • Undergraduate GPA minimum of 2.5
  • Resume: Optional

Make a Difference

This first-of-its-kind online graduate-level certificate is designed to certify students and professionals in the practices and principles of harm reduction strategies to fight our nation’s drug overdose crisis.

“Montclair State University has a vital role to play in addressing the public health needs not only in our nearby counties but the entire state of New Jersey. And as educators, it is our duty to use our resources to help educate our community about evidence-based tools to prevent and address chaotic drug use.”

Svetlana Shpiegel
Professor, Social Work and Child Advocacy


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Program Coordinator: Dr. Svetlana Shpiegel

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