The School of Social Work at San Diego State University and the Division of Global Public Health, School of
Medicine, UC San Diego are proud to offer a new Joint Doctoral Program in Interdisciplinary Substance Use Studies.
This program is Directed by Dr. Laramie Smith at UCSD and Dr. Maria
Luisa Zuniga at SDSU, who has a joint appointment with UCSD. If you are interested in mentoring
opportunities, or learning more about the JDP, please contact phdresearchsubstanceuse@mail.sdsu.edu,
at SDSU.
Interdisciplinary Substance Use Studies Resources
Now accepting applicationsInterdisciplinary Substance Use Studies Program Description.
Courses: JDP IRSU
SW 800- Etiology and Pharmacology of Substance Abuse (3units)This seminar is designed to
provide fundamental and advanced knowledge about the pharmacology and underlying causes of addiction in the most
impactful substances of use and misuse in the U.S. Topics include: opioids and prescription drugs, marijuana, and
cocaine among other substances. This class also aims to introduce the students to current research issues related
to substance use and treatment of addiction.
Instructor: TBD
Offered:
TBD
SW 801- Global Approaches to Substance Use Prevention and Treatment (3 units)
Using a global health
perspective, this course is designed to provide students with an advanced technical understanding of the etiology,
epidemiology and prevention and treatment of substance and related problems. The course is comprised of three units
reflecting the topical foci and will include: Lectures (guest and by the professor), discussions, student
presentation and field trip to a local research & treatment program in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.
Instructor: TBD
Offered:
TBD
SW 880- Advanced Seminar in Substance Use Research (3 Units)
The purpose of this course is to prepare
students to conduct research with focus on substance use topics. This course is designed to introduce
students to the process of research as a sequence of events & characterize different approaches to experimental
and non-experimental substance use research. Students will learn how to evaluate strengths and weaknesses of
various research designs and methods, understand measurement issues, including those related to reliability and
validity.
Instructor: TBD
Offered: TBD
PH 800 – JDP Seminar (2 Units)
Research and professional development seminar with Public Health Students
Instructor:
TBD
Offered: TBD
Elective as per mentor and program approval
e.g., statistics, epidemiology, other course relevant to JDP
student training needs
Offered: TBD
SW 850 – Theoretical Approaches to Substance Use (3 Units)
This broadly focused course will provide
students with an overview of current social and behavioral science theories used to understand health-related
behavior as well as how these theories can be used to guide the development of behavior change interventions
designed to reduce negative health behaviors. We will take an ecological focus (i.e., person-in-environment) for
this course and will focus on the application of health behavior theory at multiple levels (person, group,
community, etc.). Particular emphasis will be given to discussing health-related disparities and whether current
theory is adequate to explain health behavior in light of the disparities in the U.S.
Instructor:
TBD
Offered: TBD
SW 881 – Advanced Multivariate Data Analysis: Applications to Substance Use Research (3 Units)
This
seminar course provides a conceptual overview of advanced multivariate statistical analysis techniques used
frequently in substance use/use research as well as application practice. Each week students will learn about a
particular data analysis technique and will be asked to analyze data using the technique. Students will read
empirical articles in substance use literature which use the multivariate technique discussed during each course
session.
Instructor: TBD
Offered: TBD
SW 702 – U.S.-Mexico Border Health, Emphasis on Substance Use (3 Units)
The seminar advances understanding
of policies and research related to health and substance use in the U.S.-Mexico border region and among migrant
populations (e.g. deportation policies on substance use behavior). Students explore intersection of substance use
research, policy & substance use risk.
Instructor: TBD
Offered:
TBD
SW 897 – Independent/Dissertation Research (3-6 Units)
Independent Research (pre-Candidacy) or
Dissertation Research (Advanced Candidacy Status); can be taken 6 units maximum per semester (AY)