Program Contact
Michael Chaiton

The goal of the Collaborative Specialization in Addiction Studies (CoPAS, or CoSAS) at the University of Toronto is to develop and integrate graduate training in the multidisciplinary field of addictions. This field encompasses the use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other psychoactive substances, as well as gambling and other addictive behaviours.

Students fulfilling the requirements of the collaborating department and CoPAS will receive a notation indicating completion of a specialization in Addiction Studies on the transcript issued by the University of Toronto.

What CoPAS Offers

  • The multidisciplinary perspective of 11 collaborating graduate departments
  • Graduate training and research on the etiology, prevention and treatment of addictions
  • Graduate courses on a wide range of topics related to addictions
  • Formal recognition of completion of requirements
  • Access to scientists, educational seminars and library resources at CoPAS’s three sponsoring centres
  • A Research and Career Day for students to meet CoPAS faculty and learn about the work of other students (offered in the spring of each academic year)
  • Access to the H. David Archibald OGSST Scholarship
  • Access to the Oriana Josseau Kalant Memorial Award

Collaborating Graduate Departments (CoPAS Contact)

Eligibility

CoPAS is not a degree program. To be eligible for admission to CoPAS, students must first apply to and register in one of the collaborating graduate departments. Through the collaborating department, students can then apply for admission to CoPAS. Please contact collaborating department professor directly (see CoPAS Contact List). Students admitted to CoPAS must follow a program of study that meets the requirements of both the collaborating department and CoPAS. Students who are not registered at the School of Graduate Studies, University of Toronto, are not eligible for admission to the CoPAS Program.

CoPAS Requirements

Master’s Level

  • Master’s students in the collaborative program are required to take PAS 3700H Multidisciplinary Aspects of Addictions, plus 0.5 full-course equivalent (FCE) selected from the list of approved elective courses presented below or an approved directed reading course;
  • The student’s thesis must deal with a subject in the field of addictions. The thesis is supervised and evaluated in the same manner as others in the home department, but normally involves, as appropriate, supervisory and examining professors from other disciplines represented in the collaborative program. In collaborating departments that do not require a thesis, a practicum or major research paper will be accepted instead of a thesis, as long as the topic or focus is directly related to addictions. In collaborating departments that do not have a thesis or equivalent requirement, students must take a third 0.5 FCE from the list of approved electives;
  • Students must meet all requirements of their home department in terms of coursework and thesis work, or equivalent.

Doctoral Level

  • Doctoral students in the collaborative program are required to take PAS 3700H Multidisciplinary Aspects of Addictions, if they have not already done so, plus an additional 0.5 full-course equivalent (FCE) (not taken previously) from the approved listing of elective courses presented below or an approved directed reading course;
  • The student’s thesis must deal with a subject in the field of addictions. The thesis is supervised and evaluated in the same manner as others in the home department, but normally involves, as appropriate, supervisory and examining professors from other disciplines represented in the collaborative program. In collaborating departments that do not require a thesis, a practicum or major research paper will be accepted instead of a thesis, as long as the topic or focus is directly related to addictions. In collaborating departments that do not have a thesis or equivalent requirement, students must take a third 0.5 FCE from the list of approved electives;
  • Students must meet all requirements of their home department in terms of coursework and thesis work, or equivalent.

CoPAS Courses: Details on course offerings can be found in the SGS calendar.

CoPAS Core Course

CoPAS Elective Courses

Note: Please check departmental websites for course descriptions and current course offerings

To apply to CoPAS, please complete the Application Form

Once you have completed the CoPAS Application Form, please have it signed by your CoPAS Departmental Representative (or by your faculty advisor, if your department does not have a CoPAS Representative). Forward your completed application, along with a copy of your resume, to Prof Hamilton (CoPAS Co-Director) for final approval. The Co-Director then sends your application to the School of Graduate Studies where your enrolment is registered on ROSI. (Note that letters of confirmation are not sent to students – please check your registration on ROSI approximately 12 weeks after submitting your application).

Questions about CoPAS?

Please refer to the list of Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions, please contact:

CoPAS Directors:

Michael Chaiton, PhD
Senior Scientist, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Associate Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
133 Ursula Franklin St.
Toronto, Ontario M5S 2S1
Michael.Chaiton@utoronto.ca

CoPAS Committee Student Representative:

Madison Wright
madison.wright@mail.utoronto.ca