Online Master’s in Counseling – Addiction Counseling Specialization
Touro University Worldwide (TUW) provides a specialized Addiction Counseling program as part of their online Master of Arts in Counseling degree. Preparing graduates to become substance abuse counselors, this two-year graduate program explores the treatment of addiction and related disorders from a clinical counseling perspective.
Graduates of the Master of Arts (M.A.) in Counseling: Addiction Counseling Specialization will be eligible to become licensed substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors in the state of California and other states. Addicted individuals rely on professional counselors specializing in addiction to help them overcome their dependency and work towards self-sufficiency. An addiction counselor may also work closely with the client’s family as substance abuse can also affect the loved ones of the chemically dependent client.
Addiction counselors have rewarding careers in mental health agencies, in their private practices, in government agencies, in management roles, and in clinical research settings studying mental health. The rate of substance abuse and alcohol addiction, depression, and other mental health conditions has climbed in record numbers in recent years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects growth in the field for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors to be 22% through 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. An online master’s degree focused on addiction counseling is an excellent pathway to enter this crucial specialization of the counseling field.
What makes the M.A. in Counseling: Addiction Counseling program different?
100% online Master’s in Counseling with no residency required
Scholar-practitioner faculty
Affordable tuition from a Nonprofit Accredited University
Accelerated format of 8-week sessions with six starts annually
No GRE required and an accelerated admissions process
Two year average time to completion as full-time student
In Touro University Worldwide’s online Master of Arts in Counseling program, students gain the knowledge, skills, and hands-on practice in treating individuals with addiction and dependency disorders, allowing them to build the tools needed to become compassionate, skilled substance abuse counselors. Moreover, students gain clinical counseling skills that focus on promoting client mental health wellness to sustain recovery.
This graduate degree specializing in addiction counseling provides a high-quality, hands-on professional education that can foster the well-being of the diverse, underserved individuals struggling to overcome chemical dependency and to join an in-demand profession making a positive contribution to the larger community.
Addiction Counseling Program Curriculum
The 60-credit addiction counseling curriculum incorporates the educational requirements of the California State Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) and is aligned with the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) standards that may lead to licensure as a Professional Counselor, Professional Clinical Counselor (LPC/LPCC) and or Alcohol and Drug Counselor.
This online master’s program in counseling blends theoretical knowledge, applied concepts, and clinical research in addiction to fully prepare students to become counselors in substance abuse and recovery. The counseling curriculum also includes both a Clinical Practicum component and a series of required Clinical Internships, which allow students to directly apply counseling theory to practice under supervision while working with a diverse array of addiction/substance abuse recovery clients.
California Counseling Licensure
The Master of Arts in Counseling: Addiction Counseling specialization degree program from TUW is designed to prepare students to meet the educational requirements for licensure in most states. The clinical internship and applicable courses aim to equip you with the skills to succeed on licensing exams and have fulfilling careers working with diverse populations.
Developed in alignment with the standards of The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and curriculum-specific requirements of the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS), the Master of Arts in Counseling degree with Addiction Counseling specialization provides academic and professional clinical training to become ethical, culturally sensitive, and competent counselors who can effectively diagnose and treat a diverse population of individuals recovering from substance abuse.
Graduation Requirements
Graduates of the Master of Arts in Counseling: Addiction Counseling degree will be eligible for licensure upon completing the program and state educational requirements where the student is planning to practice. In some cases, there may be additional courses or practicum requirements that may be needed either before or after graduation.
Therefore, it is imperative that students research their state requirements prior to enrolling in the program to determine if TUW’s Master of Arts in Counseling: Addiction Counseling specialization program meets their state’s educational requirements for licensure as a substance abuse counselor. The practicum coordinator of the program will assist as applicable.
Note: Students are required to check the requirements for the specific state in which licensure is sought, as each state may be different.
For the Addiction Counseling program, TUW’s tuition is $400 per semester credit. A range of tuition assistance programs are available to prospective students to help reduce the out-of-pocket expenses associated with continued education, including scholarships and student loans.
Many employers offer tuition assistance programs, so speak with your human resource representative to find out if additional financial support is available to you to fund your degree specializing in addiction counseling. TUW tuition assistance counselors are available to determine your eligibility for financial aid and other tuition assistance programs.
The Master’s in Counseling: Addiction Counseling specialization combines online courses with a field internship.
14 Courses (42 credits)
2 Clinical Practicum Courses (6 credits)
4 Clinical Internship Courses (12 credits)
60 total credit hours
100 practicum hours over two sessions in the Clinical Practicum Courses
600 total clinical internship hours over four sessions in the Clinical Internship Courses
Total of 700 hours with real-world experience, with a minimum of 280 hours with direct supervision (CACREP and BBS aligned program).
MAC Program Material Fee: Students in the Master of Counseling: Addiction Counseling Specialization are required to pay a $49.99 Material Fee during the Capstone course (CNL690), which will provide access to NCMHCE and Addiction Counselor study materials and exam preparation.
Admission Requirements
Students interested in the Master of Arts in Counseling program must meet one of the following criteria to be considered for admission:
Have earned a Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a minimum overall GPA of 2.5.
Transfer student from another college/university’s graduate program in good academic standing (minimum GPA of 2.75).
Students, who meet one of the above criteria, will be required to complete the following steps in order to be admitted and enrolled:
As a non-profit organization committed to serving the underserved, Touro University Worldwide has waived the $60 application fee for all prospective students.
Submit official transcripts from all institutions attended. Transcripts must come directly from the issuing institutions. Students who completed college coursework outside the United States must have their transcripts translated and evaluated. (See Foreign Credit for additional information.) Students are required to complete step 3 by the end of their first term of enrollment.
Touro University Worldwide is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Touro College Los Angeles (Lander Campus) is a division of Touro University Worldwide.
For more information on WSCUC, visit www.wscuc.org or write WSCUC at 1080 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 500, Alameda, CA 94501.
Help Others Through Addiction Recovery With an Online Master’s in Counseling
Touro University Worldwide’s Master of Arts in Counseling degree with Addiction Counseling specialization explores the assessment and treatment of substance abuse. This online program prepares graduates to meet the licensure requirements to become substance abuse counselors in California and other states.
