Program Overview
The Master of Arts in Counseling prepares students to support individuals affected by substance use, dependency, and co-occurring behavioral health conditions. The program combines online study in counseling theory, assessment, ethics, diversity, treatment, recovery, and clinical research with supervised practicum and internship experience.
Addiction Counseling is the required focus of the degree rather than an optional concentration. Students choose between a 60-credit base track and a 72-credit Advanced Topics track based on their California licensure plans and the educational requirements of the state where they intend to practice.
Addiction Counseling Specialization
The Addiction Counseling specialization prepares students to assess substance use and dependency disorders, develop treatment plans, support recovery, and address related mental health needs. The curriculum examines addiction across individual, family, social, and cultural contexts and emphasizes ethical, culturally responsive counseling.
Students study topics such as substance use assessment and treatment, psychopharmacology, co-occurring disorders, group counseling, family dynamics, trauma, and recovery. Clinical practicum and internship courses allow students to apply this knowledge under the guidance of a TUW faculty supervisor and an approved on-site supervisor.
Choose Your Track
Students who intend to pursue LPCC licensure in California must select the 72-credit Advanced Topics track. It is the track approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences for the program’s educational requirements.
The 60-credit MAC track is the base degree and is not approved by the California BBS as the California LPCC pathway. Students seeking licensure outside California must review TUW’s state disclosure information and confirm the requirements of the state where they plan to practice before selecting a track.
MAC track — 60 credits
The 60-credit MAC track provides the degree’s core counseling curriculum, practicum, and internship requirements. This track is not approved by the California BBS for students seeking LPCC licensure in California.
Students complete:
- 14 courses (42 credits)
- 2 clinical practicum courses (6 credits)
- 4 clinical internship courses (12 credits)
- 100 practicum hours over two sessions in the Clinical Practicum Courses
- 600 total clinical internship hours over four sessions in the Clinical Internship Courses
- 700 total clinical hours, including at least 280 hours of direct supervision
The track is developed in alignment with CACREP and BBS standards.
MAC Advanced Topics Track — 72 credits (CA BBS-Approved)
The BBS has approved the Advanced Topics Track educational requirements. Students who select Advanced Topics Track must take the courses in the MAC track plus the four (4) advanced topic courses.
Students who plan to become licensed in California MUST select the Advanced Topics Track as this is the approved BBS track in the MAC Program.
- 14 courses (42 credits)
- 2 practicum courses (6 credits)
- 4 clinical internship courses (12 credits)
- 4 advanced courses (12 credits)
- CNL 619 Advanced Integrative Approaches in Counseling (3 Credit hours)
- CNL 621 Crisis/Trauma Response and Interventions (3 Credit hours)
- CNL 623 Human Sexuality in Counseling (3 Credit hours)
- CNL 625 Contemporary Issues in Addiction Counseling (3 Credit hours)
- Total Minimum is 72 credit hours
Note: Students are required to check the licensure requirements for their respective state.
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:
- Submit an application.
- 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.
Licensure & Certification
The Master of Arts in Counseling provides academic and supervised clinical training for counseling work involving substance use and co-occurring behavioral health conditions. Both tracks are developed in alignment with CACREP standards, with the 72-credit Advanced Topics Track approved by the California BBS.
Students pursuing LPCC licensure in California generally complete these steps:
- Choose the 72-credit Advanced Topics track. This is the California BBS-approved track.
- Complete the degree and its clinical training. The curriculum includes 100 clinical practicum hours and 600 internship hours.
- Apply to register as an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor and complete the fingerprinting and background-check requirements.
- Take and pass the California Law and Ethics Examination.
- Complete 3,000 hours of supervised post-degree experience over at least 104 weeks.
- Apply for LPCC licensure through the BBS.
- Take and pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination.
- Request issuance of the LPCC license and pay the required fee.
Tuition, Financial Aid & Scholarships
TUW’s tuition for the Master of Arts in Counseling is $500 per semester credit. The $60 application fee has been waived for prospective students, and online course materials are included, so students do not need to purchase separate textbooks.
A one-time $49.99 MAC materials fee is charged during CNL 690 Capstone and provides access to NCMHCE and Addiction Counselor study materials and exam preparation. A $200 degree audit and graduation fee also applies once per degree.
Eligible students may use federal financial aid, scholarships, employer tuition assistance, and approved military education benefits. Many employers offer tuition reimbursement, so check with your human resources department to determine whether additional support is available. TUW tuition assistance counselors can help you understand your eligibility and available funding options.
Military & Veteran Benefits
Eligible service members, veterans, military spouses, immediate DEA dependents, and non-contractor Department of Defense employees may qualify for TUW’s reduced military tuition rate. Service members planning to use Tuition Assistance should consult their Education Services Officer (ESO) for guidance before enrolling.
TUW also accepts eligible GI Bill® benefits and participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Military training and experience may be evaluated for transfer credit based on American Council on Education recommendations. Eligibility, documentation, and benefit requirements vary, so contact an enrollment counselor for guidance.
What Can You Do With a Master’s in Counseling
The Master of Arts in Counseling prepares graduates for counseling and behavioral health roles focused on addiction, recovery, and related mental health needs. Potential career options depend on the graduate’s track, professional experience, state requirements, and licensure status.
Core Requirements
60 Semester Credits
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed to examine historical and contemporary theories of counseling to assist students in developing their personal theoretical orientation, to help in client conceptualization, and to identify appropriate counseling interventions. The course will also cover counselors’ multi-disciplinary roles, responsibilities, and relationships as members of specialized practice and inter-professional teams including issues related to collaboration, consultation, and community outreach especially in crises, emergencies, and disasters.
CREDITS
3
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course provides an introduction to professional, ethical, legal, theoretical, cultural, social, and practice aspects of counseling. Students will learn about underlying theories and responsibilities of counselors, such as counselor-client, privilege, confidentiality, if the client is a danger to self or others, treatment of minors with or without parental consent, and the significance in professional organizations and associations in preparation of professional standards. Ethical decision-making models are introduced and explored within a counseling context coupled with historical, cultural and advocacy and their contributions associated to contemporary emergent issues. This course aligns with CACREP’s Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice foundational curricula area, with particular focus on California laws, ethics, and practice standards.
CREDITS
3
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course provides an overview of human lifespan development within the profession of counseling. The course addresses theories of individual and family development, both typical and atypical, across the entire lifespan. Students will conceptualize individuals based on the biological, neurological, systemic, and environmental factors that contribute towards their normal development, disability or psychopathology. Special emphasis covered in the course are strategies for promoting resilience and wellness across the lifespan including cultural and individual differences.
CREDITS
3
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course reviews underlying theories relevant to diversity to aid students in developing awareness, knowledge, and skills specific to counselors-in-training preparing to work with a variety of diverse clients including but not limited to Native American, East Indian, Middle Eastern, Hispanics, and other diverse cultures. Also, the course will provide awareness of social and cultural diversity to include but not limited to acculturation, cultural identity, multiculturalism, interculturalism, religiosity, spirituality, sexism, and sexual diversities. Students will develop cultural self-awareness along with advocating via the reduction or elimination of intentional (or unintentional) biases and prejudices.
CREDITS
3
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course provides an overview of major career development theories, vocational guidance, decision making models, and occupational/educational information sources. Students learn about career development, program planning, and evaluation relevant to counselors. Special emphasis is placed on how career counseling and vocational guidance are practiced by professional counselors in rehabilitation programs, job placement agencies, and adult vocational training programs.
CREDITS
3
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course is useful for counselors in training on the concepts and skills necessary to understand and lead counseling groups in various settings. The students will explore different theoretical approaches to counseling groups which include basic principles of group dynamics such as leadership tasks, group developmental stages, member roles, and therapeutic factors of group work. Additionally, students will meet for a minimum of 10 clock hours in a small-group activity that is designed to provide direct experiences as a participant in a small group setting in order to prepare counselors in training for personal development.
CREDITS
3
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course provides an overview of the broad range of psychological disorders that are linked or triggered by co-occurring chemical dependency or medical conditions along with the proper methods of identifying the psychological disorders based on the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual criteria. Special topics include the causes, prevalence, symptoms, criteria, and multi-cultural considerations for mental health diagnoses affecting adolescents and adults who are suffering psychological disorders along with the considerations for the continuum of care for these clients.
CREDITS
3
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course provides an overview of standardized test development and procedures, applications and limitations of standardized tests, techniques of administering individual/group tests in relation to counseling. Moreover, students learn about interpreting assessment instruments and profiles along with communication strategies with clients, parents, school personnel, and other relevant professionals. The course is based on providing students with awareness of standardized tests but students are not provided with competence to administer these standardized tests as specialized training would be required.
CREDITS
3
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course introduces students to quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research methods for the purposes of critiquing counseling psychology research and thus become discerning consumers of published research. Students also learn statistical methods and other data analysis strategies for evaluating evidence-based substance abuse treatment outcomes for clients applicable in community mental health settings. Moreover, students learn how to conduct a needs assessment and program evaluation for their specific counseling setting.
CREDITS
3
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course provides an overview of clinical psychopharmacology for substance abuse counselors. This course orient students to counseling for substance abuse treatment with the fundamentals of psychotropic drugs such as drug mechanisms of action, drug classifications, drug interactions, and adverse psychological and behavioral side effects along with appropriate guidance counselors need for medical referral and consultation relevant to substance abuse treatment.
CREDITS
3
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course provides students with the history and development of addiction counseling. Students explore the factors that increase the likelihood for a person, community, or group to be at risk or resilient to psychoactive substance use disorders. Moreover, students learn about professional counseling organizations, credentials, legal and ethical considerations, record keeping, evaluation, treatment, and other practice and management considerations that specifically apply in addiction counseling. Additional topics include principles of abstinence and harm reduction models of addiction recovery along with role of spirituality in the addiction recovery process.
CREDITS
3
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course provides an overview of crisis theories along with multidisciplinary responses to crises, emergencies, or disasters. Students will learn about cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and neurological effects associated with trauma along with how they trigger substance abuse disorders. Students also explore brief, intermediate, and long-term treatment strategies to manage trauma along with the proper assessment strategies for clients who have experienced trauma. Students also learn about suicide risk prevention and intervention.
CREDITS
3
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course addresses advanced theories and models of treating substance abuse addiction clients. The students will learn about evaluating and identifying individualized strategies and treatment modalities relative to clients’ stage of substance dependence, motivation for change, or recovery. In addition, students examine strategies for enhancing client motivation to change, managing cravings, and preventing relapse in addition to learning about recovery support tools and systems, such as vocation, family, social networks, and community systems. Special topics include legal standards, regulatory processes, continuum of care, and service delivery in addiction counseling.
CREDITS
3
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Students apply culturally competent skills working with clients while closely being supervised by a TUW faculty supervisor, via live classroom sessions, and an on-site counseling supervisor. Students are observed and evaluated as they engage in a wide range of counseling-related activities. This is the first of a 2-part course, where the program requires students to work towards earning the mandated minimum 100 clock hours in a supervised counseling practicum experience, which includes 40 face-to-face hours. In addition, students apply advanced coursework to complement the clinical practicum. (Prerequisite CNL 626A)
CREDITS
3
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This is the second course in clinical practicum where counselors apply culturally competent skills working with clients while closely being supervised by a TUW faculty supervisor, via live classroom sessions, and an on-site counseling supervisor. Students are observed and evaluated as they engage in a wide range of counseling-related activities. This is the second of a 2-part course, where students are finalizing the program’s mandated minimum 100 clock hours in a supervised counseling practicum experience, which includes 40 face-to-face hours. Similar to Clinical Practicum I, students apply advanced coursework to complement the clinical practicum.
CREDITS
3
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This set of courses provides students opportunities to apply their diagnostic and counseling skills, training, and knowledge with increasing autonomy as guided by a TUW faculty supervisor, via live classroom sessions, and an on-site counseling supervisor with emphasis in the student’s area of counseling specialization. Students are observed and evaluated as they engage in a wide range of counseling-related activities, advanced coursework and or relevant additional coursework including applicable California Codes of Regulation. Students can complete the four (4) clinical internship courses in 8-week terms to achieve the required 600 clock hours to complete the program. (Prerequisite CNL 626B)
CREDITS
3
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This set of courses provides students opportunities to apply their diagnostic and counseling skills, training, and knowledge with increasing autonomy as guided by a TUW faculty supervisor, via live classroom sessions, and an on-site counseling supervisor with emphasis in the student’s area of counseling specialization. Students are observed and evaluated as they engage in a wide range of counseling-related activities, advanced coursework and or relevant additional coursework including applicable California Codes of Regulation. Students can complete the four (4) clinical internship courses in 8-week terms to achieve the required 600 clock hours to complete the program. (Prerequisite CNL 628A)
CREDITS
3
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This set of courses provides students opportunities to apply their diagnostic and counseling skills, training, and knowledge with increasing autonomy as guided by a TUW faculty supervisor, via live classroom sessions, and an on-site counseling supervisor with emphasis in the student’s area of counseling specialization. Students are observed and evaluated as they engage in a wide range of counseling-related activities, advanced coursework and or relevant additional coursework including applicable California Codes of Regulation. Students can complete the four (4) clinical internship courses in 8-week terms to achieve the required 600 clock hours to complete the program. (Prerequisite CNL 628B)
CREDITS
3
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This set of courses provides students opportunities to apply their diagnostic and counseling skills, training, and knowledge with increasing autonomy as guided by a TUW faculty supervisor, via live classroom sessions, and an on-site counseling supervisor with emphasis in the student’s area of counseling specialization. Students are observed and evaluated as they engage in a wide range of counseling-related activities, advanced coursework and or relevant additional coursework including applicable California Codes of Regulation. Students can complete the four (4) clinical internship courses in 8-week terms to achieve the required 600 clock hours to complete the program. (Prerequisite CNL 628C)
CREDITS
3
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The Capstone course is the culmination of the student’s Master of Arts in Counseling: Addiction Counseling Specialization degree program and is taken in the last session of the student’s program. The Capstone course assesses the achievement of all the Program Learning Outcomes. Students complete a Capstone assignment and have an opportunity to take practice exams in preparation for the counseling licensure exam. The Capstone will be reviewed by the primary faculty providing oversight of the Capstone course and may serve as a tool for the student’s future clinical practice.
CREDITS
3
Advanced Topics Track Courses*
12 Semester Credits
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course delves into the integration of counseling theories, techniques, and frameworks to create comprehensive, client-centered treatment approaches. The emphasis is on blending multiple evidence-based methods to enhance client outcomes utilizing integrative counseling research and ethical guidelines, ensuring that interventions are adaptable to the complexities of individual, group, and multicultural counseling settings.
CREDITS
3
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In this course, students learn the developmental impact of trauma and associated intervention connected to multi-disciplinary approaches. Principles of trauma-informed care (TIC) are examined and explored to determine empirical evidence in using trauma-informed care for therapeutic interventions. The course will include assessing crisis intervention strategies that involve but not limited applications of mental first aid from first responders, suicide risk assessment and prevention, prolonged grief issues, community-based crisis response.
CREDITS
3
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course equips counselors with the knowledge, awareness, and clinical skills necessary to address human sexuality within therapeutic relationships. Counselors will explore the complexities of sexual development, identity, behavior, and intimacy across diverse populations and throughout the lifespan among clients diagnosed with substance use and co-occurring disorders. Emphasis is placed on self-awareness, cultural competence, and ethical considerations, ensuring counselors can navigate sensitive topics with confidence, professionalism, and respect for substance and dually diagnosed client experiences.
CREDITS
3
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In this course, students learn about contemporary issues in addiction counseling including the rising prevalence of opioids, substance abuse in pain management, co-occurrence of opioid and mental health issues, and substance use overdoses. Special topics include cost related treatments, the integration of medication- assisted treatment (MAT) with traditional therapy, the need for trauma-informed care, and telehealth services in the treatment of addiction counseling.
CREDITS
3
Format
100% online, 8-week courses*
Field education
450 hours across three practicum courses
Start dates
Six per year
Next start
August 31, 2026
Apply by
August 28, 2026
Accreditation
WSCUC and CSWE
Tuition
$400 per semester credit
Transfer credits
Up to 90 credits
Entry requirement
High school diploma or GED, or transfer in good academic standing; minimum 2.0 GPA
Students are responsible for securing an approved field site. TUW must approve the site and supervisor before students begin accumulating field hours.
Application deadlines are generally the Friday before the term begins. Confirm the date with an enrollment counselor.
Request Information
Accreditation & Employer Recognition
Touro University Worldwide is institutionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission. Institutional accreditation applies to the university as a whole and confirms that TUW has completed an external review of its academic and institutional standards.
Both MAC tracks are developed in alignment with standards established by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. The 72-credit Advanced Topics track is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences for the program’s California educational pathway.
Why TUW: Faculty, Proof & Credibility
The Master of Arts in Counseling combines flexible online study with supervised clinical preparation. Eight-week courses, six annual starts, and no GRE requirement support adult learners balancing graduate study with work and personal responsibilities.
Students receive guidance from faculty supervisors during practicum and internship courses and work with approved on-site supervisors as they develop their counseling skills.
Faculty expertise
James Hughes, PhD, LMHC
Director of the Master of Arts in Counseling (MAC) Program
AAMFT Approved Supervisor
Professor of Master of Arts in Counseling
James Powell, PhD
Patricia Dudley, PhD, LCPC
Sacha Montgomery, MA, LCPC, LSOTP
