Master of Science in Christian Counseling of Substance Use and Addictive Disorders


GCU's transformative Christian Counseling programs create an opportunity to integrate Christian principles within a professional counseling practice. A career as a licensed addiction counselor begins with the Master of Science in Christian Counseling of Substance Use and Addictive Disorders.

The program offers a strong foundation in biblical knowledge and theological wisdom, to serve clients who are searching for treatments that instill Christian faith. Learners develop a deep understanding of the gospel to discuss relevant issues from a Christian perspective. This includes an exploration of spiritual health, growth and character development for the counselor in life and practice.

The program concludes with a supervised practicum or internship experience, to create an avenue for learners to further nurture and develop their counseling skills. Interns will have an opportunity to provide substance abuse disorder services under clinical supervision.

Graduates of this degree are open to the possibilities to own and operate their own counseling clinic or work in a variety of settings, such as:

  • Private practices
  • Substance abuse clinics
  • Group practices
  • Hospitals

Licensed substance abuse counselors are expected to be in heavier demand in both the public and private sector for the forseeable future. A master's degree is needed to achieve the highest level of licensing and certification in many states.

Learners are provided with comprehensive training and academic preparation to achieve national certification and licensure in Arizona as an addiction counselor. Graduates from other states may have the academic preparation to begin the process to seek certification and licensure in their respective states. But, additional requirements may vary from state to state.

Christian faith components:

  • Biblical Foundations for Counselors
  • Spiritual Formation
  • Biblical Concepts of Healthy Relationships
  • Integration of Scripture with Counseling Theory

Topics of interest:

  • Psychopharmacology and Addictions
  • Family Issues and Addictive Disorders
  • Group Counseling Theory and Practice
  • Diagnostics, Assessment and Treatment

Program SOC

Occupations
Marriage and Family Therapists
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  4. Some Non-Traditional programs may be offered on the ground campus or on-line.
  5. N/A identifies that a program is not offered in that modality or that fewer than 10 students graduated within the reported timeframe.
  6. Tuition and Fees for each program are based on current rates. Future Tuition and Fee Rates may vary. Tuition was calculated using the number of credit hours in the program times the current tuition rate and includes the Graduation Fee. Full time students enrolled at a program taken at the main campus include a Student Activity Fee, charged every semester. Online programs include a one time Learning Management Fee. Some programs may also include additional fees based on course materials.
  7. On-time graduation rates and median loan debt are based on students who graduated in the 2011-2012 award year.
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  9. Program availability is contingent on student enrollment.

Online/Evening program disclosures

* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Program subject to change.

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