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Addiction is a disease that can tear apart families, ruin lives and adversely affect whole communities.1 As an aspiring drug addiction counseling professional, you can help make a difference. Enroll in Grand Canyon University’s Bachelor of Science in Counseling with an Emphasis in Addiction, Chemical Dependency and Substance Abuse. Offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, this program offers you the opportunity to serve individuals, families and communities with competence and compassion.
Throughout your substance use disorder counseling emphasis, you will be taught the underlying causes and contributing factors of addiction and substance use, and the principles of evidence-based drug addiction counseling. Applying a strength-based perspective can help you approach the whole person and family.
A career in substance use disorder counseling can enable you to help others in need throughout your community. When someone is in need of counseling, addiction can make it all but impossible to see the light in the darkness. As a future counseling professional, you could be in a position to offer that person a lifeline when they need it most.
This online bachelor’s degree in counseling may qualify you to pursue further mental health credentials. Each state establishes their own licensure requirements for mental health counselors, so it is important to research the requirements for the state in which you plan to work. In addition to a undergraduate degree in counseling, some states may require a master’s degree, clinical experience hours and a licensure exam.2
This online program can allow you to continue meeting your other commitments while furthering your education. As an online student, you will enjoy convenient instruction using our online learning platform, which allows access to course materials and for interaction with peers via discussion threads. You can also take addiction counselor courses on GCU’s campus.
You will be taught to develop customized treatment plans for each individual that addresses their various needs — physical, emotional, cognitive and social. Each addiction counselor course is faith-integrated with the Christian worldview and key concepts in spirituality designed to enhance comprehension of and treatment for substance use disorders.
A blend of theoretical knowledge and applied skills, including hands-on learning experiences, will be taught in this program.
Some of the topics covered in your substance use disorder counselor program include the following:
You will have the opportunity to gain skills in screening, intake, assessment, treatment planning and case management. You will explore special issues in substance use disorder counseling, including considerations when working with children and adolescents and encouraging family involvement in the treatment process.
The role of spirituality in counseling is emphasized. Additionally, as an addiction and substance use disorder counseling student, you will have the chance to gain foundational knowledge in matters pertaining to legal standards, professional guidelines and ethical issues.
Earning your bachelor’s degree in counseling with an emphasis in addiction is the first step toward pursuing a career in addiction and substance use disorder counseling. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse in 2022, an estimated 11% of eighth-graders had used an illicit drug within the past year.4 The need for substance use disorder counselors is expected to grow as people continue to seek addiction and mental health counseling services.5
Addiction and substance use disorder counselors can work in a variety of settings, including:
Private Practices
Hospitals
Mental health clinics
Rehabilitation facilities
Estimated job growth for substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors from 2023 to 20335
Some jobs may require professional licensure or certification. The bachelor’s degree in counseling for substance use disorder and addiction at GCU may qualify you to become eligible to pursue professional credentials, such as the Licensed Substance Abuse Technician (LSAT). It may also provide a foundation for enrollment in a graduate degree program in substance abuse counseling. The graduate program can also lead to a pathway to licensure. You should research the substance use disorder counselor requirements for licensure for the state in which you would like to work.
GCU has been institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1968. The bachelor’s in counseling with an addiction emphasis program is covered under this accreditation and meets high standards in key educational areas, such as teaching and learning effectiveness, academic achievement, integrity, resources, support and financial stewardship.
Before you decide to pursue this counseling degree, it’s a good idea to inform yourself of the career pathway and what you might expect from a career in the field. You can use the following frequently asked questions and answers to begin your research.
The first step in becoming a certified or licensed counselor is to earn a baccalaureate counseling degree with an addiction emphasis from an institutionally accredited school. If you wish to work in private practice, you will also need to earn a master’s degree before you can pursue licensure.2
During your master’s degree program, you will be required to complete supervised practicum hours in a counseling-related and direct-contact capacity. Graduates with an MS in Addiction Counseling from GCU are given the tools to meet the Arizona licensure requirements and may also be prepared to seek licensure or additional certification in other states. It is your responsibility to understand the licensing requirements for your state. You must pass a national or state licensing or certification exam in order to be a certified or licensed substance addiction counselor.2
According to the BLS, substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors have a median annual wage of $53,710 as of May 2023.6 Of course, salary ranges can vary across workplace settings and from one employer to the next. A counselor’s earning potential may also be affected by individual factors, such as their years of experience, job performance record and any additional qualifications they may choose to pursue.
Explore how to serve and empower those fighting addiction and substance use disorders as you work to fulfill your goal of becoming an addiction counselor. Apply today for enrollment in GCU’s substance use disorder counseling emphasis online.
1 American Psychiatric Association. (2020, Dec.). What Is A Substance Use Disorder? American Psychiatric Association. Retrieved Aug. 14, 2023.
2 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2022, Oct. 24). How To Become A Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, Or Mental Health Counselor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Aug. 14, 2023.
3 National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2022, Dec. 15). Most Reported Substance Use Among Adolescents Held Steady in 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
4 U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2022, Oct. 24). Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder and Mental Health Counselors Job Outlook. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
5 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2023, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors, retrieved Oct. 23, 2023.
6 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors, as of May 2022, retrieved on Oct. 23, 2023. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
Online: $485 per credit [More Info]
Up to 90 credits, only 84 can be lower division
Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer
Admission Requirements (Bachelor's)
OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and
Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality, or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission. Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.
*Math and reading only on a 1600 point scale (test date after 3/1/2016). SAT score of 1380 required for 2400 point scale (test date before 3/1/2016).
