Online Master’s in Addiction Counseling Degree
Online Master’s in Addiction Counseling Degree
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Substance use and addictive disorders are diseases that adversely affect individuals, families and communities as a whole. As an aspiring addiction counselor, you could work toward effecting meaningful change in the lives of people in your community. The Master of Science in Addiction Counseling at Grand Canyon University follows a curriculum designed to introduce you to evidence-based substance use disorder assessments and treatments.
Offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, this addiction counseling master’s program is designed to blend classroom instruction with practical learning experiences. You will be taught matters of professional ethics, counseling theories and principles, psychopharmacology and chemical dependency in adolescents and adults. Graduates with a master’s in addiction counseling can position themselves to pursue licensure and work opportunities in various settings.
Qualified counselors are needed to meet the rising need for substance use and addictive disorder treatment.
When you graduate with an MS in Addiction Counseling, you will have the opportunity to meet the requirements for licensure in Arizona as a licensed associate substance abuse counselor (LASAC). You may also be prepared to seek licensure or additional certification in other states you may wish to practice in.
Professionals with this background may pursue work in any of the following settings:
Inpatient addiction treatment facilities
Outpatient treatment programs
Jails, prisons and juvenile detention centers
Community mental health agencies
Human services organizations
Estimated number of new substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselor jobs from 2022 to 20321
Before applying to the Master of Science in Addiction Counseling program at GCU, you may have some questions. Explore the following frequently asked questions and answers and reach out to our university counselor for more information about enrollment.
Earning a master's degree in addiction counseling, along with obtaining the proper licensing credentials, can help position you for possible career advancement opportunities in the field. Career options with a master's in substance abuse counseling include substance use counselors and postsecondary educators in health specialties.
Addiction counselors may work in a variety of settings, depending on their areas of interest and expertise. These may include specialized treatment programs, mental health centers, prisons and halfway houses, detox centers, hospitals, colleges and schools. Some addiction counselors work in residential care centers.
The median annual national wage for substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors was $53,710 in May 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.2 During this same timeframe, government and hospitals were the top-paying employers for substance abuse counselors.
The educational requirements for becoming a substance use counselor vary by state. You should determine the requirements for the state in which you plan to practice before applying to a degree program. In general, however, a master’s degree in counseling is a necessary steppingstone toward pursuing licensure. Since you’re interested in working in the substance abuse counseling subfield, it’s a good idea to choose a degree with an emphasis in substance abuse and addictive disorders.
In addition to pursuing an education as an aspiring substance abuse and addiction counselor, you can benefit from developing communication skills, interpersonal skills and active listening skills. Compassion, empathy and patience are additional characteristics that can prove helpful in counseling settings.
The BLS estimates job growth for substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors to be 18% from 2022 through 2032, much faster than average, indicating an increase of about 71,500 jobs during that time period.1
All classes are taught by knowledgeable instructors who guide you through a curriculum designed to teach foundational skills in the counseling field. GCU seeks to graduate students who are skilled communicators and effective servant leaders, capable of thinking critically about ethical issues and dilemmas.
In addition, all students in the master’s in addiction counseling program are required to complete the Pre-Practicum and Practicum/Internship. This is an in-person, supervised fieldwork experience that includes counseling-related and direct-contact practicum hours. The Pre-Practicum is followed by the Practicum/Internship, which can help you to develop your counseling skills in a mental health practice setting under supervision.
Throughout the courses in this program, you will examine the following topic areas:
Online: $600 per credit [More Info]
Up to 12 credits or 1/3 of the total program requirements in transfer (whichever is less)
Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer
Admission Requirements (Master'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.
* Degree must be from an accredited college or program that has been approved by GCU.
** Combined verbal/quantitative, after August 2011 (1,000 combined verbal and quantitative, prior to August 2011).
GCU’s master’s degree in addiction counseling is available through online classes. Earning your degree online offers the flexibility to fit classes around your schedule. Our online learning platform is designed to facilitate collaboration among instructors and learners.
If you would like to pursue a career as a licensed substance use counselor, a master’s in addiction counseling can provide the pathway toward licensure in most states. You can enhance your qualifications and pursue a career in addiction counseling with the academic competencies you will be taught at GCU. Below, you can explore some of the benefits of choosing GCU for your degree program.
1 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 Sept. 19, 2023.
2 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 2023, retrieved May 10, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. The pandemic may also impact the predicted future workforce outcomes indicated by the BLS. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers from across the country with varying levels of education and experience and does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors. It does not reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country. It also does not reflect 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. You may also wish to compare median salaries if you are considering more than one career path. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, and accept employment from, determines salary not only based on education, but also individual characteristics and skills and fit to that organization (among other categories) against a pool of candidates.
Begin working toward your master’s degree in addiction counseling in order to pursue work opportunities in the substance abuse rehabilitation field. Apply today for consideration with GCU’s admission procedures.
The Master of Science in Addiction Counseling program at GCU is accredited by the National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission (NASAC).
NASAC aims to provide legitimacy to the study of addiction science by offering structured curriculum standards and expectations for faculty. Additionally, NASAC accreditation provides purpose in the classroom, creating a connection between learned objectives and actual applications. This accreditation may benefit master’s in addiction counseling online graduates who are seeking state licensure as an addiction counselor.
