Substance Use and Addictions Area of Emphasis

Substance Use and Addictions

Embrace a multifaceted approach toward treatment

The Counseling Master’s Program offers an Area of Emphasis in Substance Use and Addictions. The area of emphasis provides a focused course of study for students who are interested in specializing in substance use and addiction assessment and treatment. The area of emphasis takes a multifaceted approach to clinical training in this important area of study.

Increasingly Master’s level clinicians and licensed alcohol and drug counselors can take on supervisory roles within substance use programs. Students within the concentration will learn how to think critically within this area in order to provide treatment that is effective across modalities and populations. Graduates will be able to work effectively within an integrated system of substance use treatment.

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Curriculum Overview

The core curriculum for the Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is augmented by coursework specific to Substance Use and Addictions Counseling.

Time to completion is two years full time or three years part time. Individual course descriptions are available in our course catalog.

Students will be able to take this concentration as part of their 60 credit program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling or as an addition to an area of emphasis. If that is the case, they will add 6 to 9 credits to their requirements.

Coursework

COU CN515 - Substance Use and Addiction Evaluation and Treatment* (credits: 3) 45 hours
COU CN520 – Psychopathology* (credits: 3) 45 hours
COU FX510 - Introduction to Family Therapy* (credits: 3) 45 hours
Total Hours: 135

COU GR501 - Group Counseling and Psychotherapy* (credits: 3) 45 hours
COU TR602 - Trauma: Theory and Treatment (credits: 3) 45 hours
COU CX510 – Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy* (credits: 3) 45 hours
Total Hours: 135

COU CC524 - Diversity, Difference and Inclusion* (credits: 3) 45 hours
COU CN621 – Approaches to Comprehensive Addiction Treatment (credits: 3) 45 hours
COU CN622 - Family and Community Interventions for Substance Use and Addiction (credits: 3) 45 hours
Total Hours: 135

COU PS635 - Professional Issues and Ethics* (credits: 3) 45 hours
Total Hours: 45

*These courses are core requirements in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program.
In addition, the practicum (minimum 360 hours) and internship (minimum 600 hours) courses - CN501, CN502, CN601 and CN602 - will require the student to be placed in a field site in which they will provide assessment and treatment to this population.