Addiction Psychology, MS
Addiction, Drugs, Psychology, Substance Abuse, Therapy, Treatment, counseling
The MS program in addiction psychology pairs state-of-the-art research from internationally recognized experts in addictions with clinical expertise from licensed psychologists and licensed addiction counselors who have decades of experience providing addiction treatment.
This program provides the knowledge, skills and experience necessary for graduates to pursue state licensure for becoming an addiction counselor.
- College/school:
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Location: Online
45 credit hours including the required applied project course (PSY 593)
Required Core (27 credit hours) Research (3 credit hours) Other Requirements (9 credit hours) Culminating Experience (6 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information The culminating experience is a six credit hour applied project. For the applied project, students evaluate existing research on addiction treatment, identify gaps in the literature, and generate a study or recommendations that contribute to the field of addiction psychology. The applied project course also includes completion of a practice licensing exam that helps prepare students to obtain state licensure as an addiction counselor. Courses listed for other requirements may be substituted with approval of the academic unit.
PSY 570 Psychopharmacology (3)
PSY 601 Addiction and Substance Abuse: Assessment and Diagnosis (3)
PSY 602 Comorbidity in Substance Use Related Problems (3)
PSY 603 Evidence-based Interventions for Substance Use Related Problems (3)
PSY 604 Multicultural Issues Related to Substance Use Related Problems (3)
PSY 605 Group Therapy for Substance Use-Related Problems (3)
PSY 606 Case Management for Substance Use Related Problems (3)
PSY 607 Family and Adolescent Treatment for Substance Use Related Problems (3)
PSY 608 Supervision of Addictions Counselors (3)
PSY 600 Research Methods (3)
PSY 591 Seminar: Ethics (3)
PSY 680 Practicum (6)
PSY 593 Applied Project (6)
Students complete six credit hours of practicum, which consists of 600 hours of applied work as an addiction counselor under supervision of licensed substance abuse counselors. With support from program advisors, students arrange for a supervision experience at a licensed addiction treatment center where they are located that provides supervision as part of the training experience. Program staff verify the licensure status of the agency and supervisor, and maintain a practicum training agreement. The practicum course also includes a weekly didactic class that facilitates the training process and monitors for any problems and successful completion of the practicum experience.
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in health, behavioral health, psychology, counseling or a related field from a regionally accredited institution.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts
- professional resume
- two letters of recommendation
- written statement
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program’s ASU Online page for program descriptions and to request more information.
Substance abuse counselor jobs can be incredibly rewarding and offer a wide variety of experiences. Graduates can find employment in substance abuse treatment centers; community mental health agencies; the primary care, integrated health and criminal justice fields; hospitals; schools and universities; and military and veterans affairs offices and hospitals.
ASU programs that may lead to professional licensure or certification are intended to prepare students for potential licensure or certification in Arizona. Completion of an ASU program may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in another state. For more information, students should visit the ASU professional licensure webpage.
Completion of the Master of Science program in addiction psychology does not result in licensure as an addictions counselor. Pursuit of state licensure is a part of career development and occurs subsequent to completion of a terminal degree.
State governments administer licensing and have several requirements, including educational and training requirements, which this program meets; supervised work experience as a part of employment after completion of the degree; and passing a licensing exam that is administered through the state licensing entity. This program prepares students for this licensing exam, but the exam is taken after completion of the degree.
Department of Psychology
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PSY 201
addictionms@asu.edu
480-727-4561
3 year programs
These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
