Online Master's in Addiction Counseling
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There is a great need for addiction professionals in America today. The Lewin Group, a Maryland-based consulting firm, reports that 5,000 new addiction counseling professionals are needed each year just to replace those who are leaving the field. The need for professionals with an addiction counselor degree is created by the rising number of addicting materials created and used each year. Individuals all over the world are fighting a battle with drug and alcohol abuse, substance abuse, or other addictive behaviors.
At Indiana Wesleyan University, we offer a 48-credit-hour master’s in addiction counseling that allows participants to gain hands-on experience while being clinically supervised by men and women of diverse cultural backgrounds with doctoral degrees in a variety of areas related to counseling. IWU’s goal is to provide the world with highly qualified Christian counseling professionals who are equipped to serve their communities in character, scholarship, and leadership.
Our master’s in addiction counseling program helps prepare students to meet credential requirements. The program adheres to current evidence-based practice, integrating a Christian worldview with a behavioral and social sciences orientation. Our Christian faculty teach from the same biblical worldview valued on our campus, so that students can implement these principles in a fulfilling career. Through our addiction counselor degree programs, IWU is an Approved Education Provider of NAADAC, the National Association for Addiction Professionals. Our graduate-level addiction counselor degree is also accredited through NASAC, The National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission. Participants in this program qualify for student membership and Addiction Professional in Training national certification through NAADAC and will be academically qualified to seek accreditation upon graduation.
Upon completion of the master’s in addiction counseling program, you’ll be prepared to articulate a clear understanding of CADC professional identity and deliver mental health services with multicultural competence. You’ll develop essential counseling skills that will prepare you to apply relevant research findings and evaluation models to inform treatment and intervention strategies in addiction counseling. Our addiction counselor degree program will help you demonstrate knowledge of the fundamental domains in addictions counseling and deliver addictions counseling services with multicultural competence and sensitivity while integrating faith into your addictions counseling practice in a clinically appropriate, sensitive, and ethical manner.
Your Master of Arts in Graduate Counseling may be closer than you think! Learn more about the Graduate Counseling programs at Indiana Wesleyan, and the incredible faculty team dedicated to making helping you take the next steps in your counseling career!
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These courses contain the program-specific knowledge. Upon completion, you should have the tools to conquer your new career with confidence.
These courses contain the program-specific knowledge. Upon completion, you should have the tools to conquer your new career with confidence. For a full list of courses and prerequisites required to complete your degree, please visit the course catalog. Click on a course below to view the description.
CNS-501,CNS-502,CNS-503,CNS-504,CNS-506,CNS-507,CNS-508,CNS-509,CNS-511,CNS-512,CNS-533,CNS-535,CNS-545,CNS-550D,CNS-551D,CNS-552D
A Master of Arts in Clinical Addictions Counseling is a graduate degree designed to prepare students for advanced counseling work with individuals experiencing substance use and addiction-related challenges. At Indiana Wesleyan University, the program is offered online and combines academic preparation, supervised field experience, and training in evidence-based treatment approaches.
Yes. The Master of Arts in Clinical Addictions Counseling is offered online, giving students a flexible format for completing graduate-level counseling education while balancing professional and personal responsibilities.
Yes, the IWU Clinical Addictions Counseling program was used as the academic standard in the state of Indiana for addictions counseling licensure law and is now included in that law.
The program may also support licensure-related educational requirements in other states, especially where Indiana’s academic standards have informed state licensure frameworks. Because licensure requirements vary, students should verify requirements in the state where they plan to seek licensure.
Yes. State-by-state licensure differences are addressed at the time of application. This helps prospective students understand how the program aligns with the licensure requirements in the state where they plan to practice.
Students complete a total of:
These supervised clinical experiences are an important part of preparing students for professional counseling work in addictions treatment settings.
The program includes 100 practicum hours and 600 internship hours as part of its supervised training requirements. These hours are completed through applied clinical experiences that help students build professional skills in real counseling environments.
The program emphasizes several widely used evidence-based treatment modalities, including:
These approaches help students build practical counseling skills that can be applied in clinical addictions treatment settings.
Co-occurring disorders are addressed through specific coursework, including psychopathology, and then reinforced through supervised applied experiences such as practicum and internship.
This structure helps students better understand the complexity of working with clients who may experience both substance use issues and other mental health conditions.
Ethics and legal issues are covered in dedicated coursework such as behavioral ethics and law. These concepts are then reinforced through practicum and internship experiences, where students apply ethical and professional standards in supervised settings.
This approach helps students connect classroom learning with real-world counseling practice.
Yes. The program includes both practicum and internship experiences as part of its clinical training model. These supervised experiences help students apply counseling theories, treatment techniques, ethics, and clinical judgment in professional practice settings.
Practicum and internship experiences help students translate academic knowledge into applied counseling practice. Through supervised work, students strengthen clinical skills, deepen their understanding of treatment approaches, and gain experience working with clients in professional settings.
These field experiences are a major part of preparing students for licensure-related next steps and future counseling roles.
One notable distinction is the program’s alignment with Indiana licensure standards. The IWU program served as the academic standard for Indiana’s addictions counseling licensure law.
The program also combines online delivery, evidence-based treatment training, and supervised field experiences, making it a strong option for students seeking advanced preparation in clinical addictions counseling.
This program may be a strong fit for students who want to build advanced counseling skills, complete supervised field training, and prepare for addictions counseling licensure pathways.
It may be especially relevant for students seeking an online clinical addictions counseling degree that includes both evidence-based treatment training and applied clinical experience.
NOTE: The graduate admissions committee retains the right to waive an admission requirement for special circumstances. Successful graduate coursework may be substituted for the GRE.
Discover the way forward in your personal and professional life. Earn your addiction counselor degree online at IWU!
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