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Substance Abuse Counselor – Online Counseling Degree

Do you want to pursue a career helping others overcome their addictions through effective counseling? If so, the Bachelor of Science in Addictions Counseling at Indiana Wesleyan University could be the next logical step toward your goal. This Bachelor’s Degree in Addiction Counseling program was designed to be completed online, allowing students to continue their education without slowing down their current career or family responsibilities. This evidence-based program produces practitioners who want to apply their Christian faith to their careers, helping individuals defeat their addictions. This B.S. in Addictions Counseling can be completed in as little as two years, with students focusing on just one course at a time.

Why Pursue My Bachelor’s in Addictions Counseling Online at IWU?

At IWU, students with Christian beliefs can find the support and mentorship to be successful in this substance abuse counselor degree online program while focusing on self-development and lifelong learning grounded in IWU’s Christian faith. From tech support to tutoring, we provide online students the same quality of education they would expect from a campus-based program. While you study in this program, we will lock your tuition rates so they stay the same throughout your time of study. We offer students a path toward an accredited degree in addiction counseling with the convenience of online courses and the benefit of practicum hours spent with faculty who are experienced professionals.  Our Christian faculty teach from the same biblical worldview valued on our campus, so that students can implement these principles in a fulfilling career in counseling.

What Will I Learn in this B.S. in Addictions Counseling Online Degree Program?

The curriculum of this behavioral health degree online is designed to teach students evidence-based addiction treatment skills, the theory and practice of group counseling techniques, ethics and professional practice, the psychology of abnormal behavior, cultural humility in counseling, and other critical topics. Plus, we lock in the rate of your tuition once you start this drug and alcohol counseling online degree program. This ensures you do not have to worry about cost increases once you begin your education.

Learn more about the Bachelor's in Addictions Counseling Online Program

What Makes IWU Different?

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Tuition & Aid

45 Credit Hours

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$405/ Credit Hour

Net Price Calculator

Financial aid is available in the form of grants, loans, scholarships, veterans’ benefits, and employer reimbursement.

Financial Aid Tuition & Fees Info

Applicable fees for resources and services will be assessed throughout the program. Tuition and fees for prerequisites and required elective courses are in addition to the charges shown on the program cost sheet. Your tuition rate will remain the same as long as you remain continuously enrolled in the same program. The estimated cost of attendance is available on the financial aid webpage. Cost sheets may be requested from an enrollment counselor by calling 866.498.4968 or emailing iwuenroll@indwes.edu.

What You'll Study

Coursework for your bachelor’s in addictions counseling program covers how to:

  • Demonstrate the ability to communicate treatment plans and techniques for rehabilitation effectively with clients and their families
  • Apply current techniques in assessment, treatment planning, and client/system change processes
  • Understand and treat individuals, through trauma-informed care, based on the context of their individual addictions as well as family systems and addiction
  • Integrate Christian principles into a career helping others overcome their addiction

View Courses

Indiana Wesleyan University

Courses in this Program

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.

PSY-150,ADC-202, ADC-210,SOC-210,PSY-250,ADC-310, ADC-320,PSY-370,PSY-366,ADC-458,ADC-212,PSY-322,ADC-330,ADC-458,ADC-471,ADC-472,ADC-473,ADC-474

After Graduation

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Potential Careers

  • Community Health Worker
  • Licensed Addictions Counselor
  • Social Services Manager

Work in Various Industries

  • Industries

Program FAQs

Dr. Amanda Davis brings more than 20 years of experience in public education as both a classroom teacher and school counselor. She serves as program director and full-time faculty at Indiana Wesleyan University and owns a private counseling practice, partnering with local schools. Her areas of expertise include school counselor leadership, principal and counselor collaboration, counselor wellness, and grief support. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, crafting, traveling with her family, and spending time with her two Labrador retrievers.

Dr. Judy Justice approaches counseling and teaching as a calling to serve others, modeling Christ-centered care in her work. She serves as a counselor with the American Red Cross Disaster Team, responding to local and national crises. With decades of experience in school counseling and higher education, she prepares graduate students to become compassionate, effective counselors. She has also served as a program director and contributed extensively to university and professional committees.

Dr. Erin Davis is a dedicated educator known for her strong relationships with students and commitment to service. She is passionate about supporting underserved communities and brings global perspective through experiences such as teaching at sea. With extensive experience in counseling and higher education, she equips students with both clinical skill and empathy.

Practicum and internship experiences provide hands-on training in real school settings. Students apply counseling skills, build professional confidence, and gain practical experience that prepares them for immediate employment as school counselors.
This CACREP-accredited school counseling program prepares graduates for careers as licensed school counselors in public, private, and charter schools serving Pre-K–12 students. Students in the dual School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling track are also prepared for careers in community mental health agencies, private practice, hospitals, and other behavioral health settings.
Key courses include Foundations of School Counseling, School Counseling Programming, and internship placement courses that provide supervised, real-world experience.
Graduates typically pursue licensure and begin working as school counselors. Dual-track graduates often pursue associate licensure in clinical mental health counseling while completing supervised hours toward full licensure.
School counseling is a comprehensive, school-based profession focused on academic, career, and social-emotional development. Students are trained to design and implement counseling programs, collaborate with educators and families, and use data to guide decision-making.
This program is primarily online with required in-person intensives and field experiences. Students complete coursework online, attend 2–3 day intensives for key courses, and complete practicum and internship hours in approved local school settings.
Courses are delivered primarily in an asynchronous online format, allowing flexibility for working adults. Students complete weekly modules, engage in discussions, and submit assignments within set deadlines.
Yes. Students complete a practicum and two internships in school counseling settings. The program provides guidance, approved site lists, and faculty support throughout the placement process.
Indiana Wesleyan University’s program is Christ-centered, CACREP-accredited, and designed for working adults. Students benefit from small class sizes, personalized mentorship, and the option to pursue a dual track in clinical mental health counseling.
Successful students are motivated, self-directed learners who are passionate about helping children and adolescents. They are collaborative, adaptable, and committed to personal and professional growth.
Students describe the program as supportive and relational. Faculty provide consistent guidance, and the flexible structure allows students to balance coursework, work, and family responsibilities.

This online addictions counseling degree prepares students for the Licensed Addiction Counselor-Associate (LAC-A) and Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) credentials in Indiana, with coursework aligned to licensure requirements in many other states.

Students complete 350 supervised clinical hours through practicum experiences, providing applied training in addiction counseling settings.

Ethics are integrated throughout the curriculum, with multiple courses focused on professional standards, ethical decision-making, and legal considerations in addiction counseling. These concepts are reinforced through supervised practicum experiences.

Students work with a variety of populations depending on their placement site, including individuals dealing with substance use disorders across diverse age groups and backgrounds.

Yes. The program curriculum aligns with Indiana licensure requirements and supports students in understanding licensure pathways in other states.

Program Requirements

  • Proof of standard high school diploma or GED certification.
  • Official transcripts from all previous college or university studies at regionally accredited colleges or universities or at an institution accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education.
  • Prior completion of at least 60 transferable credit hours from a regionally accredited college or university or from an institution accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education is required before starting the core program. A maximum of 40 credit hours may be earned through the assessed learning process toward the required 60.
  • Students in this program are required to complete PSY-150 (General Psychology) or its equivalent before starting the core program.
  • Completion of 120 credit hours.
  • Completion of the required core courses with a GPA of 2.5 or higher.
  • Overall cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
  • Completion of 30 credit hours of Liberal Arts, including the following:
    • 3 credit hours in Biblical Studies
    • 3 credit hours in Biblical Studies or Philosophy or Religion
    • 6 credit hours in English Written Communication
    • 3 credit hours in English Oral Communication
    • 6 credit hours in Social or Behavioral Science
    • 3 credit hours in Mathematics
    • 3 credit hours in Natural Science
    • 3 credit hours in Arts and Humanities (Core courses that fall into Liberal Arts categories may not be used to fulfill both the core requirement and the Liberal Arts requirement.)
  • Completion of a total of 350 supervised hours of practicum field experience.
  • Payment of all tuition and fees is required to receive a diploma.
  • Internet Requirement. Students will be required to have access to high-speed Internet for the duration of the program.
  • Audio and Video Equipment. Students will be required to obtain and/or utilize audio and video equipment for classes, group counseling, and practicums.
  • Background Checks. Students may be required to undergo background checks and drug testing in order to participate in the practicum courses.
  • Criminal Convictions. State regulations may prohibit licensure for individuals who have ever been convicted of a crime of violence or of any crime that has a direct bearing on the ability to practice competently. The applicant is responsible to check with the state in which he or she wishes to be licensed prior to beginning the program.

Accreditation

  • Internet Requirement. Students will be required to have access to high-speed Internet for the duration of the program.
  • Audio and Video Equipment. Students will be required to obtain and/or utilize audio and video equipment for classes, group counseling, and practicums.
  • Background Checks. Students may be required to undergo background checks and drug testing in order to participate in the practicum courses.
  • Criminal Convictions. State regulations may prohibit licensure for individuals who have ever been convicted of a crime of violence or of any crime that has a direct bearing on the ability to practice competently. The applicant is responsible to check with the state in which he or she wishes to be licensed prior to beginning the program.

Take the Next Step

Discover the way ahead so you can help others overcome their addictions and move forward in your counseling career. Learn more about the online B.S. in Addictions Counseling at IWU today!

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