Addictions Counseling, MA

Overview

The M.A. in Addictions Counseling provides graduates with general counseling knowledge and skills along with specialized knowledge and skills in addictions counseling that lead to licensure as an addictions counselor in SC and other states. 

Objectives

• Use effectively evidence-based treatments for a wide array of addictive behaviors.
• Create effective treatment and relapse prevention plans.
• Create and maintain an addictions counseling practice that follows the legal requirements for record keeping, confidentiality, and other professional standards.
• Assess for the presence of co-occurring mental and emotional disorders and integrate their treatment with treatment for addictive behaviors.

Admission Requirements

1.     In addition to satisfying the general admission requirements for Columbia International University graduate-level programs, applicants must submit a specific essay and reference form for the Master of Arts in Addictions Counseling program and participate in an online interview. Applicants must satisfy the following:

2.     Bachelor’s Degree: Have completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum overall 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, or 3.0 GPA in their major field of study, or a minimum 3.0 GPA for the last 60 credits in their undergraduate degree. Students with a lower GPA may document their ability to succeed in a graduate program in one of the following ways:

a.     Complete a minimum of nine graduate-level credit hours from an accredited college or university with a minimum overall 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale and a minimum 2.7 (“B-“) grade in each course

b.     Complete a minimum of 18 graduate-level credit hours from an accredited college or university with a minimum overall 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
*International applicants must have completed the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s level degree.

c.     Have completed a master’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum overall 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale

3.     Personal Readiness: Show evidence of potential success in forming effective and culturally relevant interpersonal relationships in individual and small-group contexts and relevant career goals to the program.

4.     Interview: Following the receipt of all application items, applicants meeting the initial requirements will be invited to participate in an online interview.

Completion Requirements

Students must satisfy the following requirements in order to graduate:

·         Complete all practicum, candidacy, and internship requirements

·         Complete all required hours of specified coursework with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and no grade lower than a “C”

·         Receive a satisfactory faculty recommendation based upon emotional, spiritual, and professional health and maturity