The Best Online Master's in Substance Abuse Counseling

Founded by Jerry Falwell in 1971, Liberty enrolls 100,000 students in over 700 programs every year. Liberty's online division offers more than 450 programs, including an online master's degree in addiction counseling. The 48-credit program takes two years to complete and trains students to become addiction counselors.

At Liberty, addiction counseling students develop evidence-based counseling tools. The curriculum covers core concepts in substance abuse and addiction counseling, including treatment, the recovery process, and counseling techniques. Enrollees learn to assess patients, resolve the root causes of addiction, and counsel patients through the recovery process. Students also study the biological nature of addiction.

The addiction counseling program offers tracks for either 300 or 600 internship hours, depending on licensure requirements in the student's state. The program's training also includes direct client contact hours, individual supervision hours, and group supervision hours. Graduate students complete their fieldwork requirements at local counseling agencies, hospitals, or related clinical settings.

Each prospective student must hold an accredited bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Liberty requires an application, official college transcripts, and three credits in statistics for the substance abuse counseling program.

This private institution in Florida offers on-campus and online programs. At NSU, students can earn an online master's in counseling with a substance abuse counseling concentration. The program provides coursework asynchronously to give students added scheduling flexibility. Enrollees also complete supervised practicums to gain professional experience. Online learners must arrange to meet field experience requirements at local sites.

The substance abuse counseling track includes 33 credits of core counseling courses and 15 credits of substance abuse coursework. The core courses train students in counseling theories and practice to emphasize assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.

Within the substance abuse track, learners explore counseling in community settings, the process of clinical supervision, and treating co-occurring disorders. Graduate students also complete practicums covering dual diagnosis, techniques for intervention, and treatment methods. NSU also offers a track on substance abuse education, which requires 12 additional credits.

Prospective students must demonstrate their interest in psychology and counseling. The program requires a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum 2.5 GPA in the final 60 credits. NSU recommends a major in psychology, education, behavioral science, or social work. Applicants must also submit a personal statement and two letters of recommendation.

This private, Christian institution was founded in 1978 and enrolls about 11,000 students annually, both on its Virginia Beach campus and through its online programs. Regent offers an online master's in human services with an addiction counseling focus for students interested in substance abuse counseling. As a non-licensure counseling degree, the program trains students in Christian interventions to treat people with addictions.

Graduate students learn to assess, diagnose, and treat dependency issues while learning about the addictive cycle and treatment options. The curriculum builds foundational skills in addiction intervention through courses in advanced counseling techniques, addictive behaviors and substance abuse, and addiction intervention. These courses build the skills required for careers in the substance abuse field.

Regent uses a blend of synchronous and asynchronous learning in its addiction counseling program. The degree qualifys students for roles as substance abuse counselors, pastoral counselors, and health services managers.

Applicants need a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA from a regionally accredited institution and must submit an application and unofficial college transcripts. Regent recommends that applicants have an undergraduate major in counseling or psychology.

Founded in 1838, VCU now enrolls over 30,000 students on its Richmond campus. This public research institution also offers online programs, including a master's degree in addiction studies. The program offers a cross-cultural approach to addiction prevention, treatment, and research. This collaborative program is offered in partnership with King's College London and the University of Adelaide in Australia, and graduates often work in international addiction policies, treatment program management, and addictions counseling.

The program's collaborative nature introduces students to international addictions-related research. The curriculum covers the biological basis of addiction, strategies for prevention and treatment, and addiction policy. Students explore public health approaches to addiction, pharmacotherapies, and research methodologies before completing research projects in addictions.

While studying addiction science, enrollees strengthen their problem-solving and written communication skills. The program also emphasizes research design techniques. VCU enrolls students in the 36-credit program on a full- or part-time basis. Students can earn their degrees in as little as 12 months.

Each applicant for the addiction studies program must hold a bachelor's degree and submit a personal statement, references, and transcripts. After gaining admission to VCU, graduate students will simultaneously enroll at the two partner universities.

As a private, Baptist college founded in 1888, Cumberlands now enrolls around 13,000 students annually. Cumberlands offers online degrees, including an online master's in addiction counseling. The program trains students to apply addiction counseling intervention and prevention theories in practice. Graduate students learn the best practices in the field through a blend of classroom and experiential training.

The curriculum at Cumberlands emphasizes individual and group counseling, assessment methods, and treatment planning. Graduate students take specialized courses in psychopharmacology, family therapy in addiction treatment, and spirituality in counseling. Cumberland's program includes 60 credits of coursework and prepares enrollees for the certified substance abuse counselor credential. Transfer students can apply 30 credits toward their degrees.

Graduate students complete their coursework online. Some classes require set meeting times, while others allow enrollees to complete material on their own schedules. Cumberlands offers six terms per year, lasting eight weeks each. The program admits new students on a rolling basis.

Prospective students should hold a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Cumberlands also requires an application, official transcripts, a writing sample, and two letters of reference to gain admission to the addiction counseling program.

Wright State enrolls over 13,000 students annually, granting degrees from its 730-acre campus and online. The university offers an online master of rehabilitation counseling with a focus in addiction counseling. The program provides in-depth training that covers addictions, clinical treatment, counseling theory, and practice.

This fully online program also incorporates 700 hours of field experience requirements to provide practical training. During the practicum and internship, graduate students work directly with clients under the supervision of licensed counselors. The internship provides clinical experience in diagnosing and treating clients with addiction issues. Wright State works with online learners to identify suitable local placement sites.

The chemical dependency coursework trains students in the theory, treatment, and prevention of addictions. Graduates meet the requirements to become certified substance abuse counselors. The degree also prepares students for careers as prevention specialists.

Applicants need a minimum 2.7 GPA for full admission, and the school waives the GRE or MAT requirement for candidates with minimum 3.3 GPAs. Wright State admission also requires a statement of educational and professional goals, three letters of recommendation, and an interview with program faculty. Admitted students can choose full- or part-time enrollment.

This public institution in Topeka, Kansas, grants degrees both from its 160-acre urban campus and through its online programs. At WU, students can earn master's in family and human services degrees with an addictions counseling focus. The program prepares enrollees for licensure as addiction counselors.

The curriculum emphasizes the application of theory and research in practice. While students complete their coursework online, they complete fieldwork requirements in their local areas. The coursework includes training in individual counseling, group counseling, diagnosing substance use disorders, and addiction and recovery services. Students complete 36 credits of coursework and must meet fieldwork requirements to earn their degrees.

The program offers a fast-track option that allows students to earn both a bachelor's and a master's degree in human services in only five years. WU also offers in-state tuition rates for residents of states that neighbor Kansas.

Applicants need a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 GPA in their final two years of coursework. Transfer students can apply up to nine credits from an accredited graduate program toward the master's degree.