2023 Most Affordable Online Master's in Substance Abuse Counseling Degrees

Fort Valley State University (FVSU) offers an online Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling, requiring 61 credit hours. The master's program is designed to prepare students to help clients with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities overcome barriers and improve their quality of life. Students will learn how disabilities affect their clients' lives and will gain skills in counseling, case management, and career preparation. Once they complete 100 hours of practicum and 600 hours of internship experience, graduates will be eligible to take the national certification exam and become Certified Rehabilitation Counselors. Graduates of this program may go on to work in substance use disorder treatment centers, correctional facilities, hospitals, high schools, or universities. FVSU is a public school and a historically black university.

Union College in Kentucky is a private nonprofit university associated with the United Methodist Church. Students in the college's online Master of Science in Substance Abuse Counselingprogram take 60 credits in areas such as chemical dependency treatment, relapse, recovery, addiction psychology, and treating diverse clients. The curriculum is designed to give students a well-rounded understanding of how addiction impacts the mind and body and the counseling skills necessary to help clients struggling with addiction. Students will need to complete a counseling practicum and a two-semester internship in order to graduate.

Public four-year school Governors State University offers an online Master of Health Science in Addictions Studies. Graduate students in this program complete 32 credits in areas such as substance abuse prevention, pharmacology, and techniques for working with groups. This program is designed for students who want to work in leadership roles within substance use treatment. Students should gain the skills necessary to plan, manage, and evaluate treatment and prevention services. The university also offers a counseling concentration which requires 28 additional credits. Graduates of both programs will need to complete an internship and a comprehensive exam. Students in the counseling concentration will also need to complete a practicum and advanced clinical internship.

Students interested in substance use disorder counseling can choose from two programs at the University of South Dakota (USD). The Master of Arts in Addiction Counseling and Prevention requires 33-45 credits and offers an option to specialize in co-occurring disorders. This program is designed to prepare students for careers working directly with clients as licensed counselors. The Master of Science in Administration - Addiction Studies requires 36 credits and focuses on public service administration for professionals in substance use disorder treatment and prevention. Students may take courses in areas such as addiction treatment, counseling theories, ethics, case management, or relapse prevention. Potential career opportunities include working in addiction treatment and prevention at government agencies, social services, healthcare facilities, and nonprofit organizations. USD is a public four-year university.

Aspen University is a for-profit college offering an online Master of Arts in Psychology and Addiction Studies. The program is designed to teach students about the psychological and neurological aspects of addiction, treatment and prevention, and working with clients and families. It's important to note that this degree does not lead to licensure, but graduates should gain a foundational understanding of addiction studies and treatment. Students will take 48 credits in areas such as diagnosis and treatment, ethics, addiction theories, and pharmacology, and will need to complete a capstone project in order to graduate. Graduates of this program may go on to careers related to addiction studies and treatment or may pursue further education and experience to qualify for counseling licensure.