Masters in Addiction Counseling in Psychology
The Masters in Addiction Counseling in Psychology Program offered through the Department of Psychology at Colorado State University provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide addiction counseling treatment services. Upon completion, students will receive a Masters in Addiction Counseling in Psychology and should be eligible to sit for the Masters in Addiction Counseling Exam to become a Licensed Addiction Counselor. Completion of the coursework in the first year covers all of the required instruction for licensure in the State of Colorado. While some students complete their practice hours needed for licensure during internship, most students finish their licensure hours after graduation, building on the hours they complete as a part of the internship year.
The program of study is 2 years that consist of one year on campus taking classes and one year off campus completing an addiction counseling internship. Hours completed on the internship count towards licensure. Completion of the coursework in the first year covers all of the required instruction for licensure in the State of Colorado. The program is considered a Plan C Masters Program, meaning that a research thesis is not required, instead competency is demonstrated through successful completion of the internship process and passing of a comprehensive examination.
Currently, both in Colorado and across the nation, there is shortage of Licensed Addiction Counselors. We anticipate graduates of the Masters Program in Addiction Counseling in Psychology at Colorado State University will be highly employable.
In order to be considered for admission to the Masters in Addiction Counseling in Psychology at Colorado State University you must hold a Bachelor’s Degree with an emphasis on behavioral health (e.g., Psychology, Social Work, Nursing, or Human Development and Family Studies). Additionally, ideal candidates will have an undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and will have a strong desire to help those struggling with addictions.
Handbook for Addiction Counselors – You can access the Handbook for Addictions Counseling from the link by selecting the option titled “CAC Training Program Handbook for Addiction Counselors”
The application priority deadline is March 1st. All materials received by March 1st of the year you plan to enroll will be given full consideration for admission. Applications may be submitted after March 1st of the year you plan to enroll, however, applications received after March 1st of the year you plan to enroll will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all spaces are filled for that year. If you apply after March 1st, please email Brad Conner at brad.conner@colostate.edu and indicate that you have submitted an application.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | ||
| PSY 612 | Introduction to Addiction Counseling | 3 |
| PSY 620 | Addiction Counseling Concepts | 4 |
| PSY 675 | Ethics | 3 |
| PSY 724 | Motivational Interviewing | 3 |
| Total Units and Hours | 13 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 613 | Advanced Addiction Counseling | 3 |
| PSY 726 | Neuropharmacology of Addiction | 3 |
| PSY 775 | Treating Diverse Populations | 3 |
| PSY 793 | Clinical Supervision of Addiction Counseling | 3 |
| Total Units and Hours | 12 |
| Year 2 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | ||
| PSY 787 | Internship | 9 |
| Total Units | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 787 | Internship | 9 |
| Total Units | 9 | |
| Total Units | 43 |
The program leaders recognize that most students maintain employment in the community during their time in the program, so classes are set up in a way that allows students to work when they are not in classes. During the first year in the program (both in the fall and spring semesters), students are expected to be in classes on campus on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9:00am to 4:30pm.
Students in the masters of addiction counseling in psychology program can simultaneously take four additional courses that are required to be eligible for the professional counselor licensing exam by equivalency (Note that the Masters in Addiction Counseling in Psychology is NOT a CACREP Accredited Program). Students can pursue the licensed professional counselor by equivalency by altering their degree progress plans to include four courses and increasing their internship credits from nine to twelve units in the fall and spring semesters of the second-year. By increasing from nine to twelve units during the second-year internship, students will be required to completed 480 clinical hours each semester instead of 360 hours.
The 4 extra courses are:
- PSY624: Career Counseling
- Online course
- HDFS505: Human Development
- Online course, typically offered in the summer
- EDCO656: Assessment
- Offered during the academic school year as a mix of online and on campus meetings
- Offered over the summer as two weeks on campus and two weeks online
- EDRM600: Research Methods
- Offered during the school year as a mix of online and on campus meetings
- Offered over the summer as two weeks on campus and two weeks online
Note: Some of these classes are not offered by the Psychology Department and fill up quickly. It is your responsibly to register as soon as you can to make sure you get into the class. If you take any classes the summer after your second spring, this will delay your “official” graduation to Summer. You can still walk and participate in the Spring graduation ceremony, but you will not receive your official degree until after summer session is completed.
Students cannot begin counting hours towards LPC licensure until after they have earned their masters degree. There is no post-master of arts requirement for the licensed addiction counselor so students’ hours during internship count toward their license.
Handbook for Addiction Counselors – You can access the Handbook for Addictions Counseling from the link by selecting the option titled “CAC Training Program Handbook for Addiction Counselors”
LPCC Application
- Inform your advisor that you are pursuing the LPC track, you will be taking more classes, and your internship credits and hours will increase.
- Make sure that you save all of your course syllabi and course descriptions in a document if you will be applying for this track! You will need this information for licensure.
- To access the course description, you can go to the CSU website here: https://catalog.colostate.edu/general-catalog/courses-az/psy/. This link is for the psychology department courses. If you are looking for courses offered in other departments, you will click on the appropriate department name and it should pull up their list of courses with descriptions.
CSU has a spotless reputation for graduating all students who have been admitted into the Masters in Addiction Counseling in Psychology program. Many students secure employment before graduating from the program based on their expertise and passion for treating individuals facing addiction. Alumni of the program are some of the most revered in the field based on their specialized knowledge of addictions.
Student Admissions and Outcome Statistics
“The most positive part of my experience in the Master’s of Addiction Counseling Psychology Program was the people – particularly the instructors and advisor. The fact that [the professors] really knew each of us has made all the difference for me.” – Class of 2020 Alumni
Comprehensive List of Internship Sites
Students begin their internship after completing all coursework for their Masters of Addiction Counseling in Psychology degree. Although each site is unique, students can gain experience working at sites that treat individuals struggling with addictions by conducting individual and group counseling, engaging in case management and consultation, and providing other general services. Students will complete between 360 and 480 clinical hours per semester on site under the supervision of a licensed addiction counselor. Students in the MACP program at CSU have gained funding during and/or employment after internship with their site on a case-by-case basis.
Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies
Handbook for Addiction Counselors – You can access the Handbook for Addictions Counseling from the link by selecting the option titled “CAC Training Program Handbook for Addiction Counselors”
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An interview with Dr. Bradley Conner about the Masters in Addiction Counseling in Psychology Program
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CSU graduate student helping youth affected by addiction
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Colorado Association of Addiction Professionals (CAAP)
NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals
Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies
Handbook for Addiction Counselors – You can access the Handbook for Addictions Counseling from the link by selecting the option titled “CAC Training Program Handbook for Addiction Counselors”
Bradley T. Conner
Director of Addiction Counseling in Psychology
Email: brad.conner@colostate.edu
Phone: (970) 491-6363
