For individuals interested in becoming addiction counselors, GCU offers a Bachelor of Science in Counseling with an Emphasis in Addiction, Chemical Dependency, and Substance Abuse. Addiction counselors may be interested in working in a variety of supervised settings including private practice, rehabilitation clinics and mental health centers. Some graduates of the addiction counseling degree program will immediately pursue a counseling position whereas others will be prepared to obtain their graduate degree in counseling.

Coursework in the addiction counseling degree provides a foundational knowledge in theoretical approaches to counseling. Students will focus on substance use disorders, addiction and treatment, and ways that adults, children and adolescents struggle with these disorders. The family dynamics of addiction are also examined as well as methods that can be implemented for relapse prevention. Counseling skills courses and a fieldwork/practicum course complete the focused coursework list.

Completion of the addiction counseling degree may qualify graduates to meet the standards for state, national and international certification/licensure for professional prevention specialists and treatment counselors/providers. Participants should contact the appropriate certifying/licensing body to ensure that courses meet certification/licensure requirements.