The Master of Science in Addiction Counseling degree is for learners who wish to pursue careers as addiction counseling professionals, treating individuals with substance abuse\dependency disorders. With a master‛s in addiction counseling, graduates may be prepared to own and operate their own counseling clinic or work in a variety of settings including private practice, substance abuse clinics, group practices, and hospital settings. The demand for licensed addiction counselors is expected to grow in both the public and private sectors in the foreseeable future. A master's degree is a required step for individuals seeking the highest level of licensing and/or certification in many states.

The Master of Science in Addiction Counseling degree focuses on the following topics: theories of addiction, drug classification, assessment, and treatment; professional counseling orientation and ethics; counseling theories; group counseling theory and practice; social and cultural diversity issues in counseling; psychopharmacology theories of drug abuse, addiction, and treatment; psychiatric disorders in combination with an alcohol and/or drug abuse disorder; family issues and addictive disorders; diagnostics, assessment and treatment; and counseling chemically dependent adolescents.

pre-practicum or supervised field work experience concludes the program, under the supervision of a faculty member. Following the pre-practicum, students take part in a supervised practicum/internship experience to develop their counseling skills and to perform all the activities that a regularly employed professional counselor would be expected to perform in a supervised setting.

Graduates from the Grand Canyon University Master of Science in Addiction Counseling program are prepared to meet the academic requirements for licensure in Arizona as a Licensed Associate Substance Abuse Counselor (LASAC) OR a Licensed Independent Substance Abuse Counselor (LISAC). Additionally, program graduates from most other states will be academically prepared to begin the process of seeking certification and/or licensure in their home state. Licensing and/or certification requirements may vary from state-to-state. It is the students‛ responsibility to check the licensing/certification requirements in their respective states.