Master of Professional Studies in Addictions Counseling

Courses

The MPS in Addictions Counseling consists of 30 total credits and must be completed within 5 years of admission. If you would like a faster pathway to graduation, explore the Accelerated Cohort.

Required Courses

• Foundations of Counseling: Co-occurring Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders (ADDS 6001)
• Counseling Ethics and Professional Counselor Identity (ADDS 6005)
• Applied Psychopharmacology (ADDS 6011)
• Social and Cultural Diversity in Counseling (ADDS 6015)
• Counseling Skills: Group Counseling (ADDS 6021)
• Counseling Skills: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing (ADDS 6025)
• Foundations of Assessment and Treatment Planning (ADDS 6031)
• Practicum (ADDS 6905)
• Internship (ADDS 6996)

Internship Information

All students admitted to the University of Minnesota’s Master of Professional Studies in Addictions Counseling (ADDC) are expected to complete a minimum of 880 hours of supervised internship at an area agency approved by ADDC internship faculty as part of their academic program.

The ADDC program coursework fulfills the education and internship requirements for the Minnesota Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselor (MNLADC). All additional post degree supervision hours or other requirements for this license are not part of or fulfilled by the ADDC program.

For detailed information on LADC licensing requirements, visit the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy (MN BBHT) website.

On the completion of the ADDC program, and once a degree is awarded, any post-graduation supervision hours for those seeking professional licensure in Minnesota are the responsibility of the student. The ADDC program does not facilitate or guarantee any post-graduate opportunities or professional licensure in other states or another country.

Choose Your Pathway

Choose the Accelerated Cohort if you:

• can take the equivalent of a full-time course load for five consecutive terms, including summer.
• are able to intern 35−40 hours per week at an agency during the internship experience.
• are eager to proceed through the program with a cohort of peers taking the same coursework at the same time.
• would like to save on tuition by completing the substance abuse counseling master's program at your own pace.

Choose the traditional, flexible path if you:

• need flexibility in the courses you choose and the number of credits you might want to take each term due to work, family, or other obligations.
• would like to extend your internship by going part-time, 20−35 hours per week.
• already hold an allied license or have eligible credits you would like to transfer to the addiction counseling degree program.

Accelerated Cohort

You may be eligible to earn the MPS in Addictions Counseling in as quickly as five terms through the Accelerated Cohort. The Accelerated Cohort is intended for students who have the capacity to attend daytime, evenings, or weekend courses full-time for five terms, in both in-person and online environments.

The Cohort admits for fall start only, and admitted students who are unable to take the courses as scheduled would simply be moved to the traditional ADDC program to complete the degree at their own pace. Students who take the Accelerated Cohort will progress quickly through the program, develop deep connections with their fellow cohort students, and receive a tuition discount over the course of their program.

Due to the structure of course offerings and immigration regulations regarding enrollment requirements and employment, the ADDC Accelerated Cohort is not an option for F-1 or J-1 international students.

* For course titles and descriptions, see Courses section.

Career Outlook

The job outlook for Addictions Counseling program graduates is excellent.

• 22.9%Employment growth in Minnesota for substance use and mental health counselors, 2020-30*

This demand is expected to be strong for a variety of reasons.

• As society becomes more knowledgeable about addiction, more people may choose to seek treatment.
• People arrested on drug-related charges are increasingly being sent to treatment programs rather than jail.
• Many counselors are reaching retirement age.
• More employers are offering employee assistance programs (EAP) that provide alcohol and drug abuse services.

With an ADDC degree, you could earn a job as a:**

• Behavioral Counselor
• Social Service Assistant
• Alcohol and Drug Counselor
• Clinical Supervisor
• Program Manager
• Youth Services Coordinator
   

* Projections Central, accessed 4/15/24
** Burning Glass Technologies Program Insights, accessed 7/15/21

Apply

Fall Semester Application Deadline: March 1
Spring Semester Application Deadline: October 1

We strive to be fair in the admissions process. Our program thrives when we have students from different backgrounds and cultural experiences. The admissions committee completes a holistic review of all required application materials to ensure that you will be successful in the program. We do not require standardized test scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).

You will receive an admission decision four to six weeks after the application deadline. Learn more about the application process in the video below. If you have questions about admission requirements, or would like advice on how to gather your application materials, please contact admissions advisor Steve Wicks.

Application Fee Waiver

CCAPS offers a limited number of application fee waivers to US citizens/permanent residents. Complete this form if you’d like to be considered. We strongly recommend applying for a fee waiver at least two weeks before the application deadline. 

If you are applying for a fee waiver, do not submit payment along with your application. We can not reimburse your fee if you have already paid. Due to the limited number, not all application fee waivers will be approved. 

You will be notified via email if your application has been approved. If approved, the fee waiver will be applied to your account. If not approved, you should then submit your payment.

Read the transcript here.

Admission Requirements

We welcome applications from students who have:

• a bachelor's degree from an accredited post-secondary US institution, or its international equivalent.
• an undergraduate GPA of 3.0*.

* If you have a GPA below 3.0, please include a statement of extenuating circumstances.

If you're ready to take the next step, visit the ADDC/IBH Application Instructions page for details on how to submit each piece of your application.

• Prepare Application Materials