Department of Addictions Studies and Behavioral Health FAQs

Once any prerequisite courses have been completed, the master’s degree requirements are 32 credits (29 core required courses and 3 credits of electives). You're encouraged to work at your own pace, depending on your work and family responsibilities. Many students take only two courses at a time.

Our program is accredited by the Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association, Inc., the agency that certifies addiction counselors. Students who complete the basic program, which includes a clinical internship, receive a waiver on half of the paid work experience normally required by IAODAPCA. Students who complete the advanced program, which includes an advanced internship, receive a full waiver of work experience and are ready to sit for the certification examination after graduation. (For more information about IAODAPCA, click here.

Yes, you are still required to complete an internship. However, if you are certified and have more than five years of recent experience in addiction treatment, you have the option to do a thesis. You can discuss the thesis option with the clinical coordinator Professor.

Yes, you are still required to complete an internship. However, if you are certified and have more than five years of recent experience in addiction treatment, you have the option to do a thesis. You can discuss the thesis option with the clinical coordinator Professor.

The Internship is to be completed in the last semester. It requires students to complete 300 clock hours at an internship site in one semester.

When you receive your letter of admission, you will note that you have been assigned an Academic Advisor. Make an appointment with your advisor as quickly as possible. He or she will work with you on your personal study plan. To see the list of courses you may click here.

Please visit the GovState Tuition web page to get the current tuition rates.

For graduate students, registering for 9 credit hours is considered full-time status and registering for 6 credit hours is considered part-time.

No. The fully online program allows students to complete the program from anywhere without having to come to campus. Even advising sessions are held via phone.

No, this is not a separate degree program. Students must already be admitted in the 32 hour program in order to be eligible to apply for the concentration. Current students who are interested in sitting for the LPC (License Professional Counselor) exam can apply for the Addictions Counseling Concentration once they have completed the required courses in the 32 hour program. The application is a departmental application so there are no additional fees required.

The concentration is an additional 29 credit hours added to the currently required 32 hour program so that you will complete a total of 60 credit hours and be able to sit not only for the CADC exam, but also the LPC exam. To learn more about the MHS Counseling Concentration click here.

Note: Students cannot graduate from the 32 hour program and return to complete the Addictions Counseling Concentration courses. Because this is not a different degree, all requirements must be completed while a student in the program.

• Current student in the MHS in Addictions Studies Program
• Achieved candidacy status
• Have no grade of "C" or less in any core courses
• Have a G.P.A. of 3.5 or higher in all completed core courses

Application materials can be found in the portal. The easiest way to access it is to open any of your Advisors’ emails and click on the link provided under the signature.

Students can only apply for the spring and fall semesters

• Spring-November 15th
• Fall-July 15th

Yes. The internship for the 32-hour program will not meet the requirements for the counseling concentration.

Yes. The program is designed to be completed in five semesters full-time, and seven semesters part-time.

Students must have a 2.5 GPA in their undergraduate work. There are prerequisite courses for the program, but these prerequisites can be taken after admission to the program. The prerequisites include the following: 9 credits of addiction-related course work, including 3 credits in multicultural perspectives and completion of a course in research or statistics.

The application deadlines are as follows:

• Fall Semester-July 15
• Spring Semester-November 15
• Summer Semester-April 15

Obtain a graduate admissions application from the GSU Admissions office. Have transcripts sent to the admissions office promptly. The application will not be forwarded to the department until it is complete.

Once any prerequisite courses have been completed, the master’s degree requirements are 32 credits (29 core required courses and 3 credits of electives). You're encouraged to work at your own pace, depending on your work and family responsibilities. Many students take only two courses at a time.

Our program is accredited by Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association, Inc., the agency that certifies addiction counselors. Students who complete the basic program, which includes a clinical internship, receive a waiver on half of the paid work experience normally required by IAODAPCA. Students who complete the advanced program, which includes an advanced internship, receive a full waiver of work experience and are ready to sit for the certification examination after graduation. (For more information about IAODAPCA, see the agency’s website here).

Yes, you are still required to complete an internship. However, if you are certified and have more than five years of recent experience in addiction treatment, you have the option to do a thesis. You can discuss the thesis option with the clinical coordinator Professor.

When you receive your letter of admission, you will note that you have been assigned an Academic Advisor. Make an appointment with your advisor as quickly as possible. He or she will work with you on your personal study plan.

The undergraduate minor is made up 18 credit hours in addictions studies. You must have a study plan. Contact the advisor for the undergraduate minor to create a study plan. Once you have completed the study plan, you must make sure that the advisor you have for your major has a copy for your official file.