Counselor Education & Student Affairs
Counseling: Addiction
Master of Arts
The Department of Counselor Education offers a 60-semester hour Master of Arts in Counseling with a concentration in Addiction Counseling. The program is structured to meet the standards required by CACREP for accreditation. The Addiction Counseling program is currently under review for CACREP accreditation as a "new application in process." The Addiction program consists of core counseling courses, specialty area courses, and 700 hours of field experience. Degree requirements for this program meet the educational requirements for Pennsylvania state licensure as a Professional Counselor (LPC). Graduates of the program are eligible to take the National Counselor Examination (NCE) examination, a state licensure prerequisite, and a prerequisite to become a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC). Completing the program in Addiction Counseling will meet the educational requirements of the Pennsylvania Certification Board to become a Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC).
The mission of the Addiction Counseling program is to provide a high-quality graduate education for individuals pursuing careers in professional counseling. This program is structured around several core tenets:
- Development of personal awareness of self as a counselor
- Knowledge of counseling, addiction and co-occurring disorders
- Skills in counseling delivery across the life span with diverse populations
Included in the program is an emphasis on developing knowledge and skills aligned with the standards of the Department of Drug & Alcohol Prevention in Pennsylvania in combination with the ASAM criteria. Given the focus of this program, graduates may enter the profession prepared to work in a variety of settings, such as, community mental health agencies, the Veterans Administration, hospitals, drug and alcohol treatment settings, and colleges/universities.
The unique design of all KU Counseling programs offers students flexibility in determining their own career path.
Student Learning Outcomes
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Counseling Masters Programs (MA or MS)
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of the ethical standards in counseling and the advocacy role of counselors in addressing institutional and social barriers which impede access, equity and success for clients
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of the multicultural competencies and the effects of power and privilege for counselors and clients.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge about human growth and development across the life span, have an awareness of the complexity of human development, and its impact on development of treatment plans and interventions
- Students will demonstrate knowledge about ethical and culturally relevant strategies for addressing career development and demonstrate knowledge in career assessment.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge in essential interviewing, counseling and case conceptualizing skilled and will use evidenced-based strategies and techniques for prevention and intervention.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge about the dynamics associated with group process and development and demonstrate knowledge on the ethical and culturally relevant strategies for designing and facilitating groups.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge in the use of assessments for diagnostic and intervention planning purposes and demonstrate knowledge about ethical and culturally relevant strategies for selecting, administering and interpreting assessment and test results.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge about the identification of evidence-based counseling practices and the evaluation of counseling interventions and programs.
School Counseling - Students will demonstrate knowledge and competency in school counseling and ethical decision making.
Clinical Mental Health - Students will demonstrate knowledge and competency in clinical mental health counseling and ethical decision making and advocacy.
Addiction - Students will demonstrate knowledge and competency in addiction counseling and ethical decision making and advocacy.
Marriage, Couple and Family - Students will demonstrate knowledge and competency in marriage, couple and family counseling and ethical decision making.