Master of Arts in
Behavioral Health

Addiction Studies
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About

In the online Master of Arts (MA) in Behavioral Health Program, you’ll study counseling, addiction treatment, relapse prevention, and case management. You’ll choose from a variety of electives that cover topics such as food and addiction, trauma-informed care, and spirituality and addiction.

The MA in Behavioral Health will prepare you to begin the licensing process as a substance use disorder professional in your state. You’ll also be prepared to utilize the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Patient Placement Criteria. Our courses align with national and state education standards for addiction professionals.

Addiction Studies programs are offered completely online. We work to provide education that helps qualify students to sit for certification/licensure examinations through states affiliated with NAADAC and IC & RC.  If you are a student from outside of Washington State please contact adst@ewu.edu for more information and to determine your state requirements. EWU is monitoring requirements in every state. For more information please visit https://www.ewu.edu/state-authorization/

Admissions Requirements Curriculum & Requirements

Admission and Application Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university
  • A calculated GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 90 quarter or 60 semester graded post-secondary credits
  • Application requires a 1-page personal statement (see prompts below), current resume, and 2 professional references.
  • In your personal statement, please include the following:
    1. What is your interest in addiction studies and what led you to pursue this degree?
    2. What experience do you have working with diverse and/or special populations?
    3. Constructive feedback is an essential component to graduate student learning and working within the SUD field. Please describe a time when you received feedback that was difficult for you to hear. What were your initial reactions and how were you able to work through those initial reactions in order to act upon the feedback given?
    4. Are you planning to pursue Washington State’s Substance Use Disorder Professional (SUDP) license? If you live outside of Washington State, please review your state’s education requirements for licensing as a substance use disorder professional before finalizing your application.
    5. Did you complete a human development course, e.g. adult development, child development, lifespan development within your undergraduate/graduate studies? If not, please contact ADST@ewu.edu for options to complete this course for licensing.
    6. Do you work full-time and need to attend school part-time? This helps us identify the best academic plan, as well as your availability for completing a practicum while in school.

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What You'll Learn

The following information comes from the official EWU catalog, which outlines all degree requirements and serves as the guide to earning a degree. Courses are designed to provide a well-rounded and versatile degree, covering a wide range of subject areas.

Behavioral Health, Master of Arts (MA)

This online program, offered through the Addiction Studies program, is designed to prepare students for careers in substance use disorder counseling. We assist both in- and out-of-state students in preparation to meet academic requirements for state licensure. Substance Use Disorder Professionals find rewarding careers in behavioral health, counseling, criminal justice, health education, psychology, social work, and other areas where their unique skills are required.

Upon completion of all coursework, students are eligible to take the National NCC AP examination. Learn more about additional requirements for Washington state certification/licensure requirements at www.doh.wa.gov.

Note: MA Behavioral Health students wanting the SUDP in WA state will also need to complete: 1,500 hours in an approved Behavioral Health Agency NAADAC, NCC AP exam, and have a human development course in current or previous coursework. 

Addiction Studies has not yet determined if this program meets the educational requirements to sit for licensure/certification outside of Washington State.  The department works to provide education that qualifies students to sit for certification/licensure examinations through states affiliated with NAADAC and IC & RC. 

Please contact the respective certification/licensing board for exact requirements in your state. Many states require students to have a practicum/internship listed on transcripts when they apply for certification/licensure.  If students do not know their state licensing/certification board, or need assistance determining if EWU’s program is right for them, contact adst@ewu.edu.

Admission Requirements

  • Overall Grade Point Average 3.0 or above. 
  • Current resume.
  • Statement of intent/essay.
  • 2 professional references.
  • Other requirements described from Graduate Programs.

A practicum option is available for students and may count toward Washington State Certification required hours. Practicum options are available for students after the successful completion of two quarters of coursework. 

Required Core Courses
ADST 501RELAPSE PREVENTION2
ADST 502COUNSELING THEORIES FOR ADDICTION PROFESSIONALS2
ADST 503HIV/AIDS AND ADDICTION TREATMENT2
ADST 504ADOLESCENT ADDICTION ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT4
ADST 505ADDICTION GROUP COUNSELING2
ADST 512PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIONS OF ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS4
ADST 520CASE MANAGEMENT4
ADST 530ADDICTION TREATMENT WITH FAMILIES AND DIVERSE POPULATIONS4
ADST 535CONFIDENTIALITY, LAW AND ETHICS FOR THE ADDICTION PROFESSIONAL4
ADST 542SCREENING, ASSESSMENT, AND MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATION OF CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS4
ADST 544TREATING CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS4
ADST 602ADST PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO2
Specialized Content
ADST 548MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT2
ADST 550SPIRITUALITY AND ADDICTION4
ADST 552PROCESS ADDICTIONS4
ADST 554TRAUMA INFORMED CARE4
ADST 555FOOD AND ADDICTION4
ADST 582RESEARCH FOR EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE4
Optional Practicum
ADST BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COUNSELING PRACTICUM
ADST BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COUNSELING PRACTICUM II
Total Credits60