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Master of Arts in Counseling: Addiction Counseling Cognate

The CACREP accredited Master of Arts in Counseling degree consists of a minimum of sixty (60) semester hours of course work designed to prepare professionals to counsel in a variety of settings. Courses promote the acquisition of the knowledge and skill development in the eight core areas listed in the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). A limited number of students are admitted each year and placement is competitive.

  • Department Name: Department of Counselor Education
  • Official Degree Name: Master of Arts in Counseling: Addiction Counseling Cognate
  • Degree Type: Master of Arts

Addiction Counseling cognate

The Addiction Counseling Cognate prepares professionals to work with individuals and families affected by substance abuse and other addictive behaviors in education, prevention and intervention settings. This cognate area focuses on assessment, treatment, and relapse prevention as well as models of prevention and intervention for addiction. Graduates of the Addiction Counseling cognate may choose to work in private practice or in a variety of community agencies offering counseling services for substance abuse.

Initial licensure for Professional Counselors in Idaho requires a master’s degree of 60 semester hours with 1000 hours of supervised experience and passing the National Counselor Examination (NCE). The Boise State University Master of Arts in Counseling program prepares students for this process. Students have latitude in selecting internship sites within their cognate area to maximize their experience in line with specific career goals with at least 700 hours of internship experience.

Degree Requirements and Advising Resources

In addition to a minimum of five elective credits, addiction cognate students typically enroll in classes based on the following course sequence:

Year 1: FALL (9 credits)

COUN 502 Counseling Theories (3 credits)

COUN 506 Lifespan Development (3 credits)

COUN 545 Foundations of Addiction Counseling (3 credits)

Year 1: SPRING (9 credits)

COUN 505 Counseling Skills (3 credits)

COUN 509 Culturally Aware Counseling (3 credits)

COUN 550 Diagnosis, Assessment, & Treatment Planning (3 credits)

YEAR 1: SUMMER (5 credits)

COUN 501 Foundations and Ethics in Counseling (3 credits)

COUN 541 Addiction and the Family System (2 credits)

YEAR 2: FALL or SPRING (3 credits)

COUN 514 Counseling Practicum I (includes minimum 100 clinical hours) (3 credits)

YEAR 2: FALL (6 credits)

COUN 513 Group Counseling (3 credits)

COUN 530 Suicide Prevention and Crisis Intervention (2 credits)

COUN 549 Motivational Interviewing (1 credit)

YEAR 2: SPRING (6 credits)

COUN 512 Research and Program Evaluation (3 credits)

COUN 548 Addiction and Behavioral Health  Assessment and Intervention (3 credits)

YEAR 2: SUMMER (4 credits)

COUN 504 Assessment and Testing in Counseling (3 credits)

COUN 551 Psychopharmacology (1 credit)

YEAR 3: FALL (7 credits)

COUN 526 Internship in Counseling I (includes minimum 350 clinical hours) (3 credits)

COUN 507 Career Development and Vocational Counseling (3 credits)

COUN 568 Seminar: Professional Counseling (1 credit)

YEAR 3: SPRING (6 credits)

COUN 529 Applied Evaluation of Counseling Practice (1 credit)

COUN 528 Internship in Counseling II (includes minimum 350 clinical hours) (3 credits)

COUN 567 Clinical Supervision Principles and Practice (1 credit)

COUN 690 Master’s Comprehensive Examination (1 credit)

Costs and Scholarships

Boise State provides an affordable, quality education to improve your future. Scholarship opportunities are available for residents and nonresidents, making it even more affordable to attain a quality education.

The College of Education also offers a range of scholarship opportunities. 

The Cost and Value of a Boise State Graduate Education

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