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.

High Value, High Quality

Earn a graduate degree from one of the Northwest’s top 3 colleges of education.

Boise State stands out for its high-quality and high-value programs. Full-time in-state tuition is estimated at $9,638, and out-of-state at $26,558 for the 2021-2022 school year.

Source: 2023 US News and World Report

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)

Admission Requirements

Applicants are required to have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and must have achieved a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least a 3.00 on a 4.00 scale. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. Admission recommendations will be based upon a review of all application documents and an interview with program faculty and members of the program Advisory Board.

Applications are accepted for fall enrollment only. All materials are due to the online system by February 1st in the previous spring.

Begin your online application with the Graduate College

Read more on the Apply Now webpage
Note: Along with a non-reimbursable application fee, the Graduate College will ask for official copies of your transcripts. You are required to submit official transcripts for all programs listed on your application.

Upload the following required documents:

Letter of Application describing:
- Professional experiences as they support your desire to be a counselor in an addiction setting.
- Reasons for your interest in this program including your vision of the role of a counselor in an addiction setting.
- Career goals.
Current Résumé or Curriculum Vitae.
Three current Letters of Reference.
- Letters should support your qualifications for a counseling program and graduate-level academic work.

Please note: These are the application instructions for the Masters of Arts in Counseling Program only. You must submit a separate application if you wish to apply to additional programs or certificates.

The College of Education also offers Graduate Assistantships. A limited number of competitive graduate assistantship opportunities are available in the College of Education. Graduate assistantships typically offer a 9-month research assistantship position that includes an approximate $9,588 stipend, tuition and fee waiver, and student health insurance. (Graduate assistantships for doctoral candidates include an approximate $13,632 stipend.)

Apply for a College of Education Graduate Assistantship

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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