Department of Addictions and Rehabilitation Studies

Leigh Atherton, Chair

The Department of Addictions and Rehabilitation Studies offers a doctor of philosophy (PhD) in counselor preparation and research; a master of science (MS) in clinical counseling and a master of science (MS) in rehabilitation and career counseling; and three certificate programs (military and civilian trauma studies, rehabilitation studies, and addictions prevention and treatment studies).

The mission of the Department’s doctoral program, the Counselor Preparation and Research, PhD , is to serve as a national and international leader in the education of excellent and responsible counselor educators, researchers, supervisors, and administrators. The doctoral program is a Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredited counselor education and supervision program and is designed to meet the critical need for doctoral prepared leaders in the counseling field across the nation and world. The primary obligations of the doctoral program include (1) extending the knowledge base of the counseling profession in a climate of scholarly inquiry; (2) preparing students to inform professional practice by generating new knowledge for the profession; (3) supporting faculty and students in publishing and/or presenting the results of scholarly inquiry; and (4) equipping students to assume positions of leadership in the profession and/or their area(s) of specialization.

The Clinical Counseling, MS is a 62 credit hour Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredited clinical mental health counseling program. Graduates are eligible for licensure as a licensed clinical mental health counselor (LCMHC) and a licensed clinical addiction specialist (LCAS) upon passing an examination and the completion of a supervised work experience. Students graduating from the clinical counseling program are provided a one-year reduction in the experience requirements for licensure as an LCAS by the NC Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board. Without our degree, the required experience for this license is two years. Graduates of the clinical counseling program may be employed in clinical mental health and substance use treatment settings, such as inpatient or outpatient programs, detoxification centers, residential and halfway-house programs, and home-based counseling programs.

The Rehabilitation Counseling, MS is a 62 credit hour Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredited rehabilitation and career counseling program that generally takes a full-time student two years to complete. Graduates from the program are eligible for national certification as a rehabilitation counselor (CRC) by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification. Additionally, graduates are eligible for licensure as a clinical mental health counselor (LCMHC) by the North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors after two years of post-master’s degree supervised counseling experience.

The Department’s three certificate programs: Addictions Prevention and Treatment Studies Certificate , Military and Civilian Trauma Studies Certificate , and Rehabilitation Studies Certificate allow students to acquire core content that may assist in becoming recognized or certified in certain specialized professional practice areas. These certificates are open to individuals with a bachelor’s degree, students enrolled in graduate programs, or individuals with a graduate degree.

More information is available on the department website.

Programs

Certificate

Master’s

Research Doctoral

Counselor Preparation and Research, PhD

Courses

Addictions and Rehabilitation