Master of Arts in
Behavioral Health

Addiction Studies
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Transform Your Future—and the Lives of Others

Want to take your career to the next level and help meet the increasing demand for skilled professionals in behavioral health?

EWU’s online MA in Behavioral Health program prepares you for a rewarding career supporting individuals, families, and communities affected by addiction and mental health challenges.

The Behavioral Health MA program empowers you to:

  • Begin the licensing process as a Substance Use Disorder Professional in your state.
  • Apply the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Patient Placement Criteria in your work.
  • Gain an academic foundation aligned with national and state standards for addiction professionals.

You’ll develop a deep understanding of key topics like counseling, addiction treatment, relapse prevention, and case management. You can also customize your studies around your interests with electives in specialized areas, such as trauma-informed care, food and addiction, and spirituality and addiction.

Designed for your busy lifestyle, our courses are 100% online, offering you the flexibility to learn at your convenience. Whether you enroll full-time or part-time, you’ll advance through a program tailored to support your success.

We’re committed to providing the education you need to qualify for certification and licensure exams through states affiliated with NAADAC and IC & RC. If you’re an out-of-state student, please contact us at adst@ewu.edu or visit our State Authorization page to confirm your state’s specific requirements.

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 fully online program is designed to provide students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills for working in behavioral health careers supporting individuals with substance use and co-occurring disorders. Graduates from our program obtain rewarding careers in fields related to substance use disorder treatment and prevention, counseling, criminal justice, health education, psychology, social work, and other areas where their unique skills are required.

Additionally, students obtain the educational requirements needed to prepare them for Washington State Certification as a Substance Use Disorder Professional Trainee (SUDPT) and Substance Use Disorder Professional (SUDP) through Washington State Department of Health. Review Washington State Department of Health Professions A to Z page for opportunities and information regarding additional behavioral health certifications.

Washington State Substance Use Disorder Credentialing Requirements

  • Apply for Substance Use Disorder Trainee (SUDPT). Note: this application requires students to notify the Department of Health with an approved SUDP supervisor within one year.
  • 1,500 hours of supervised experiential learning within an state approved treatment agency and SUDP supervisor who has been credentialed for at least one year. Note: An optional in-school practicum is offered for those students who are interested in obtaining credentialing hours as a trainee while completing the program. 
  • Complete and pass Washington State Patrol's Criminal History background check.
  • Students who complete all state required courses for certification are eligible to take the NAADAC NCAC Level I or II exam before completing the required experiential learning hours needed for certification. For more information, refer to NAADAC certification exam page.

For additional credentialing information review WAC 246-811-030 and information on the Department of Health Substance Use Disorder Professional certification page.

Out-of-State Applicants: Certification/licensing requirements differ from state to state. Students should check with their local certification/licensing board to confirm this is the right program for their residence, or contact Addiction Studies for more information. 

Email ADST@ewu.edu for credentialing and program specific questions.

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 INFORMED PRACTICE4
Optional Practicum
ADST BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COUNSELING PRACTICUM
ADST BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COUNSELING PRACTICUM II
Total Credits60

Why Study at the Region's Polytechnic?

Get a hands-on education, real-world experience, and personalized support from faculty so you can launch your career with confidence.

Affordable Education

Benefit from the lowest tuition rates in Washington and financial aid options to help you graduate debt-free.

NAADAC Approved

Study with confidence in a well-rounded Addiction Studies program approved by NAADAC.

Strong Job Opportunities

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts an average job growth of 23% for addiction counselors through 2026.

Expert Faculty

Learn from dedicated, passionate professionals who bring decades of on-the-job insight into the classroom.

Online Classes Available

Take courses at your convenience and complete assignments when it works for your schedule.