Addictions Counseling

The Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Addictions Counseling program is a 22-month course of study that provides an in-depth education from a Christian perspective for persons who desire to understand and/or serve addicted persons and their families. Most coursework is completed online with practicums offered at mutually agreed-upon sites.

Graduates from this major should be able to:

• Explain the biopsychosocial-spiritual dimension of addictions.
• Demonstrate an understanding of sin and God's transformative power and grace using helpers and helping systems across the biopsychosocial and spiritual dimensions of addiction/recovery.
• Synthesize assessment and enhancement of client motivation within a broader context of assessment, treatment planning, and client/system change.
• Differentiate among and evaluate the theories underlying addictions counseling and apply them in practice.
• Discuss the pharmacological properties of major drugs and their impact on the brain and behavior.
• Demonstrate an understanding of ethical practice with diverse populations.
• Facilitate group therapy for addicted individuals effectively.

Admission Requirements

The admission requirements for this program are as follows:

• Proof of high school graduation or GED certification.
• Original transcripts from all previous college or university study at regionally accredited colleges or universities or an institution accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education.
• Prior completion of at least 60 transferable credit hours from a regionally accredited college or university or an institution accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education is required before the student is eligible to start a bachelor core program.
• A maximum of 40 hours of credit may be earned through the assessed learning process toward the required 60.
• A minimum of two years of significant full-time work experience beyond high school.

Graduation Requirements

To graduate with a baccalaureate degree with a major in Addictions Counseling from the College of Adult and Professional Studies at Indiana Wesleyan University, the following requirements must be met:

• Completion of 124 semester hours.
• Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
• Completion of the required core courses with a GPA of 2.50 or higher.
• Completion of 30 hours of general education as specified (General Education Requirements).
• Payment of all tuition and fees is required to receive a diploma.

Practicum Requirements

As part of the Bachelor of Science degree with a major Addictions Counseling program at IWU, each student will be required to complete a practicum experience whereby students will engage in on-site learning via an agency or center focused on addictions practice. Sites are secured through a collaborative effort between the Coordinator of Practicums and Field Experiences and each individual student. Students will be required to complete a total of 350 hours of practicum experience which is spread over the span of 20 weeks. These hours will coincide with the final four courses of the program (ADC-461, ADC-462, ADC-463 and ADC-464). This averages out to about 17.5 hours each week where students will participate in a practicum experience. This practicum is key to the student’s learning experience as it provides opportunity for students to receive constructive feedback and continual supervision while gaining experience in a professional counseling setting.