Accelerated Masters in Addiction Counseling

A place-based, accelerated pathway to your master’s in Addiction Counseling

To address Colorado’s urgent shortage of trained addiction treatment professionals—particularly in rural communities—this place-based Accelerated Addiction Counseling Master’s Program offers a clear, 5-year route to licensure as a Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC). Students earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree while building the skills needed to create meaningful change in the communities they already know and call home.

Through strategic partnerships with local colleges like Northeastern Junior College (NJC) in Sterling, Colorado, this program allows students to stay rooted in their region while earning a highly respected Colorado State University degree. With a combination of synchronous online learning and community-based, in-person training, the program brings education to students—rather than requiring students to leave their communities.

Each day, rural communities struggle. Higher suicide rates, increased rates of substance use disorders, and a scarcity of mental health professionals continue to deepen the behavioral health crisis in rural Colorado.

Built for individuals who want to create positive change in their communities, this program blends synchronous online and intentional in-person training. Upon completion of the program, you’ll be equipped with the theoretical foundation, clinical skills, and cultural awareness to meet the needs of underserved populations across Colorado.

For Northeastern Junior College students – stay in Sterling, earn a CSU degree

Earn a respected Colorado State University degree—without leaving Sterling. Thanks to this innovative partnership between CSU and Northeastern Junior College, you can stay close to home and complete your bachelor’s and master’s degrees in addiction counseling from your own community.

Students in northeast Colorado now have the opportunity to earn a CSU degree rooted in place-based learning. You’ll complete your associate degree at NJC and transition into CSU’s bachelor’s curriculum with synchronous remote learning components in years 3 and 4. In Year 5, you’ll complete your graduate-level coursework and internship in Sterling—positioning you to serve your own region with practical, high-impact skills in addiction treatment.

Developed for students who are deeply connected to their communities, this program enables you to make a difference where you live. You’ll gain access to CSU’s academic excellence while learning in the communities you’ll serve.

Non NJC students

If you do not have an associate’s degree from Northeastern Junior College (NJC), please connect with our Prospective Student Support Coach, Terrance Dickens, at terrance.dickens@colostate.edu or (970) 491-7468. Terrance can help you understand how your academic background aligns with the program. If you have prior college credits, he will also guide you through a tentative transfer evaluation. 

Depending on your academic history, some required coursework may be completed online. However, there are in-person components that must be completed at NJC. These required face-to-face sessions take place during Years 3 and 4 of the program. In Year 5, you’ll complete your graduate-level coursework and internship, both of which are site-based in Sterling, Colorado.

Note: Students will work with their academic advisor to create a program of study that works for their unique situation and academic goals.

The number of courses needed for completion of program depends on:

• The number of transfer credits awarded
• Fulfillment of All-University Core Curriculum
• Degree coursework requirements

Courses align with the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) and Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) standards, ensuring you are prepared for licensure upon graduation. While the program satisfies all educational requirements for licensure, some students may need to complete additional supervised training hours based on individual circumstances and state requirements.

You’ll gain a deep understanding of:

• Addiction theory and treatment
• Ethics and legal standards in counseling
• Trauma-informed care
• Cultural humility and rural health equity
• Community-based intervention strategies

The curriculum listed below is intended to inform prospective students about the overall theme of the program and should only be used as an example program of study. Students need to consult their advisor to develop a degree completion plan based on the credits transferred into this program.

Fall Semester of Year 3:

• PSY 192 – Psychology First Year Seminar (1 cr.)
• PSY 210 – Psychology First Year Seminar (3 cr.)
• PSY 252 – Mind, Brain and Behavior (3 cr.)
• STAT 301 – Introduction to Statistical Methods (3 cr.)
• PSY 310 – Basic Counseling Skills (3 cr.)

Spring Semester of Year 3:

• PSY 350 – Research Design and Analysis II (3 cr.)
• AUCC Category 2 – Advanced Writing Requirement (3 cr.)
• PSY 311C – Basic Counseling Skills Laboratory: AAC (2 cr.)

Pick 1: Paired Lecture

• PSY 315 – Social Psychology (3 cr.)
• PSY 370 – Psychological Measurement and Testing (3 cr.)
• PSY 452 – Cognitive Psychology (3 cr.)
• PSY 458 – Cognitive Neuroscience (3 cr.)

Pick 1: Paired Lab

• PSY 317 – Social Psychology Laboratory (2 cr.)
• PSY 371 – Psychological Measurement and Testing Laboratory (1 cr.)
• PSY 453 – Cognitive Psychology Laboratory (2 cr.)
• PSY 459 – Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory (2 cr.)

Summer Semester of Year 3:

• PSY 361 – Addiction Counseling Case Conceptualization (3 cr.)

Pick 1: Additional Diversity Requirement

• PSY 305 – Psychology of Religion (3 cr.)
• PSY 327 – Psychology of Women (3 cr.)
• PSY 328 – Psychology of Human Sexuality (3 cr.)
• PSY 437 – Psychology of Gender (3 cr.)
• AUCC 1C (3 cr.)
• ETST (3 cr.)
• WS (3 cr.)

Fall Semester of Year 4:

• PSY 320 – Psychopathology (3 cr.)
• BMS 300 – Principles of Human Physiology (4 cr.)*
• PSY 454 – Biological Psychology (3 cr.)
• PSY 365 – Addiction Counseling Techniques (3 cr.)
• PSY 573 – Psychopharmacology of Addictions (3 cr.)

*Another course may be substituted in place of BMS 300 to meet the science requirement, at the discretion of your academic advisor.

Spring Semester of Year 4:

• Elective – To be selected with guidance from advisor (3 cr.)

Pick 1: Lecture Lab Pair 2a

• PSY 315 – Social Psychology (3 cr.)
• PSY 370 – Psychological Measurement and Testing (3 cr.)
• PSY 452 – Cognitive Psychology (3 cr.)
• PSY 458 – Cognitive Neuroscience (3 cr.)

Pick 1: Lecture Lab Pair 2b (1-2 credits)

• PSY 317 – Social Psychology Laboratory (3 cr.)
• PSY 371 – Psychological Measurement and Testing Laboratory (3 cr.)
• PSY 453 – Cognitive Psychology Laboratory (3 cr.)
• PSY 459 – Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory (3 cr.)

• PSY 574 – Addiction Counseling with Co-Occurring Disorders (3 cr.)
• PSY 575 – Addiction Counseling with Diverse Populations (3 cr.)

Total undergraduate credits completed with CSU: 58

Fall Semester of Year 5:

• PSY 675 – Professional Ethics (3 cr.)
• PSY 724 – Motivation Interviewing (3 cr.)
• PSY 787 – Internship (6 cr.)

Spring Semester of Year 5:

• PSY 793 – Clinical Supervision of Addiction Counselors (3 cr.)
• PSY 787 – Internship (6 cr.)

Total graduate credits completed with CSU: 30

Brad Conner

Professor, Director of Addiction Counseling

brad.conner@colostate.edu

(970) 491-6197

Noah Emery

Assistant Professor

noah.emery@colostate.edu

(970) 491-5905

Hollis Karoly

Assistant Professor

Hollis.Karoly@colostate.edu

(970) 491-3677

Wendy Lee

Instructor

Ryan Scarborough

Instructor

Application Deadlines