The Master of Arts in Human Services Degree Program at Washburn University was approved in summer of 2012 by the Kansas Board of Regents. The Master of Arts in Human Services, Addiction Counseling emphasis is approved by the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB) to provide the educational curriculum required to become a Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor (LCAC).
For the professional currently employed in the field, advanced knowledge and skills acquired in this MA program can enhance opportunities for career advancement. As mentioned above, the degree program is designed to meet requirements of the BSRB for licensure as a clinical addiction counselor (LCAC), pending program approval of the BSRB. In addition, the MA in Human Services degree program prepares students for teaching positions in community colleges and for further graduate study. Course work emphasizes the application of theory and research to the delivery of human services with an emphasis in addiction counseling.
Course scheduling and delivery methods are flexible and designed to meet the scheduling needs of students, including online courses and short courses such as weekend workshops. However, the BSRB requires that at least two of the skills courses (individual counseling, group counseling, and/or the two practicum seminars) be taken as face-to-face courses at the physical location of the institution.
Admission to the MA in Human Services will be based on a review of appropriate application materials. A committee of faculty from the Department of Human Services will be selected to review application materials and make recommendations regarding admission to the program. Students applying for admission to the Master’s program will submit a completed application, copy of undergraduate (and graduate, when applicable) transcript(s), three letters of recommendation from instructors and/or professionals in the field, and a written essay describing the student’s intent and goals in pursuing the Master’s degree. Minimum standard for admission to the Master’s program is the completion of a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services or a related field (e.g., Social Work, Psychology, Nursing, etc.) from an accredited institution of higher education with an overall GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) over the last two years (60 credits) of university coursework. Students should be aware that the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board requires that applicants for licensure as a clinical addiction counselor (LCAC) must meet, in addition to the required graduate-level coursework, all the requirements for licensure as an addiction counselor (LAC). The LAC requires a Bachelor’s degree in a helping profession, 33 hours of coursework in addiction counseling, and a passing score on a national examination. Students wanting clarification on BSRB requirements should contact the BSRB directly.
Continuous full-time enrollment in the MA program is expected. Continuous enrollment requires satisfactory completion of at least three courses (9 credit hours) in each of the fall and spring semesters. If the student discontinues enrollment for two semesters or more, readmission is required. Should readmission be granted, it will be based on the requirements and regulations effective at the time of readmission.
| The Curriculum | |
| 1. 27 credit hours of required graduate level courses: | |
| Course Title | Credit hours |
| HS600 Integrative Human Services | 3 |
| *HS604 Advanced Methods of Individual Counseling | 3 |
| *HS605 Advanced Methods of Group Counseling | 3 |
| *HS610 Professional Ethics and Practice | 3 |
| *HS615 Psychopharmacology | 3 |
| *HS635 Diagnosis of Substance Use Disorders | 3 |
| *HS640 Practicum | 3 |
| *HS641 Practicum | 3 |
| *HS695 Applied Research | 3 |
| 2. Additional required graduate level elective courses (Select 9 credit hours): | |
| Course Title | Credit hours |
| *HS620 Integrative Approaches to Dual Disorders | 3 |
| *HS625 Addiction and Recovery Services | 3 |
| *HS660 Clinical Supervision | 3 |
| HS630 Lifespan Development | 3 |
| HS665 Integrative Residential Experience | 3 |
| HS679 Narrative Practices | 3 |
| Special Topic Seminars | 3 |
* Graduate level courses required for those students seeking to become a Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor (LCAC) under the State of Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB). Please note that the BSRB requires that half of the skills courses must be taken at the physical location of the institution.
Post-graduates of the MA in Human Services: In order to become a Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor (LCAC) under the Kansas BSRB, you must pass an examination and complete a clinical supervision training plan that includes the following: