Advanced Graduate Certificate in Addiction Studies

Plan Description

The Department of Counselor Education, School Psychology, and Human Services offers an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Addiction Studies. The certificate program is designed for individuals already holding master’s degrees in counseling who are seeking to enhance their professional counseling practice and licensure options.

The Advanced Graduate Certificate in Addictions Studies meets the needs of health professionals such as marriage and family therapists, community counselors, rehabilitation counselors, school counselors, physicians, psychologists, social workers, and behavioral health therapists by providing graduate addiction training to help them address client needs.

Faculty members in the Department of Counselor Education, School Psychology, and Human Services endeavor to promote excellence in counselor education and counseling research. Our graduate counseling programs prepare students to:

• Serve as professional counselors, advocates, and leaders who maximize opportunities for individuals, groups, and communities with a particular emphasis on helping underserved and oppressed client populations;
• Address developmental, academic, career, mental health, socio-cultural, and wellness needs of clients seeking counseling;
• Help individuals, groups and communities strive to find meaning, involvement, worth, and dignity in their lives;
• Engage in action research and program evaluations to further the knowledge base and best practice initiatives of the counseling profession; and
• Advocate with local, state, and national organizations to promote client and societal wellbeing.

For more information about your program, including your graduate program handbook and learning outcomes, please visit the Degree Directory.

Plan Admission Requirements

Application Deadlines

Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.

All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.

(a) Graduate College Admission Requirements

1. Completed application in the Application Portal and non-refundable application fee. 
2. Bachelor’s Degree – You must hold a four-year baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution or an approved equivalent.
   1. Post-Master’s tracks and Advanced Certificates require a regionally accredited Master’s degree.
3. Grade Point Average – You must have a minimum overall grade point average of 2.75 (4.00=A) for the bachelor’s degree or a minimum 3.00 (4.00=A) for the last two years (60 semester credits). 
4. All applicants are required to submit an unofficial transcript from each postsecondary institution attended, showing all degrees and coursework, the dates awarded, and grades received. Official transcripts required upon admission.
   1. Credentials not in English must be accompanied by an English translation certified as true by a university official, an official representative of a United States embassy or consulate, the United States Information Service, the United States Education Foundation, or an approved professional translating service. Notarized copies of originals or translations are not considered official.

(b) Department Admission Requirements

Students must already be enrolled in or hold a master’s degree in counseling or related programs, or be currently admitted to the Clinical and Mental Health Counseling M.S. program or School Counseling M.Ed. program at UNLV.

All applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements by submitting the following:

1. Three letters of recommendations
2. Resume/CV
3. Writing Sample - prompts are provided in the application

Students are accepted into a certificate program as described in the Graduate Catalog. The faculty and corresponding sub-disciplines and sub-plans within the described programs are subject to change at any time

Plan Requirements

See Subplan Requirements below.

Subplan 1: Concurrent Master’s (Exclusively Fully Online*)
Subplan 2: Post-Master’s (Exclusively Fully Online*)

Subplan 1 Requirements: Concurrent Master’s (Exclusively Fully Online*)

Total Credits Required: 12

Subplan 2 Requirements: Post-Master’s (Exclusively Fully Online*)

Total Credits Required: 12

Plan Certificate Completion Requirements

Students may apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. All required forms must be submitted to the graduate college via the Grad Rebel Gateway.