Criminal Justice Degree Online | Bachelor’s Program | SNHU
With increasing recognition of the substance abuse crisis in the U.S., the need for highly skilled community workers is on the rise. Through 2030, growth for substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors is projected to grow 23% – much faster than the average of all jobs – according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).1
The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Substance Abuse was designed to help you become a voice for justice and a conduit for recovery for people in treatment facilities, outpatient programs and the court system. Graduates of the program are prepared to provide entry-level services to individuals, groups and families in residential addiction treatment facilities, outpatient addiction programs, the drug court system and corrections departments.
According to the BLS, counselors who work with substance abuse, behavioral disorders and mental health typically work for employers1 like:
- Outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers
- Individual and family services
- State, local and private hospitals
- Residential mental health and substance abuse facilities
- Government
The substance abuse program provides students with a strong foundation in the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) 12 core functions of a drug and alcohol counselor, theories of addiction, assessment, diagnosis and treatment of individuals diagnosed with substance use disorder, as well as legal and ethical issues associated with addiction. This program is an important educational first step toward becoming a drug and alcohol counselor.
Courses may include:
- Foundations of Addiction
- Substance Use: From Screening to Consultation
- Pharmacological Factors in Substance Use Treatment
If you have a heart for recovery, you may also be interested in the online Bachelor of Arts in Human Services with a substance abuse degree concentration.
The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Substance Abuse offered by Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) does not directly lead to licensure. It does provide a significant portion of the substance abuse coursework most often recognized as necessary for licensure. Students seeking licensure and/or certification may be required to complete additional coursework and will be required to complete fieldwork as prescribed by each state. Most states also require a passing score on a licensing exam.
The licensure process and educational requirements for drug and alcohol counselors vary from state to state. This program does not directly lead to licensure.
It is the student’s responsibility to contact their state board or agency for additional information regarding the licensure process and educational requirements. If the student moves to another state, the requirements for licensure will likely be different from the state where the student currently resides, and the student is responsible for determining the licensure requirements in the state to which he/she relocates. Southern New Hampshire University does not guarantee that the completion of this program will result in state licensure or certification.