Substance Abuse Counseling

Students who have an interest in working in the community to provide assistance to others are great candidates for the degree in substance abuse counseling. Students in the substance abuse counseling program may enhance their education by choosing an area of study within the degree requirements that can include child abuse recognition or another human service-related area.

Students who excel in the substance abuse counseling program often have very strong interpersonal skills and work well with others. Excellent written and verbal communications skills are also a plus.

The Bachelor of Science in Substance Abuse Counseling (Program) is a cutting-edge, research-oriented program that provides students with essential knowledge, competencies, and skills to kickstart careers in substance use disorder (SUD) counseling.

The Program meets the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board requirements for becoming a Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant (CDCA), as well as the requirements for corresponding certifications in many other states. 

The Program also meets three of the four (the degree, education hour, and Core Function experience (220 hours)) requirements for becoming a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor III (LCDC III) in Ohio, as well as some of the requirements for corresponding certifications and licenses in many other states.

In Ohio, students pursuing the LCDC III must also meet a fourth requirement— document 2,000 hours (approximately one year) of supervised SUD related field work experience before sitting for the Alcohol and Drug Counselor Exam.  This additional field work experience is not provided as part of, nor a requirement of, the Program. 

Because the number of required work field experience hours necessary for obtaining bachelor's degree level licensure varies by state, students are advised early in the Program to determine how many are required for licensure goals in the state(s) where they will practice.

Graduates of this program will be prepared for the careers listed below. All opportunities may not be listed.

Student Services Center
College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services
Teachers-Dyer Complex | Room 360
Cincinnati, OH 45221
513-556-2336

In order to graduate from the UC College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services, a student must:

• Complete all required course work and program requirements.
• Obtain at least a 2.0 university grade point average.
• Be in good academic standing; that is, not on academic or disciplinary probation or suspension.
• Meet the college's residency requirement of 30 semester credit hours.
• File formal application for the degree by the posted semester of graduation deadline.

Admission to this program is generally available for students transferring to the University of Cincinnati if they were admissible directly from high school and have a 2.0 cumulative GPA (all prior institutions combined).

Students who were NOT admissible directly from high school must have:

• 24 semester (36 quarter) hours earned
• at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA (all prior institutions combined)

Admission to this program is generally available for University of Cincinnati students enrolled in other colleges of the University of Cincinnati if they were admissible directly from high school and have a 2.0 cumulative GPA (UC and any prior institutions combined).

Students who were NOT admissible directly from high school must have:

• 24 semester (36 quarter) hours earned
• at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA (UC and any prior institutions combined)

Current UC students wishing to transfer into the program should contact the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services at 513-556-2336.

International students should contact the University of Cincinnati's Office of Admission for details. 513-556-1100.