RFI

This master’s in addiction studies equips you to pursue state licensure and become an addiction counselor. The courses in this program meet the educational requirements for national certification, qualifying you for licensure in nearly every state upon graduation. Upon graduation, you’ll be qualified to supervise bachelor’s-level clinicians, oversee clinical programs, provide case management and engage in advocacy and marketing. After obtaining licensure you can find employment in many settings, including substance misuse treatment centers, community mental health agencies, hospitals, high school and university counseling centers and military affairs hospitals.

Who’s a good candidate for this program?

As an ideal candidate for this program, you should have a strong interest in assisting individuals struggling with addiction and a desire to pursue licensure as an addiction counselor. Although completing an undergraduate degree before this program is required, a background in behavioral health is preferred but not mandatory. Experience working in a behavioral health facility, whether as a technician, case manager or in a similar role, would be highly beneficial as well. Upon graduating, you’ll be prepared to advance or begin your career path toward many roles that support addiction recovery.

Substance abuse counseling: An in-demand career

This master’s in addiction psychology combines cutting-edge research from internationally recognized experts in addiction with the clinical expertise of licensed addiction counselors. These professionals bring decades of experience in providing addiction treatment. This unique blend of research and clinical knowledge sets the program apart from other addiction psychology programs, giving you a distinct advantage in the field. Additionally, job prospects are expected to be in demand for counselors who hold active licensure. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of addiction counselors is expected to grow 18% from 2022 to 2032, which is a much quicker rate than other occupations.

Is licensure or certification required to practice as an addiction counselor?

Yes. All states require either licensure or certification to practice as an addiction counselor. Most states have multiple levels of licensure, typically a bachelor’s-level license that requires ongoing supervision and a master’s-level license that allows independent practice. For example, Arizona has two licenses at the master’s level:

LASAC – Licensed Associate Substance Abuse Counselor: Requires a master’s degree in a behavioral-health related field (such as the master’s in addiction psychology) and a passing score on an advanced substance abuse licensure exam administered by the IC&RC, NAADAC or NBCC. Counselors at this level cannot practice independently and must be supervised by a LISAC.

LISAC – Licensed Independent Substance Abuse Counselor: Requires a master’s degree in a behavioral-health related field, an active LASAC credential, and 1600 hours of supervised work experience that includes 100 hours of clinical supervision.

ASU’s Master of Science in addiction psychology covers the seven core content areas required for licensure in the State of Arizona, as well as the educational content requirements for most states in the U.S. ASU is also pursuing NASAC and NAADAC certification. Please visit our professional licensure page for the most up-to-date information on requirements for licensure in your state.

In this MPM program, you’ll learn how to plan and execute complex projects by applying project management models and methods. The curriculum emphasizes scope, risk, scheduling, cost, resources and procurement. Other focus areas include communication, stakeholder engagement, integration and leadership. As a future leader, you’ll gain expertise in multiple approaches to delivering value. Plan to explore predictive, adaptive and hybrid approaches and understand when to use them.

Project management skills are highly marketable and transferable across industries. As a graduate, you’ll be prepared to succeed in this in-demand field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for project management specialists is expected to grow 7% from 2023-2033, which is faster than average for all occupations.

Who’s a good candidate for this program?

This program is a good fit for recent graduates and professionals seeking expertise to accelerate their careers. Because project management is applied broadly, this MPM pairs well with undergraduate degrees in engineering, construction management, information technology, sustainability, health care, the performing arts and more. As a working professional, this degree can expand your abilities to approach complex projects systematically and achieve better outcomes.

Additionally, ideal candidates are eager to work in teams and integrate experiential learning into their coursework. For example, you may have opportunities to shadow and work alongside organizations to create project plans and deliver value. Due to its collaborative nature, this program builds transferable competencies in integrative thinking, communication management, interpersonal skills and more.

Does this MPM lead to a project management certification?

No. While this program does not result in certification, it does prepare you to pursue project management certifications and credentials. For instance, graduates meet one of the requirements to sit for the Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification exam. When you qualify for the exam, your knowledge will equip you to answer real-world scenario questions.

A PMP® certification demonstrates that you understand project management functions and can apply that knowledge. This certification can give you a competitive edge as it signifies readiness to be a key business partner in today’s complex environment. Many job postings require PMP® certification and other companies often prefer to hire PMP®-certified professionals. Becoming certified will show your commitment to the profession and can help boost your career success.

You’ll deepen your understanding of the relationship between people and their environments while building valuable, versatile skills for your career. Through access to state-of-the-art research centers and collaboration with renowned faculty, you’ll enhance your expertise in research, teamwork and communication. Hands-on projects provide practical experience, including opportunities to contribute to faculty-led, grant-funded research in your areas of interest. Along the way, you’ll sharpen your problem-solving, adaptability and leadership skills, preparing you to make an impact on the pressing environmental and spatial challenges of our time.

Who’s a good candidate for this program?

This program is a great fit for individuals from diverse backgrounds who want to expand their understanding of the Earth and its systems. Ideal candidates may be mid-career professionals looking to build new skills or those exploring a career change. You might work in fields such as sustainability, teaching, the military, foreign services or mission work—all areas where understanding spatial relationships, places and cultures is valuable.

Please note: While this program provides a foundational introduction to geographic information systems (GIS), it’s more suited for those seeking a broad, interdisciplinary perspective on geography rather than an intensive focus on GIS.

How this program compares to a geographic information science (GIS) master’s

The key distinction between this program and a geographic information science (GIS) master’s is the level of specialization. This geography master’s offers a comprehensive understanding of geography topics, including politics, culture and human-environment interactions, with only introductory GIS content.

For those seeking advanced GIS training, ASU offers a Master of Applied Science in geographic information systems and GIS graduate certificate, both available only in an on-campus format. These programs are designed for those seeking specialized, advanced training in GIS applications and spatial analysis tools. If you’re looking to build expertise in GIS, the MAS-GIS program or GIS certificate would be a more suitable choice.

The analysis of big data in biological sciences can be applied to answer a wide variety of scientific questions. In this program, you’ll learn how to generate, analyze and manipulate big data using various statistical and computational toolsets. To analyze large data sets in the sciences, this program utilizes the Agave Cluster, which includes a large local pool of data center-class graphical processing units that are critical for running high dimensional models. Additionally, this program incorporates hands-on learning to ensure you develop an understanding of:

• Biological data analysis.
• Programming in open-access software such as Python, R and SQL.
• Technical writing.
• Writing Linux shell scripts for accessing high-performance computing resources.
• Writing scientific papers and statistical hypotheses.

Who is a good candidate for a biological data science master’s program?

You’ll be a good fit for this program if you have a background in biology and need more computational training, or have a background in computational sciences, seeking further knowledge of natural sciences. In this program, you’ll work with faculty members who have expertise in both areas and will help you bridge the gap between the two. However, this program is designed so that anyone with a bachelor’s degree from any background can be successful if there’s a desire to learn about life sciences.

Please note, this program focuses on computational sciences and therefore does not include hands-on training in a wet lab.

Is this program the same as a master’s in bioinformatics?

Bioinformatics and biological data science are closely related fields that overlap in their areas of study. A bioinformatics program focuses on developing and applying computational tools to analyze biological data. Whereas, this biological data science program emphasizes using statistical tools, mathematical models and theoretical methods to understand biological systems.

A bioinformatics program has a narrow focus on genetic and genomic data analysis to provide a highly specialized learning experience. Bioinformatics studies cover advanced skills such as gene sequence alignment, gene prediction and the analysis of genomic data. This biological data science program takes a broader approach and provides a comprehensive overview of data sets within many areas of biology ranging from molecular to ecology. This program is the right fit if you’re interested in gaining a more expansive set of skills that can be applied to various industries within life science.

The science of complex systems is a study of interactions. It is the interactions among our cells that enables them to collectively form an individual, the interactions among diverse plants and animals that produce a rich ecosystem. A complexity scientist studies these interactions, among genes, cells, species and people. 

What are complex adaptive systems?

We are surrounded by systems that are essential to our life and well being. Living organisms, ecosystems, corporations, societies, cities and even our bodies are complex adaptive systems. Complex systems are formed when different types of components interact in networks to create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. In our bodies, skin cells, blood cells, nerve cells, bone cells and other kinds of cells all interact to form an individual who does not behave like any of the cells they are made from. Plant and animal species interact as predators or prey to cycle nutrients and inhibit or encourage each other's growth in an ecosystem. Individuals, neighborhoods, businesses, utilities and local governments interact in cities.

Complex adaptive systems are organized as groups of components nested within components. In our bodies, different kinds of bone cells are organized into individual bones, which are organized in our skeletal system. The components of complex adaptive systems also transmit and process information, like the nervous system and immune system in our bodies. This enables complex adaptive systems to grow, evolve, adapt and die. Complex systems are at the core of all real-world challenges, ranging from health care and sustainability to engineering, economics and social systems. Learning about the interactions that create complex adaptive systems is key to understanding our world and creating solutions to our most pressing issues.

In a complex adaptive system, the interactions among components within components are many and diverse. Complex adaptive system scientists use advanced information technologies like network science and computational modeling to help them understand how these interactions create emergent properties and enable complex adaptive systems to grow and adapt to a constantly changing environment. 
 

What skills will I learn with a complex systems science master's degree?

You’ll learn about the fundamental properties that underlie all complex adaptive systems and how interactions among system components determine how these systems grow and change. You’ll develop cutting-edge digital skills like modeling and network science that are needed to understand and manage complex adaptive systems. A master’s in complex system science will equip you with unique insights and tools for problem solving and critical thinking.

Even though complex adaptive systems are such an important part of our lives, few people yet have the knowledge and skills to understand the interactions needed to fully understand them. For this reason, complex systems science can help you develop innovative solutions in a wide range of areas, including sustainability, finance, social sciences, biomedical sciences, computer science, public policy, political science and psychology. This program’s unique subject matter gives you an edge over other job candidates and many of the skills developed in this program are foundational to a large number of employment opportunities.