Popular

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.

This program is designed for individuals with a bachelor’s degree in any field who want to deepen their knowledge for teaching grades 6–12. Coursework emphasizes the connection between educational design, decision-making, professional growth and leadership. It’s ideal if you’re already working or planning to work in a school or similar learning environment but aren’t seeking teacher certification. Although this degree doesn’t lead to certification, it provides valuable scholarly and practical knowledge to enhance your role in educational settings. Please note that you’ll need access to students in a professional or community setting to complete the coursework.

Which Master of Education program is right for you?

Each of ASU’s online Master of Education programs is tailored to fit your specific career goals in education, whether you're pursuing a teaching license or looking to advance your career and knowledge.

If you’re looking to expand your expertise in educational theory and practice for grades 6–12, this secondary education master’s without teacher certification will be the right choice for you. If you want to earn your teacher certification, our Master of Education in secondary education – teacher certification program is a better option for you.

Additionally, ASU offers an online Master of Education in elementary education with certification and without certification. These programs’ curriculum prepares you for K–8 roles.

Programs with certification are the most popular option because they meet the widespread requirement for state certification, which all public schools mandate for teaching. While some charter, private and international schools don’t require certification, having it generally opens more teaching opportunities. However, earning a Master of Education without certification can also be beneficial, especially if you’re pursuing roles such as a teacher's aide or instructional assistant, or if you're interested in educational theory and research.

In this program, you’ll build knowledge of employment law and human capital management, as well as how to navigate the local, state and federal laws that regulate labor markets. This knowledge becomes increasingly critical to support organizational operations as HR professionals advance to higher roles. Graduates will also acquire a deep understanding of U.S. law, legal structures and legal reasoning when making decisions about human resource problems.

In addition to learning about the metrics and measurements of HR, the role of HR in organizations and strategic HR, you’ll also gain valuable skills in areas such as:

• Compensation and benefits.
• Employee and labor relations.
• Job analysis and design.
• Performance management.
• Training and development.
• Workplace health, safety and security.
• Workplace planning and talent management.

Who’s a good candidate for this program?

This program offers non-lawyer human resources, recruitment and operations professionals opportunities to further their skills and credentials. Whether established or new to the field, ideal candidates are interested in employment law and seek advanced human resource management roles.

Additionally, this program is an excellent step toward becoming SHRM certified. The Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM), a premier HR professional organization, has recognized ASU Law as the first law school fully aligned with the SHRM curriculum guidelines. This paves the way for students who enroll in this program to apply for the SHRM Certification Professional (SHRM-CP) exam. This certification is a distinction that many employers recognize when hiring and promoting HR and employment law professionals. Those who already have SHRM certification can receive continuing education credit for completing courses.

User experience (UX) focuses on the design, development and evaluation of products and services that are useful, usable and desirable. In this rapidly growing field, UX professionals need skills in research, analysis, design and communication to effectively lead teams and collaborate with clients and technical personnel.

This master’s in UX is project-based and beneficial for practitioners looking to develop practical skills in the industry. This degree is unique in that it’s a collaboration between three key programs: human systems engineering, graphic information technology and technical writing and communication. Many similar programs prepare you for one of the areas, but not all three. This holistic approach to user experience teachings sets you apart from counterparts lacking this education experience.

What will I learn in an online master’s in UX program?

The online master’s in UX addresses user experience research, design, content development, communication, tone of voice and evaluation of all interfaces, components and products with which end users interact. This includes hardware and software user interfaces, informational products and identifying user needs, tasks, procedures, capabilities and limitations when using technology and interacting with information.

Examples of interfaces you'll learn to optimize for user experience include:

• Aviation and ground transportation.
• Food packaging.
• Infographics.
• Medical technology.
• Mobile and web applications.
• Software.

Additionally, you’ll develop skills in writing, verbal presentation, research design, graphic design, literature review, data analysis and statistics.

Do you need a master’s degree to work in UX design?

User experience is a rapidly growing field and UX professionals need skills in research, analysis, design and communication to effectively lead teams and collaborate with clients and technical personnel.

While most employers don’t require a master’s degree to work in user experience, research shows that there are few user experience jobs that’re truly considered to be entry level. Most employers prefer a few years of experience. This online master’s in UX provides you with the hands-on experience that employers are looking for.