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College of Applied Human Sciences: School of Education and Counseling

Mental Health and Addiction Studies, BA

If you’re drawn to helping people through life’s toughest moments, the Mental Health and Addiction Studies program can help turn that passion into a career. You’ll learn how mental health and addiction affect individuals, families, and communities, and how to help people build resilience, access resources, and move toward recovery.

In this program, you’ll examine the systems that shape mental health care, the science behind prevention and treatment, and the role of trauma and adversity across the lifespan. You’ll also build hands-on experience working with diverse populations and gain communication and decision-making skills that are essential in the helping professions.

Graduates are prepared to enter the workforce in mental health and addiction services or continue on to graduate study in counseling, public health, social work, or other health-related fields.

Your Degree Plan The WVU Difference Learn by Doing Careers and Outcomes Meet Your Community Admission Requirements Tuition and Aid Take the Next Steps

Your Degree Plan

Intro

Two women smiling and clapping their hands.

This major gives you the knowledge and hands-on experience to support individuals and communities facing mental health and addiction challenges. You’ll be ready to begin your career in the workforce or pursue graduate school.

The Mental Health and Addiction Studies major brings together coursework from counseling, psychology, sociology, and child development and family studies. You’ll also study topics that prepare you to work with diverse populations, including aging, disabilities, wellness, and cultural differences.

Through your core classes, you’ll examine the history and development of mental health systems, learn how services are structured and delivered, and explore how trauma, addiction, and recovery affect individuals and communities. The curriculum helps you build a foundation in ethical decision-making, recognize barriers to care, and communicate effectively in professional settings.

Tailor this major to your interests by taking one of these courses as you pursue your degree:

  • COUN 240:
    Introduction to Addiction Studies

    Overview of core concepts related to substance use and substance use disorders. Topics include the history of drug use/addiction, effects on societal members, pharmacology of common psychoactive drugs, theories of addiction, treatment approaches, mutual support, recovery and relapse.

  • COUN 320:
    Prevention in Mental Health

    Overview of core concepts related to the prevention of mental illness and addiction. Topics include the evolution of prevention practices, risk and preventive factors, psychosocial and environmental determinants, selecting and evaluating evidence-based models, and health equity.

  • CDFS 416:
    Trauma, Resiliency and Children

    Overview of core issues of trauma and its impact on children and families, with an emphasis on growth, learning and adult relationships. Students apply critical inquiry to explore the broader impact of trauma on society, including individual productivity and financial costs, and develop public awareness and learning material.

Take advantage of special options related to this major:

The WVU Difference

What sets this program apart from its competitors?

  • This major is the first of its kind in West Virginia and one of just a few undergraduate programs in the field nationwide.
  • The College of Applied Human Sciences awards nearly $500,000 in scholarships to students each year.
  • Graduates may qualify for NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program.
Scholarships

93% of WVU freshmen receive grants or scholarships (2023-24).

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Learn by Doing

Learning happens outside the classroom. Get involved.

Complementary minors include:

Students interested in social justice and serving diverse populations might choose one of these minors:

Network with professionals in your field as a student member of:

Live, study and pursue outside-the-classroom learning in a residence hall community that shares your interests:

Outside of the Evansdale Crossing building.

What you learn outside of the classroom is just as important as what you learn during class. We’ll help you follow your curiosity.

Careers and Outcomes

How does this degree prepare students for a career?

Psychiatric Aides

Assist mentally impaired or emotionally disturbed patients, working under direction of nursing and medical staff. May assist with daily living activities, lead patients in educational and recreational activities, or accompany patients to and from examinations and treatments. May restrain violent patients. Includes psychiatric orderlies.

Median Salary: $41,590

Possible job titles include: Mental Health Worker (MHW), Psychiatric Aide, Residential Care Tech (Residential Care Technician), Therapeutic Program Worker (TPW).

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Mental Health Counselors

Counsel and advise individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health, with an emphasis on prevention. May help individuals deal with a broad range of mental health issues, such as those associated with addictions and substance abuse; family, parenting, and marital problems; stress management; self-esteem; or aging.

Has a Bright Outlook , May require a Graduate Degree

Median Salary: $59,190

Possible job titles include: Clinician, Counselor, Mental Health Specialist, Mental Health Therapist.

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Child, Family, and School Social Workers

Provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children. May assist parents, arrange adoptions, and find foster homes for abandoned or abused children. In schools, they address such problems as teenage pregnancy, misbehavior, and truancy. May also advise teachers.

Median Salary: $58,570

Possible job titles include: Case Manager, Family Protection Specialist, Family Service Worker, School Social Worker.

Explore Career

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

Assess and treat individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. Activities may include individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education.

Has a Bright Outlook , May require a Graduate Degree

Median Salary: $60,060

Possible job titles include: Case Manager, Mental Health Therapist, Social Worker, Therapist.

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Social and Human Service Assistants

Assist other social and human service providers in providing client services in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, or social work, including support for families. May assist clients in identifying and obtaining available benefits and social and community services. May assist social workers with developing, organizing, and conducting programs to prevent and resolve problems relevant to substance abuse, human relationships, rehabilitation, or dependent care.

Has a Bright Outlook

Median Salary: $45,120

Possible job titles include: Advocate, Clinical Assistant, Social Work Associate, Social Worker Assistant.

Explore Career

Adult Day Care Worker

Suggested WVU Minors for students seeking this career:

Child Advocate

Suggested WVU Minors for students seeking this career:

Family Support Worker

Suggested WVU Minors for students seeking this career:

Group Home Worker

Suggested WVU Minors for students seeking this career:

Juvenile Court Liaison

Suggested WVU Minors for students seeking this career:

Probation or Parole Officer

Suggested WVU Minors for students seeking this career:

Rehabilitation Case Worker

Suggested WVU Minors for students seeking this career:

Social Service Liaison

Suggested WVU Minors for students seeking this career:

Youth Worker

Suggested WVU Minors for students seeking this career:

Drug Court Case Manager

Suggested WVU Minors for students seeking this career:

Related Professional Organizations

Sober Living House Counselor

Suggested WVU Minors for students seeking this career:

Related Professional Organizations

Meet Your Community

The Mental Health and Addiction Studies family will inspire and support you.

  • “Coming from a suburb of Philadelphia, I knew that I could get a job as a drug and alcohol counselor in the major (mental health and addiction studies), and I knew that was what I wanted to do. I like working in the field that I’m studying. I don’t find myself getting overwhelmed because what I learn in class, I then put into practice in my day-to-day life.”
    Marissa Mangione
  • “I have never had a professor in this program who wasn’t supportive. On top of that, the program includes a lot of practical, hands-on experiences. We do self-care journals, meditation exercises, and activities that don’t just teach us about mental health, but also help us grow as individuals. It’s been really impactful.”
    Mary Taylor Shaak
  • Frankie Tack

    Frankie Tack

    Professional highlights:

    • Service-Learning Instruction Award, WVU, 2022
    • Distinguished Service Award, West Virginia Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, 2021
    • Laddie R. Bell Distinguished Service Award, WVU College of Education and Human Services, 2020
  • Katie Merrill
     BA, Mental Health and Addiction Studies
    “The faculty makes this program as wonderful as it is. Every professor is motivated to help you succeed. Another great part of my experience at WVU is the number of programs that exist to help students from different backgrounds succeed. Programs such as Collegiate Recovery provide a welcoming environment for any student wanting to get involved in the recovery community or someone who needs some extra support.”

    • Admission Requirements

    To be admitted to WVU's Mental Health and Addiction Studies major, first-time freshmen must meet WVU's first-time freshman admission requirements. Interested in transferring? Review the transfer admission requirements.

    Tuition and Aid

    How much does Mental Health and Addiction Studies at WVU cost? And how can you save?

    Tuition and Fees

    Estimated rates are available on our tuition website. Anyone who is not a current West Virginia resident, including international students, will be charged non-resident rates.

    View Tuition and Fees

    Scholarships

    Estimate your eligibility for merit scholarships at WVU Morgantown.

    Find Scholarships

    Net Price Calculator

    Estimate your cost of attendance and eligibility for financial aid and scholarships at any WVU System campus.

    Visit the Net Price Calculator

    Ways to Save

    Here are a few ways for you to save on the cost of attending WVU in addition to university scholarships.

    Financial Aid

    The most important step toward funding your future with financial aid for the Mental Health and Addiction Studies major is submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.

    How to Complete the FAFSA

    Ohio Tuition Reciprocity

    As the result of a special agreement, students from Ohio who are fully admitted to Mental Health and Addiction Studies can enroll at WVU and pay in-state tuition rates. Students must be admitted to both the University and this major.

    Learn More

    Transfer Articulation Agreements

    To simplify the transfer process, we have formal agreements with certain institutions. These agreements outline the courses you should take to prepare for transferring to WVU.

    Review the full list of transfer articulation agreements to see if your institution is listed.

    Learn How to Transfer Course Credits

    Ready to take the next step?

    Learn how to join the WVU family.

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