The Counseling and Career Development program integrates academics, research, and engagement to prepare ethical and culturally-responsive counselors who enhance and advocate for the mental health, wellbeing, and life quality of all people. The program follows the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program (CACREP) standards. In this degree program, students experience an excellent education through relevant intrapersonal, interpersonal, and technology-rich learning experiences. All graduates of the CCD program complete a 48-credit hour core curriculum and a 12-hour specialization curriculum. Within the curriculum, they complete a 100-hour counseling practicum and a 600-hour internship in a setting appropriate for their specialization. Completion of the Plan B program requires that students pass a comprehensive written exam and an oral presentation.
In line with the American Counseling Association and the American Mental Health Counselors Association, graduates of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling specialization are prepared to work from a holistic approach, providing counseling services in different health settings such as inpatient and outpatient hospitals, residential facilities, hospice care centers, or private practice.
Clinical mental health counselors enter a distinct profession with national standards for education, training, and clinical practice. They are highly skilled professionals who provide flexible client-oriented therapy. By combining traditional psychotherapy with a practical problem-solving approach, they facilitate the creation of a dynamic and efficient path for change and problem resolution (ACA/AMHCA).
Students who successfully complete this program are prepared to pursue professional counseling licensure (LPC) in Colorado. Licensure requirements in other states and U.S. territories may differ. Students are encouraged to work with the program and the professional licensure board in the state where they intend to pursue licensing to ensure all requirements are satisfactorily met.
Students interested in graduate work should refer to the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.
Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives for the MA in Counseling and Career Development are in alignment with the student outcome standards as articulated by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Upon successful completion, students will be able to:
- Actively advocate on the behalf of clients and the counseling profession in a way that embraces and advances equity, diversity and inclusion.
- Examine, integrate and apply career and personal counseling knowledge and practices in a holistic manner to effectively encourage and facilitate meaningful life design.
- Conceptualize clients, client issues, and counseling interventions through a firm theoretical foundation.
- Establish quality therapeutic relationships with clients and utilize appropriate counseling processes to foster maximal client wellness.
- Effectively identify, competently implement, and critically evaluate prevailing and emerging counseling interventions that generate and inform evidence-based practice.
- Critically examine, evaluate, and utilize their core values as they relate to the practice of professional ethics; understand and apply ethical principles, virtues, and standards of practice; and competently implement ethical decision-making processes.
- Demonstrate through professional practice and involvement how their ethical self; knowledge of counseling theories and practice; and commitment to issues of diversity, equity and inclusion comprise their identity as a master's level counselor.
- Engage in meaningful self-reflection and care that leads to enhanced professional practice and improved client outcomes.
Effective Fall 2025
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Counseling and Career Development, M.A. Core Requirements | ||
| EDCO 500 | Career and Employment Concepts | 3 |
| EDCO 625 | Foundations of Counseling | 3 |
| EDCO 650 | Theories of Counseling and Development | 3 |
| EDCO 651 | Group Guidance and Counseling | 3 |
| EDCO 652 | Ethics in Counseling/Career Development | 3 |
| EDCO 653 | Counseling for Cultural Diversity | 3 |
| EDCO 655 | Brief Counseling | 3 |
| EDCO 656 | Counseling Assessment and Appraisal | 3 |
| EDCO 660 | Career Development Counseling | 3 |
| EDCO 665 | Career Development Institute | 3 |
| EDCO 670 | Introduction to Mental Health Counseling | 3 |
| EDCO 686 | Practicum-Guidance and Counseling | 3 |
| EDRM 600 | Introduction to Research Methods | 3 |
| HDFS 505 | Human Development for Helping Professionals | 3 |
| Specialization Requirements | ||
| EDCO 687 | Internship-Guidance and Counseling 1 | 6 |
| EDCO 675 | Mental Health Counseling and Treatment | 3 |
| Clinical Mental Health Counseling Electives 2 | 9 | |
EDAE 5XX-6XX | ||
EDRM 5XX-6XX | ||
EDUC 5XX-6XX | ||
HDFS 5XX-6XX | ||
SOWK 5XX-6XX | ||
PSY 5XX-6XX | ||
| Program Total Credits: | 60 | |
A minimum of 60 credits are required to complete this program. The program requires completion of a common written final exam and an oral presentation.
- 1
Internship must be at site approved for the clinical mental health counseling specialization.
- 2
Select a minimum of 9 graduate-level credits in consultation with graduate advisor. Courses may not be listed but may be approved by graduate advisor.
For more information, please visit Requirements for All Graduate Degrees in the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.
Summary of Procedures for the Master's and Doctoral Degrees
NOTE: Each semester the Graduate School publishes a schedule of deadlines. Deadlines are available on the Graduate School website. Students should consult this schedule whenever they approach important steps in their careers.
Forms are available online.
| Step | Due Date |
|---|---|
| 1. Application for admission (online) | Six months before first registration |
| 2. Diagnostic examination when required | Before first registration |
| 3. Appointment of advisor | Before first registration |
| 4. Selection of graduate committee | Before the time of fourth regular semester registration |
| 5. Filing of program of study (GS Form 6) | Before the time of fourth regular semester registration |
| 6. Preliminary examination (Ph.D. and PD) | Two terms prior to final examination |
| 7. Report of preliminary examination (GS Form 16) - (Ph.D. and PD) | Within two working days after results are known |
| 8. Changes in committee (GS Form 9A) | When change is made |
| 9. Application for Graduation (GS Form 25) | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website |
| 9a. Reapplication for Graduation (online) | Failure to graduate requires Reapplication for Graduation (online) for the next time term for which you are applying |
| 10. Submit thesis or dissertation to committee | At least two weeks prior to the examination or at the discretion of the graduate committee |
| 11. Final examination | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website |
| 12. Report of final examination (GS Form 24) | Within two working days after results are known; refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website |
| 13. Submit a signed Thesis/Dissertation Submission Form (GS Form 30) to the Graduate School and Submit the Survey of Earned Doctorates (Ph.D. only) prior to submitting the electronic thesis/dissertation | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website. |
| 14. Submit the thesis/dissertation electronically | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website |
| 15. Graduation | Ceremony information is available from the Graduate School website |