Counseling and Human Services: Clinical Mental Health Counseling, MA

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) emphasis within the Department of Counseling and Human Services is designed to prepare graduate students to assume positions in the provision of professional counseling and consultation services involving the principles of psychotherapy. Students will be prepared in the areas of human development, learning theory, group dynamics, and the etiology and diagnosis of mental illness and dysfunctional behavior. They will be prepared to provide professional services to individuals, couples, families, and groups for the purposes of treating psychopathology and promoting optimal mental health. Promotion and enhancement of healthy, self-actualizing, and satisfying lifestyles is the goal of clinical mental health counseling, whether the services are rendered in an educational, military, business or industrial, health or medical, private practice or human services setting.

The Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CMHC) training program is currently recognized by CACREP. The CMHC track is based on CACREP training standards and is designed to meet the academic requirements for licensure as a professional counselor (LPC) in Colorado to practice psychotherapy. In addition to completing the Master’s Degree, applicants for the Professional Counselor License must complete appropriate post-master’s degree supervised experiences and pass a written examination.

Students must complete a rigorous 60 semester-hour program that has been developed by the departmental faculty to prepare Clinical Mental Health Counselors for the responsibility of the professional practice.

Students graduating from the CMHC degree program will be eligible to take the National Counselor Exam during their last semester in the program. The student may submit the score from this examination as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Professional Counselor license in Colorado. Post-master’s supervised clinical experience is required prior to becoming licensed. Additionally, graduates of the program will be immediately eligible and are encouraged to apply for the National Certified Counselor (NCC) recognition.

Admissions and Application Requirements

Please visit our website for admissions information.

Course Requirements

Foundation Courses - 18 Credit Hours

Foundations in Professional Counseling - 18 Credit Hours

The Mental Health Counselor Within the Community System - 15 Credit Hours

Electives - Optional 9 Credit Hours

As the Department transitions to a sixty-semester hour program, students will be offered an array of elective courses. These courses may be selected to complement the student’s required coursework and/or professional career objectives.
Students will select two electives if they desire to graduate with a 60-semester hour master’s degree.

School Counselor: Endorsement Only

Students who have earned a CACREP-accredited master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and are a Licensed Professional Counselor may be eligible to take five courses (minimum) to complete the academic requirements for endorsement as a School Counselor in Colorado. An interview, transcript review, and specific steps for admission are required. It is important to note that admission is limited to space available and upon approval of the faculty.

Advanced Certificate: Counseling and Human Services

The Department of Counseling and Human Services offers a 24 credit-hour, advanced, post master’s certificate for current school or clinical mental health practitioners.

Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) are required to complete 20 continuing education hours per licensing cycle and school counselors who are on a graduate pay scale may use this coursework toward these requirements. Additionally, the four core courses (12 credits) align with current CACREP requirements for CACREP-accredited doctoral programs. Students may take between one to three courses per semester.

Substance Use and Recovery Counseling Emphasis

The Department of Counseling and Human Services within the College of Education offers this 18 credit hour emphasis offers for students who have been accepted into the Master of Arts in Counseling and Human Services program the opportunity to seek certification as a Licensed Addictions Counselor (LAC) upon graduation. The university curriculum is designed to meet the core curriculum standards set forth by the Office of Behavioral Health (OBH). Students may complete the Master of Arts in Counseling and Human Services and the addictions emphasis simultaneously. UCCS is one of the few Masters of Arts degree programs in the state of Colorado that embeds the competencies to meet addictions credentialing.

How Does the Addictions Counseling Emphasis Work?

Once admitted to the Master of Arts in Counseling and Human Services program at UCCS, students declare an emphasis on Addictions which requires specific coursework. In addition to being able to complete all the academic requirements for a LAC, students who do their Practicum and Internship in an addictions specific environment and receive supervision from a LAC can count those hours toward their LAC certification upon graduation from the program and completion of the Master Addiction Counselor Exam (MAC).

Application and Admissions Requirements

Please visit our website for admissions information.