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.

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-masters degree supervised experiences and pass a written examination.

The program offers training to students in various areas such as human development, learning theory, group dynamics, and identifying mental illness and dysfunctional behavior.

After completing the program, students will have the skills to offer professional services to individuals, couples, families, and groups to treat psychopathology and improve mental health.

The ultimate goal of this program is to promote and enhance healthy, self-actualizing, and satisfying lifestyles, regardless of whether the provided services are in an educational, military, business or industrial, health or medical, private practice, or human services setting.

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 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 National Certified Counselor (NCC) recognition.

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. This schedule will begin in Summer 2023.

For details on program coursework, please visit the Academic Catalog.

To learn more about the general application process, please visit the program's Admissions page.

Additional resources for Admissions:

• Tuition Rate
• Cost of Tuition Estimator
• Financial Aid
• Scholarships