School Counselor

Education Endorsement
Program Delivery
On Campus
Total Credits
12 - 60 Credits

About the Program

The School Counselor endorsement program meets the licensure requirements of the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) and is accredited by CACREP based on national standards for the preparation of school counselors. This endorsement program does not lead to a Master's degree.

School counselors in Colorado are licensed Special Services Providers who work in school settings with students, parents, educators, and others within the community. They are licensed to work in Elementary, Secondary, or K-12 settings. School Counselors design and manage comprehensive developmental guidance programs to help students acquire skills in the social, personal, academic, and career domains necessary for living in a multicultural society.

School counselors accomplish this by employing interventions including guiding and counseling students individually or in small groups and by providing information through classroom guidance. School counselors contribute to the development of effective learning environments through student advocacy, facilitating systemic change, and consultation and collaboration with others. Teaching experience is not a requirement for the Colorado school counselor license.

El Pomar Clock Tower on UCCS Campus

Focus of Study

In the School Counselor endorsement program, students prepare to become licensed professionals dedicated to supporting students and their communities within school settings. 

The primary role of a school counselor involves developing and overseeing comprehensive guidance programs designed to help students acquire essential skills across various life domains, including social, personal, academic, and career development. These skills are considered vital for thriving in our diverse society. To achieve this, students in the program learn and employ a range of strategies, including:

  • Providing individual or small group counseling sessions for students
  • Collecting data from students and stakeholders in effort to implement comprehensive evidence-based practices
  • Delivering valuable information through classroom guidance sessions

The UCCS School Counselor endorsement program equips its students with the knowledge and skills necessary to make a positive impact on the lives of students and to foster nurturing and inclusive educational environments.

Program Requirements

The school counselor endorsement program requires prior completion of a CACREP-accredited counseling master's degree program. School Counselor endorsement students will complete foundational coursework in school counseling and complete an internship experience in a school setting. 

Demonstration of content competency is required for candidates to be recommended for endorsement in School Counseling. A passing score on the Praxis #5422 School Counseling exam is required to qualify for the School Counseling endorsement. It is recommended that students take this exam after completing COUN 5800 and COUN 5810 taken in the Summer just prior to the Internship Year.

 

Program Coursework

Required Courses

The School Counselor in the School System
12 Credit Hours
  • COUN 5700 - Internship in School Counseling (6 credits)
  • COUN 5800 - Roles & Functions of the School Counselor
  • COUN 5810 - Organization/Administration of the School Counseling Program

 

Courses that may be fulfilled with previously transcripted coursework

Foundation Courses
18 Credit Hours
  • COUN 5010 - Theories and Techniques of Individual Counseling
  • COUN 5020 - Laboratory in Individual Counseling
  • COUN 5040 - Human Growth and Development
  • COUN 5100 - Theories & Techniques of Group Counseling
  • COUN 5130 - Theories & Techniques of Marriage, Couples, & Family Counseling
  • COUN 5330 - Issues, Ethics, & Trends in Professional Counseling
Professional Counseling Courses
21 Credit Hours

COUN 5510 and 5520 are designed to be taken concurrently

  • COUN 5120 - Practicum in Professional Counseling
  • COUN 5410 - Measurement & Appraisal
  • COUN 5430 - Career Development
  • COUN 5550 - Practice of Crisis Counseling, Trauma, & Disaster Work
  • COUN 5860 - Social and Cultural Foundation of Professional Counseling
  • COUN 5510 - Principles of Addiction Treatment
  • LEAD 5700 - Introduction to Research & Statistics
Electives
9 Credit Hours

Complete (3) of the following:

  • COUN 5070 - Adventure Education and Experiential Learning
  • COUN 5090 - Spiritual Dimensions of Counseling
  • COUN 5300 - Laboratory in Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling
  • COUN 5440 - Advanced Psychopathology and Diagnosis
  • COUN 5530 - Motivational Interviewing I & II
  • COUN 5520 - Infectious Diseases in Addiction Treatment
  • COUN 5950 - Roles and Functions of the Clinical Mental Health Counselor
  • COUN 5960 - Psychopharmacology
  • COUN 5570 - Play Therapy and Child Counseling
  • COUN 5580 - Sexuality in Counseling
  • COUN 5590 - Clinical Supervision I and II
  • COUN 5900 - The Science of Behavioral and Process Addictions
  • COUN 5970 - Advanced Pharmacology

 

 

Admission Details

Financial Aid Priority Deadline: March 1


Program Admission Checklist
  1. Complete an application with the UCCS Graduate School. Look for Endorsement Licensure - School Counseling ENDR-LICG (SCH)
  2. Submit one transcript from all institutions of higher education previously attended. Send these directly to the UCCS Admissions Office (see details below).
  3. Prepare a Career Goals Statement (see details below).
  4. Current résumé (please include relevant paid work and volunteer experience where applicable).
  5. Once application materials are in, you will need to interview with a faculty advisor for the program.

Career Goal Statement

  • Describe why you have applied to the School Counseling Endorsement program and your goals for your career.
  • Be sure to include personal and professional information that supports this decision.
  • Your statement should be at least two pages in length, double-spaced.
  • Make sure to include your name and the program you are applying to in your goal statement.

Official Transcripts

Domestic students: Have one official transcript of all higher education course work ever completed to date (undergraduate and graduate GPA must be included on transcripts), sent from the institution you attended directly to the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Office of Admissions (electronically or by postal services).

  • Postal Services: 
    UCCS Office of Admissions 
    1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway
    Colorado Springs CO 80918-3733
     
  • Electronically:
    ugapp@uccs.edu
Start Your Application