School Counseling Emphasis
Counseling, MA- Program Delivery
- On Campus
- Total Credits
- 60 Credits
About the Program
Counseling, MA - School Counseling
The Department of Counseling and Human Services offers a Master’s degree in Counseling with an emphasis on School Counseling.
The School Counselor training 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.
In accordance with these standards, the school counselor program requires the completion of a 60-semester hour program. School Counselor students will complete the same foundational coursework as the Clinical Mental Health Counselor students and may be eligible for licensure as a Colorado Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).
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.
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 Counseling emphasis in the MA in Counseling and Human Services program requires coursework completion, including foundational coursework in school counseling, professional counseling, and 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.
The Cohort Model
The Counseling and Human Services counselor training program is specifically designed to meet the needs of the adult learner. All students must begin the program in June of the summer semester. Students are admitted to one of two cohort groups: a day cohort or an evening cohort, each cohort admits approximately 24 students. Students must commit to taking all their classes in the specific cohort group to which they are admitted.
Exceptions to the Cohort Model
Students need to be aware that the 4:45 pm – 7:20 pm time slot is used for classes that combine students from the day and evening cohorts (COUN 5800, 5810, 5920, 5440, and others). Group Supervision Classes for Practicum (COUN 5120) and Internship (COUN 5700 & 5720) for both the day and evening cohorts will be scheduled in the evening in the 7:30 pm- 10:05 pm time slot to permit students to accrue hours for their fieldwork experience typically occurring during the day.
Program Coursework
Courses | Credit Hours | |
Foundation Courses |
| 18 Credit Hours |
Foundations in Professional Counseling |
| 18 Credit Hours |
The School Counselor in the School System |
| 15 Credit Hours |
Electives | These courses may be selected to complement the student’s required coursework and/or professional career objectives. Students will select three electives if they desire to graduate with a 60-semester-hour master’s degree.
| 9 Credit Hours |
For details on program coursework, please visit the Academic Catalog.
Admissions Details
For details regarding program admissions, the application process, and more - please visit the program's Admissions Details page.