Admissions

The primary purpose of the graduate programs in CMH and School counseling is to prepare counselors to be competent and licensed professionals in their respective disciplines.

School Counseling

The School Counseling Program is designed to prepare professionals for work as school counselors in elementary, middle, and high schools.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program prepares professionals for work in a variety of settings such as... business/industry, and private practice. Students receive preparation in working with individuals, groups, couples, families, and organizations.

Application deadline is December 1, 2023. 

Financial Aid Priority filing date is March 1

• Carefully read the Counseling Program Information Bulletin and identify questions you have about the program
• Candidates are always welcome to schedule an advising meeting with Department of Counseling and Human Services faculty members anytime in the process.The goal of the meeting is to answer questions you have about the program, clarify the procedures for admission to the program, and to determine your level of interest in and preparation for the program. Call 719-255-4996 or education@uccs.edu to set up appointments/meetings.
• Complete the online Graduate application found at: Apply Now! Within the application you will need to: 
  • All applicants (international & domestic) pay the $60.00 application fee
  • Upload your “goals statement” to include a self-evaluation that addresses the following:
    • Level of self-awareness
    • Academic potential
    • Personal growth experience
    • Human relations skills
    • Why you decided to become a counselor
    • What you hope to do with your counseling degree
    • Volunteer work
  • Complete the tuition classification form
  • List the name, title/organization, and email of three people who will serve as references for you. The people you identify will be emailed the Counseling recommendation form/instructions Preferred references include: Your reference should be able to attest to your ability to successfully complete a graduate program in Counseling and Human Services and your ability to establish effective interpersonal relationships with others.
    • Former instructor
    • Current supervisor
    • Professional colleague
    • Do not ask friends or family members to be references

• In addition to the above materials that will be submitted with your online application, please emai proof of your background check or proof of your current Colorado teaching licensure to the Student Resource Office education@uccs.edu. *(International applicants only complete this step if they have lives in the United States for more than one year). Instructions for completing your background check are: 

  • Go the website: https://www.cbirecordscheck.com/Index.aspx
  • Click on Individuals
  • $6.85 is the cost to receive the results
  • Print a copy of the background check and turn it in with your admissions materials. (Current CO school or agency employees who completed a background check for employment may provide a copy of their CO license or a copy of the results of the background check for employment).
• Upload your curriculum vitae or professional résumé (please include relevant paid work and volunteer experience where applicable)
• To accommodate the large number of applicants, we ask you record a YouTube video responding to questions that will be provided once all materials have been submitted. Please ensure your video is less than 8 minutes.
• Have one official transcript of all higher education course work ever completed to date (undergraduate and/or 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:
  gradapp@uccs.edu
• Attend the on-campus group interview day. The group admissions interview day is held February 2, 2024 on a Friday from 8:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. This day is designed to determine your interpersonal and professional fit for the counseling profession as well as to allow prospective students to analyze whether the Department of Counseling and Human Services is the best fit for their training and professional goals. We prefer all prospective students to participate in the group process, however, exceptions can be made for students who live outside the local area. Students who qualify for an exception will substitute a WebEx interview with two faculty from the department.
• OPTIONAL: Please note this is an optional portion of the application and is NOT required for admission. You may submit the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) taken within the past five years. There are no cut-off scores for the GRE or MAT, a composite score is calculated and added to the overall index score. Please have official scores of the GRE or MAT sent directly to UCCS. The UCCS school code for the GRE is 4874. The GRE department code is 3999. The UCCS School Code for the MAT is 1995.
• All graduate materials should be received by the application deadline of January 6. Please remember that we have a cohort model so all counseling students begin together each summer session only.
  
  Additional items of note for International applicants:
  English Proficiency must be demonstrated through providing evidence of an IELTS score of 6.5 or above, a TOEFL score of 550-(paper-based) or 80-(internet-based) or a Kaplan International Tools for English (KITE®) score of a minimum of 460. Students may make arrangements to take KITE® at the Global Engagement Office.
   

  Applicants with any post-secondary course work from an international higher education institution that is recognized by their country’s Education Ministry must submit a course-by-course foreign degree evaluation by member of NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services http://www.naces.org/members), AACRAO (http://aacrao.matrixdev.net/) or World Education Services/WES https://www.wes.org/).

  The University of Colorado Colorado Springs does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status in admission and access to, and treatment and employment in, its educational programs and activities.

Admission to the Department of Counseling and Human Services is based on a combination of the following factors:

1. Past academic record, including GPA.
2. Written communication skills and ability to identify important personal characteristics as measured by the goals statement and admission interview.
3. Oral communication skills and personal qualities that are important for professional counselors as determined in the admissions interview and other application activities.
4. Experience in counseling and human services and related positions, paid or volunteer.
5. Commitment to your own personal growth in the program and the growth of your future clients/students.
6. Congruence of fit between your career/personal goals and the objectives of the program, as determined by your goals statement and admission interview.
7. Letters of recommendation (evaluated for relevance and strength).
8. Recent successful graduate course work in counseling as an unclassified student or from another institution. Maximum of 9 hours of relevant and recent (completed within six years of your projected graduation from the Counseling and Human Services program) transfer credit may be considered.

The Department of Counseling and Human Services “Core Experience” is a six course developmental training sequence beginning in the initial summer semester and lasting for one full academic year (summer, fall, and spring semesters). Students admitted to the program must commit to completing these Core courses in sequence during their first year in the program. Students planning to complete their program in two years must complete a 100 clock hour practicum as part of their “Core” year. Student’s planning to complete their program in three years may choose to take practicum in the spring semester of their second year in the program.

After the completion of practicum, all students are required to complete a 600 clock hour internship. The 700 clock hour practicum and internship experience is necessary to complete the requirements for graduation from the program, and are completed in addition to required academic coursework and on-campus supervision groups. Applicants who anticipate problems in completing the 700 clock hour clinical experience portion of the counselor training program (practicum and internship) should consider other options for their graduate study.

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 daytime cohort or an evening cohort, each cohort admits approximately 20 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 4:45PM – 7:20PM 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 7:30PM- 10:05PM time slot to permit students to accrue hours for their field work experience during the day.

Time Limits

Students admitted to the Department of Counseling and Human Services Master’s degree program should plan to complete their degree within a three year time period. Counseling faculty members recommend that students complete the program of study in two years if possible. Students who will need three years to complete the program may elect to postpone their counseling practicum until the second year and postpone internship and other required courses until the third year.

Transfer Credits

According to Graduate School Rules, students may transfer no more than nine semester hours of recent and approved graduate credit or credit as an unclassified student to their Master’s degree program. Recent credit is defined as approved graduate coursework completed within six years of date of graduation from the Department of Counseling and Human Services. Requests to transfer courses should be discussed with your academic adviser and then be submitted to the Student Resource Office who will forward the requests to the Chair, Department of Counseling and Human Services, for approval. Preference is given to courses completed at CACREP accredited institutions.

All requests for transfer credits and credits for courses taken as an unclassified student must be approved by the student’s adviser, the CHS Department Chair and the Dean of the College of Education as well as the Dean of Graduate School. Students must ensure that their transfer/unclassified credit hours meet the Graduate School requirements and are approved at all levels. Students should seek approval for these courses early in their degree program.

• All students will be required to successfully complete a nationally standardized comprehensive examination, the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE), during their final semester in the program.
• As part of the comprehensive examination, each student will be required to successfully complete a departmental examination in their area of specialization: Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) or School Counseling (SC).
• As part of the comprehensive examination, each student will be required to successfully complete an essay examination addressing their personal growth and development over the course of their academic program.
• Each school counseling student must successfully complete the Colorado mandated PRAXIS Examination to be licensed as a school counselor.
• Each counseling student seeking recognition as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) in Colorado must successfully complete the National Counselor Examination (NCE). This examination will be offered on campus during the student’s final semester in the program.
• Students who plan to enter private practice and want to strengthen their credentials with managed care health insurance companies may elect to take the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE). For more information about the various licensing examinations, contact the National Board for Certified Counselors at www.nbcc.org.

• Increases probability of acceptance
• Allows students to plan in advance for transition to graduate program
• Eligible for financial aid for spring semester
• Eligible to take designated classes during the spring semester prior to summer start
• Early access to faculty advisers
• Course work is spread out over an additional semester to ensure two year completion

As slots are limited, not all applicants are guaranteed to be selected. Applicants who are not selected will have their applications forwarded to the spring admissions process which allows students to be eligible to apply for admittance into the cohort beginning Summer 2014.

December 1, 2023 (Admission for annual cohort)