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About

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 life-styles 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 as a Community Counseling preparation program. The Department will seek accreditation as a CMHC program at its next evaluation. 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 54 to 60 semester-hour training program that has been developed by the departmental faculty to prepare Clinical Mental Health Counselors for the responsibility of professional practice. Students should be aware that the CMHC program will increase to 60 semester hours in the next two years to comply with CMHC accreditation standards.

Students graduating from the CMHC degree program will be eligible to take the National Counselor Exam on campus 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. Other requirements, including appropriate post-master’s supervised clinical experience, must be met prior to being eligible to be licensed. Additionally, graduates of the program will be immediately eligible, and are encouraged to apply for National Certified Counselor (NCC) recognition.

Student Handbook

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Admissions

Selection of a university and graduate program of study is an important decision. Therefore, prospective students are required to meet and consult with a departmental faculty advisor as part of the application process. Students should schedule an appointment to discuss career goals and special circumstances with a member of the faculty as soon as possible by calling 719-255-4996 or education@uccs.edu. This meeting will also serve as an admissions interview for the program.

The Department of Counseling and Human Services faculty select a day and evening cohort of students that begin their academic program each year beginning in June. Admission to the program is a selective process with enrollment limited to 50 qualified students (25 students in the day cohort and 25 in the evening cohort). Students are chosen during the spring semester for admission the following summer. Up to nine hours of approved coursework may be completed as an Unclassified Student or as a transfer student prior to admission. Successful completion of Unclassified Student or Transfer Student coursework does not ensure admission to the program. Consult with a faculty member about courses you wish to take as an unclassified student or to transfer, as certain rules apply to these courses.

To be considered for admission to the Counseling and Human Services program, prospective students must complete the following procedures:

Application deadline is February 28

Application Process

• Carefully read this Program Information Bulletin and identify questions you have about the program.
• Complete the online Graduate application found at: www.uccs.edu/~apply/
• Pay the $60.00 application fee online during the application process
• Contact the Financial Aid office to determine eligibility for aid. (Phone: 255-3460)
• Schedule an admissions and information interview with a Department of Counseling and Human Services faculty member early in the process. The goal of this appointment is to answer questions you have about the program, clarify the 12 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 the appointment.
• Have one copy of all previous academic transcripts sent directly to the College of Education. (See below for address).
• Prepare a written “Goals Statement” to include a self-evaluation following the instructions in the application package. We are particularly interested in your level of self awareness, academic potential, personal growth experiences and your human relation skills.
• Submit official scores from 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, which will be considered as part of the admission decisions.
• Obtain three letters of recommendation that speak to your ability to successfully complete a graduate program in Counseling and Human Services and your ability to establish effective interpersonal relationships with others. Choose your references carefully. Persons who have been in positions to supervise and/or evaluate your human relations skills are often effective references. Do not ask friends or others who might be biased to write a recommendation.
• Mail all documents to:
  
  
  University of Colorado Colorado Springs
  Student Resource Office
  Counseling and Human Services Department Admissions
  1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway
  Colorado Springs, CO 80918

Background Check

All applicants must submit a copy of their background check with their application. This is required because many school and clinical practicum and internship sites require the background check prior to accepting a student for field work.

To obtain information and directions on the fingerprinting and background check visit the Student Resources Pageand click Fingerprint/Background Check Instructions.

Acceptance

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 communications skills and ability to identify important personal characteristics as measured by the career goals statement and admission interview.
3. Oral communication 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.
6. Congruence of fit between your career goals and the objectives of the program, as determined by 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 allowed.

Post-Admission Requirements

The Department of Counseling and Human Services “Core Experience” is a six or seven 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 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 daytime cohort or an evening cohort, each cohort admits approximately 25 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 hours 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. If this is not feasible every effort should be made to complete the program within three years. 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 discussed with your academic advisor and then be submitted to the Departmental Administrative Assistant who will forward the requests to the Chair, Department of Counseling and Human Services for approval.

All requests for transfer credits and credits for courses taken as an unclassified student must be approved by the student’s advisor, 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.

In summary, nine semester hours of faculty approved transfer/unclassified credit may be applied toward the on-campus degree program. The following courses are the only ones that may be taken as an Unclassified Student:

• COUN 5430 (Career Development)
• COUN 5040 (Human Growth and Development)
• LEAD 5700 (Introduction to Research and Statistics)

Examinations & Other Academic Assessments

• 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: CMHC or 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.
• School counseling students must successfully complete the Colorado mandated PLACE Examination in order to be licensed as a school counselor.
• All counseling students 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 the managed care health insurance companies may elect to take the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE). If interested, discuss this with your faculty advisor.

Courses

Core (18 credits)

Foundations in Professional Counseling (27 credits)

*COUN 5510 & COUN 5520 designed and need to be taken concurrently.

The Mental Health Counselor within the Community System (15 credits)

*COUN 5950 & COUN 5960 designed and need to be taken concurrently.

Electives (optional 3 credits)

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 compliment 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.

*COUN 5530 & COUN 5970 designed and need to be taken concurrently.

Internship & Practicum Opportunities

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