Curriculum in the Mental Health and School Counseling Dual Degree Program

The dual degree with a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Master of Arts in School Counseling offered through CCU's College of Adult and Graduate Studies will provide you with both a strong clinical counselor and school counselor education background — all within a Christian framework that promotes the study of the whole person, including the spiritual domain. Through the integration of faith, clinical/community-based and school experiences, and current counseling theory into a comprehensive educational experience, you will be equipped to be an effective counselor in a variety of settings.

Instead of completing the two 60-credit hour master's degrees separately (for a total of 120 credit hours), the dual degree pathway requires the completion of just 75 total credit hours:

• Counseling Core (30 credits)
• Practicum/Internships (15 credits)
• Bible and Theology (4 credits)
• Residency (4 credits)
• Clinical Mental Health Counseling-specific courses (9 credits)
• School Counseling-specific courses (9 credits)
• Electives (4 credits)

Dual Degree Course List  

Admission Information for the Mental Health and School Counseling Dual Degree Program

Admission to the dual degree track for a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Master of Arts in School Counseling at Colorado Christian University is selective. Each applicant is carefully evaluated for his or her potential as a counselor, ability to contribute to the program, and ability to contribute to the counseling profession. The application review process will assess the relevance of career goals, aptitude for graduate-level study, potential success in forming effective counseling relationships, and respect for cultural differences.

Admission to the dual degree program is not guaranteed. The Admission Committee determines whether an applicant is admitted or declined admission. Applicants will complete all admission requirements before being considered by the Admission Committee.

After the first semester in the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program, each student is again formally assessed by the School of Counseling faculty and administrative team based on his or her academic work, basic skills, and professional behavior. This evaluation process is performed to fulfill our CACREP and professional gate-keeping responsibilities and to ensure that each student has the skills needed for a professional counseling career.

Application Deadlines

In-person and online cohorts begin in July of each year. Students who wish to begin classes before their cohort begins may take electives and/or CSL-512 and CSL-515.

It is recommended that applications are completed at least four weeks prior to the student's anticipated start date. All required admission documents and background check results must be received by CCU before an admission interview is scheduled. Applicants will be extended an interview invitation and are required to respond within three days to schedule the admission interview. A delayed response may result in a delayed start date if the applicant is accepted.

Application files will be evaluated in the order received. Applicants should complete the admission process as early as possible to allow adequate time to work with an advisor and finalize financial aid.

Counseling Admission Requirements

• A completed application for admission.
• Program-specific essays.
• Valid state-issued driver's license or state-issued ID card or valid passport.
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae.
• An official transcript showing a conferred bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants with an undergraduate grade point average between 2.0 and 2.49 will be admitted on a conditional admit (CAD) basis for the first semester. CAD students must maintain a 3.0 GPA or better in their first semester.
• Official transcript(s) of completed graduate-level counseling credits completed through another graduate program.
• A criminal background check through CastleBranch from every country the student lived in during the past seven years. Applicants should consult with their enrollment counselor before placing their Castlebranch order.
• A completed Candidacy Writing Sample per essay prompts, Program Handbook Acknowledgement, and Applicant Video Submission.
• Admission interview(s) and additional documentation and/or requests from the Admissions Committee and/or designated program personnel.

Counseling Transfer Courses

In accordance with CCU's Graduate Residency Policy, students transferring from a regionally accredited institution may transfer up to twelve (12) approved semester hours of graduate credit from a regionally accredited master's program toward the Dual Degree: Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Master of Arts in School Counseling. The remaining hours must be completed at CCU.

The coursework must be comparable to that offered at CCU and fulfill CCU's degree requirements for the dual degree program. Specific courses which will not be accepted for transfer include:

• CSL 514 Counseling Practicum
• CSL 581 Counseling Residency I
• CSL 582 Counseling Residency II
• CSL 653 Counseling Internship
• CSL 674 Professional Orientation
• CSL 680 Integrative Seminar
• CSL 681 Counseling Residency III
• CSL 504 Counseling Skills II
• CSL 654 Counseling Internship II
• CSL 655 Counseling Internship III
• LSC 630 School Counseling Internship I
• LSC 631 School Counseling Internship II

Licensing

Admission to a licensure program in the College of Adult and Graduate Studies does not guarantee licensure at the completion of the program. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure they meet all licensure requirements, which often includes a background check.

The Dual Degree: Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Master of Arts in School Counseling, meets the requirements for graduates to test for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and School Counselor in the state of Colorado. Licensure requirements vary from state to state, and students are responsible for knowing the requirements of the state in which they seek licensure, including Colorado, and reviewing the state requirements above and beyond academic achievement and testing. Some states require specific educational requirements, clinical requirements, accreditation requirements, or exam requirements. See professional licensure disclosures for details.

International Students

CCU cannot enroll students with any type of VISA, even a work VISA, into any Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, including the online counseling degree cohort, since it is against the law for international students to attend the required on-site program residencies on a VISA.

Time Limitation

All work applied toward the Dual Degree: Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Master of Arts in School Counseling, must be completed within a six-year period from the date of enrollment. After the six-year period, any student who has not completed the requirements to graduate will be required to complete a Petition for Exception to Academic Policy. Continuing study is not guaranteed and must be approved by the Dean of the School of Behavioral and Social Sciences. Students are required to adhere to the most current Academic Catalog, CAGS Student Handbook, Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Handbook/ Manuals, fees, and tuition rates.

Students who need to step out of the cohort and who have not attended a class for a period of 365 days will need to reapply to the program, have an updated interview, and, if accepted, will then be held to the current catalog standards. Stepping out of the cohort will result in delayed completion of the student's program.

To submit application-related materials that were not already submitted through the online application, email them to AdmissionsSupport@ccu.edu or mail them to:

Colorado Christian University
Attn: Registration Services/Transcripts
8787 W. Alameda Ave.
Lakewood, CO 80226