• 60 total credit hours (38 in core)
• This program can be taken in-seat (Colorado Springs or Lakewood campus), online, or as a hybrid. All students are required to attend three in-person residencies in Colorado for the program.
• Courses are taken two at a time and are typically completed in seven-week blocks.
• Designed for busy adult learners; complete in as little as 30 months of consecutive coursework, allowing you to further your career development and school counselor education even with a full-time or part-time job.
• Students can transfer up to 12 graduate-level credit hours.
• Graduates will be prepared to begin the process of seeking licensure as a Licensed School Counselor by passing a state-administered licensure exam and the CACREP Degree Equivalency Process.
• Program Brochure   

Curriculum in the School Counseling Master's Degree Program

The Master of Arts in School Counseling program is offered online through CCU's College of Adult and Graduate Studies. The program combines rigorous coursework, experiential learning, and mentoring relationships, all designed to equip you with a framework for creating a school culture of success for all students, all explicitly presented through a biblical lens.

The School Counseling degree is built strategically to meet or exceed all CACREP-specific standards, as well as the Colorado Department of Education standards, with our program meeting the approval of both the Colorado Department of Education and the Colorado Department of Higher Education. The program is designed to be completed within seven to nine semesters of intensive study in a lock-step sequence.

Due to the nature of the counseling curriculum, some online courses will have a synchronous component, requiring students to be available for scheduled real-time videoconferencing with a small group and/or the professor and class. The program administration reserves the right to move students from one course section to another to provide equity in class size.

The M.A. School Counseling degree requires the completion of 60 credit hours as follows:

• School Counseling Core (38 hours)
• Practicum/Internship (9 hours)
• Electives (5 hours)
• Bible and Theology (4 hours)
• Residency (4 hours)

Some of the foundational courses include:

• Counseling and Helping Relationships (CSL 620). An exploration of the major individual theories of counseling, with emphasis on their personality theory underpinnings, consistency, completeness, relation to empirical data, and practical implications. This course provides students with weekly training and practice in basic counseling skills.
• Human Growth and Development (CSL 641). A survey of the major theories, issues, and data of developmental psychology covering early childhood through late adulthood. This course provides an opportunity for counselors to look at the importance of development in the lives of their clients and themselves. Many factors influence one’s development, including aspects of physical, cognitive, psychosocial, cultural, and spiritual development.
• Crisis and Trauma (CSL 645). Theoretical and practical intervention strategies for a variety of crises, including telephone and online counseling, domestic violence, sexual assault, vicarious traumatization, compassion fatigue, etc.
• Lifestyle and Career (CSL 663). An overview of career development theories, career and lifestyle counseling, occupational and educational information sources and systems, education and guidance, and decision-making, planning, and evaluation.
• Social and Cultural Foundations (CSL 665). A study of issues and trends in a multicultural and diverse society. Specific concepts addressed will include human roles, societal subgroups, social mores and interaction patterns, and differing lifestyles. Cross-cultural counseling principles and methods will also be explored.

Course Catalog

Admission Requirements for the M.A. in School Counseling

Admission to the M.A. in School Counseling program at Colorado Christian University is selective. Each applicant is carefully evaluated for an aptitude for graduate-level study, career goals, potential success in forming effective counseling relationships, and respect for cultural differences. Admission to the M.A. in School Counseling program is not guaranteed.

Applicants to the M.A. in School Counseling program will complete all admissions requirements before being considered by the Admission Committee. The M.A. in School Counseling Admission Committee determines whether an applicant is accepted or denied admission.

After the first semester in the Master of Arts in School Counseling program, students are formally assessed by the M.A. in School Counseling faculty and administrative team based on their academic work, basic counseling skills, and professional behavior. This evaluation process is performed to fulfill CACREP, ASCA, and professional gatekeeping responsibilities and to ensure that each student has the capacity to develop the skills required for the field of counseling.

Application Deadlines

In-seat and online cohorts begin in July of each year. It is recommended that applications are completed at least four weeks prior to the applicant's anticipated start date. All required admission documents and background check results must be received by CCU before an admission interview will be 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.

Admission Requirements

• A completed application for admission.
• Valid state-issued driver's license or state-issued ID card or valid passport.
• Current 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 to continue in the program.
• Official transcript(s) of completed graduate-level counseling credits completed at another institution.
• A criminal background check through CastleBranch from every country the student lived in in the past seven years. Applicants should consult with their enrollment counselor before placing their Castlebranch order.
• A completed Candidacy Writing Sample per essay prompts.
• Admission interview(s) and additional documentation and/or requests from the MAC Admissions Committee and/or designated program personnel.

Transfer of Courses

In accordance with CCU's Graduate Residency Policy, students transferring from an accredited institution may transfer up to twelve (12) approved semester hours of graduate credit. The remaining hours must be completed at CCU.

The coursework must be equivalent to that offered at CCU and fulfill the CCthe counseling program. CCU will not accept the following courses, or their equivalents, for transfer to the M.A. in School Counseling program:

• CSL 514 Counseling Practicum
• CSL 581 Counseling Residency I
• CSL 582 Counseling Residency II
• CSL 681 Counseling Residency III
• LSC 630 School Counseling Internship I
• LSC 631 School Counseling Internship II

Licensing

Colorado Christian University offers several academic programs which lead to professional licensure in the state of Colorado and, in some programs, prepare students for a national exam. All students should be aware that states vary in their educational and professional requirements depending on the profession. Some states require specific educational requirements, clinical requirements, accreditation requirements, or exam requirements. See professional licensure disclosures for details.

Time Limitation

All work applied toward the Master of Arts in School Counseling degree 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, and desires to complete the program, must complete a Petition for Exception to Academic Policy. Continuing study is not guaranteed and must be approved by the Dean of Behavioral and Social Sciences. Students are required to adhere to the most current Academic Catalog, CAGS Student Handbook, Master of Arts in School Counseling Program Handbook, and Manuals, fees, and tuition rates.

Students who have not attended a class for a period of 365 days, and desire to reenter the program, are required to reapply and meet all standard application procedures. If accepted, the student will be admitted under the current catalog standards. Stepping out of the cohort may result in delayed completion of the student's program.