CCU's Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is nationally accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Programs accredited by CACREP are reviewed against professionally approved standards, resulting in a streamlined licensure application process.
M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
The Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program offered through CCU's College of Adult and Graduate Studies combines rigorous coursework, experiential learning, and mentoring relationships designed to equip you with the necessary counseling skills to become a culturally sensitive professional mental health counselor. Whether you choose the online master's degree program or in-person option, pursuing higher education with a master's degree in counseling will improve your credentials and open the door to other specializations in the mental health field.
A distinguishing feature of the master's degree in counseling program is the Christian framework that encompasses every aspect of the curriculum.
As a master's degree in counseling student, you'll be given the unique opportunity to integrate Christian faith and sound counseling principles.
Upon completion of the M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program curriculum, you'll be prepared to take the National Counselor Exam, which is the clinical mental health licensure exam for the state of Colorado and many other states.
Program Options
- Optional program emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy
- Optional program emphasis in Substance Use Disorders
- Dual Master's Degree Track in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling
- Program Format: 100% online or in an in-seat and online hybrid format
- Locations: Online, Lakewood, Colorado, and Colorado Springs, Colorado
- 60 total credit hours
- CACREP-accredited 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, even with a full-time or part-time job
- All students are required to attend three in-person residencies in Colorado
- Students can transfer up to 12 graduate-level credit hours or 24 credit hours if they are from a CACREP-accredited program
- Graduates are academically prepared to take the National Counselor Exam
- Program Brochure
Curriculum in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Master's Degree Program
The Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, offered through CCU's College of Adult and Graduate Studies, will provide you with a strong clinical counselor and education background within a Christian framework that promotes the study of the whole person, including the spiritual dimension. Integrating faith, clinical experience, and current counseling theory into a comprehensive educational experience will equip you to be an effective counselor in a variety of settings.
As a Counseling graduate student, you will participate in a foundational core of study that includes counseling theories and techniques designed to equip you as a leader and counseling professional in the mental health field. You will explore counseling theories and methods, family systems, developmental psychology, group therapy, human development, and career development from a Christian worldview and a culturally responsive framework. You will complete your course of study with an innovative capstone course designed to integrate theory, faith, and clinical fieldwork, and field experience.
Counseling students may select an optional emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy or Substance Use Disorders.
The in-seat M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree requires completion of the following 60 hours:
- Counseling Core (39 hours)
- Bible and Theology (4 hours)
- Practicum/Internship (9 hours)
- Residency (4 hours)
- Electives (4 hours)
The online M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree requires completion of the following 60 hours:
- Counseling Core (39 hours)
- Bible and Theology (4 hours)
- Practicum/Internship (9 hours)
- Residency (4 hours)
- Electives (4 hours)
Each of Colorado Christian University’s Online Counseling degree programs may lead to licensure, depending on state requirements. While CCU follows the standard CACREP course progression, some states require specific coursework or degree structures to qualify for licensure. Please review the PDF list to determine if your intended state of licensure has additional requirements.
Admission Requirements for the M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Admission to the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program 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 M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is not guaranteed. The Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Admission Committee determines whether an applicant is admitted or declined admission. Applicants will complete all admission requirements before being considered by the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling 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 Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health 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 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.
Failure to attend a scheduled admissions interview could result in an admissions denial.
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, 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 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, and Program Handbook Acknowledgement.
Counseling Transfer Courses
In accordance with CCU's Graduate Residency Policy, students transferring from an accredited institution may transfer up to twelve (12) approved credit hours or twenty-four (24) if earned from a CACREP-accredited master's program toward the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree. The remaining hours must be completed at CCU.
The coursework must be comparable to that offered at CCU and fulfill the CCU degree requirements for a Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. 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
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 Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree meets all the requirements for graduates to test for licensure 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. The State Board Map provided by the National Board for Certified Counselors is a helpful resource when researching state licensure information.
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 Master's in Clinical Mental Health 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 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 – CAGS Transcripts
8787 W. Alameda Ave.
Lakewood, CO 80228
Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Distinctives
- Our Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, faculty, students, and alumni have consistently been recognized by state and national counseling associations.
- 82% of site supervisors for counseling students report that CCU's in-person and online Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling students are more clinically prepared than the average counseling student.
- Students in CCU's Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program consistently score higher than the national average on important exams, such as the National Counselor Exam (NCE).
- Faith Informed Clinical Identity and Practice (FICIP) is integrated into all Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling coursework.
Counseling Master's Program Benefits
The Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program is a great match for the student interested in a Clinical Mental Health degree.
- Students are mentored by qualified professors who have work experience in the field, including extensive academic and clinical mental health counseling experience.
- Through hands-on field experiences, students are challenged to explore how their theory and faith integrate as professional clinicians.
- Classes for the master's in counseling program are offered in two formats — the M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling online and on-campus — to meet the needs of adult students who are busy with work and family commitments.
- Classes are provided in a format that allows students to study with a community of peers focused on a common goal.
- A Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree can open up opportunities for clinical counseling positions nationwide with attractive potential salaries for counseling degree holders.
Master's in Counseling Program Emphases
Students in the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program may choose an optional emphasis in one of the following areas:
- Marriage and Family Therapy — The Counseling master's emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy addresses the growing demand for compassionate professionals who can provide biblically-informed prevention and intervention while helping to heal and improve the well-being of distressed families, couples, and individuals. This graduate school program offers an in-depth understanding of interpersonal relationships, human behavior, social influence, mental and emotional issues or disorders, conflict resolution, and most importantly, family dynamics.
- Substance Use Disorders — The Counseling emphasis in Substance Use Disorders addresses the high demand for trained professionals to address widespread behavioral disorders and addiction to alcohol and other chemical substances. This program equips you to provide leadership in developing, evaluating, and implementing holistic models for addiction and substance abuse treatment.
If you are interested in earning a master's degree in both mental health counseling and school counseling, CCU offers a Dual Degree: Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Master of Arts in School Counseling program.
By declaring the dual degree track, you can earn two counseling master's degrees for a total of 75 credit hours instead of 120 credit hours in as little as three years, even with a full-time job. This cost-effective, time-reducing pathway prepares you for licensure in both fields and expands your counseling career opportunities. Learn more about CCU's dual degree track in Counseling.
Master's in Mental Health Counseling FAQs
How does CCU integrate faith and counseling?
CCU Online's Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program uniquely combines rigorous academic training with a Christian worldview framework. The Bible is used in every class. You'll learn evidence-based counseling theories alongside biblical principles, preparing you to serve diverse clients while strengthening your Christian values. The program's Christian framework encompasses every aspect of the curriculum, from developmental psychology to group counseling techniques.
This integration enables you to develop a distinctive professional identity that aligns with both sound psychological principles and Christian values. You'll gain the clinical skills necessary to provide culturally sensitive and spiritually informed care as a licensed mental health professional, preparing you for work in both faith-based and secular mental health settings.
What career opportunities await mental health counselors?
Graduates of our mental health counseling degree program are prepared for diverse career paths as licensed professional counselors. Mental health counselors can pursue rewarding careers with competitive salaries, and those working in private practice settings often enjoy higher earning potential along with flexible schedules that support work-life balance.
Employment for mental health counselors is projected to grow 19% from 2023 to 2033, which is much faster than the average growth rate for all occupations, with approximately 48,900 openings projected annually. Career opportunities include positions at community mental health centers, private practice settings, mental health agencies, hospitals, and faith-based organizations. As a credentialed mental health professional, you can specialize in areas like marriage and family therapy or substance abuse counseling.
How long does the program take?
CCU's Clinical Mental Health Counseling program requires 60 total credit hours and is designed to be completed in as little as 30 months of consecutive coursework, even while maintaining full-time or part-time employment. The program format allows you to take two courses at a time, each spanning seven weeks, making it ideal for busy adult learners balancing work and family commitments.
The curriculum includes 39 hours of counseling core courses, 9 hours of practicum and internship courses, 4 hours of residency requirements, and electives. The program operates on a semester system with fall semester, spring, and summer terms, each divided into two seven-week blocks for maximum flexibility.
What clinical experience is required?
Our CACREP-accredited clinical mental health counseling program requires comprehensive hands-on clinical experience to prepare you for professional practice. As part of the program, students must complete a total of 700 clinical hours, including 100 hours of counseling practicum and 600 hours of internship at approved internship sites. During your counseling practicum, you'll begin developing essential clinical skills under the supervision of faculty.
You'll engage in individual counseling sessions, participate in group counseling, and attend group supervision sessions led by experienced faculty members. The program also requires three in-person residencies in Colorado, providing intensive learning experiences that strengthen your clinical practice and professional counselor identity as a licensed mental health counselor.
Is the program accredited for licensure?
Yes, CCU's Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is nationally accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the gold standard for counseling programs. This accreditation ensures our curriculum meets professionally approved standards and provides a streamlined licensure application process as a regionally accredited institution.
Upon completing the program curriculum, you'll be academically prepared to take the National Counselor Exam, which is required for clinical mental health licensure in Colorado and many other states. Our graduates consistently score higher than the national average on important licensing exams, and 82% of site supervisors report that CCU students are more clinically prepared than average counseling students.
Does the program support work-life balance?
CCU Online's mental health counseling program is specifically designed for busy adult learners who need flexibility to balance educational requirements with work and family commitments. The majority of classes are offered 100% online, with some courses available in a hybrid format for those preferring in-person options. Online classes accommodate working professionals, and the seven-week block format allows you to focus on two courses at a time.
Students can transfer up to 12 graduate-level credit hours from previous education, potentially reducing time to completion. The program also provides dedicated academic advisors and support staff who help you create a customized degree plan that fits your schedule and goals while maintaining a healthy work-life balance throughout your counseling career.
What support does CCU provide students?
CCU Online fosters a supportive learning community where students connect with like-minded peers who share similar values and professional goals. Our low student-to-faculty ratio ensures personalized attention from experienced faculty members who bring extensive academic and clinical experience in mental health counseling to their teaching. You'll receive mentoring relationships with qualified professors and participate in group supervision with other program students.
The program encourages students to support one another throughout their educational journey, fostering lasting professional networks. Additionally, CCU provides comprehensive student support services, including academic advising, financial aid assistance, and technical support for online learning.
Counseling and Psychology Related Programs
- Associate Degrees: Psychology, A.S.
- Bachelor's Degrees: Applied Psychology, B.S.
- Master's Degrees: Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.A.; Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.A. – Marriage and Family Therapy emphasis; Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.A. – Substance Use Disorders emphasis; Dual Degree: Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.A. and School Counseling, M.A.; Psychology, M.S.; School Counseling, M.A.
- Doctoral Degrees: Counselor Education and Supervision, Ph.D.
Professional Licensure Disclosure
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.
State Exclusions for Online Students
Colorado Christian University is required by the U.S. Department of Education to be in compliance with state laws regarding where we can offer distance and/or online education. The College of Adult and Graduate Studies at Colorado Christian University offers courses to online students in all states with some exceptions for specific academic programs.
