Program Overview

Master of Arts in Counseling and Career Development, Plan B, Career Counseling Specialization

The Master of Arts in Counseling and Career Development program integrates academics, research, and engagement to prepare ethical and culturally-responsive counselors who enhance and advocate for the mental health, wellbeing, and life quality of all people. The program follows the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program (CACREP) standards.

Program Description

In this degree program, students experience an excellent education through relevant intrapersonal, interpersonal, and technology-rich learning experiences. All graduates of the CCD program complete a 48-credit-hour core curriculum and a 12-credit-hour specialization curriculum. Within the curriculum, they complete a 100-hour counseling practicum and a 600-hour internship in a setting appropriate for their specialization. Completion of the Plan B program requires that students pass a comprehensive written exam and an oral presentation.

Career Counseling Specialization

Graduates of the Career Counseling specialization partner with individuals seeking to live a life of meaning and purpose through their professional work and personal lives. They provide services in various settings such as higher education, workforce centers, community agencies, and private practice.

• Students who specialize as career counselors demonstrate knowledge and skills to help people develop life-career plans, with a focus on the interaction of work and life roles.
• They conduct career interventions such as career counseling, as well as career education, planning, management, and guidance, all while engaging in counseling dialogues that address individuals' unique cultures, contexts, needs, desires, values, concerns, and barriers.

Licensure

Students who successfully complete this program will be prepared to pursue professional counseling licensure (LPC) in Colorado. Licensure requirements in other states and U.S. territories may differ. Students are encouraged to work with the program and the professional licensure board in the state where they intend to pursue licensing to ensure all requirements are satisfactorily met.

Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives for the MA in Counseling and Career Development are in alignment with the student outcome standards as articulated by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Upon successful completion, students will be able to:

1. Actively advocate on the behalf of clients and the counseling profession in a way that embraces and advances equity, diversity and inclusion.
2. Examine, integrate and apply career and personal counseling knowledge and practices in a holistic manner to effectively encourage and facilitate meaningful life design.
3. Conceptualize clients, client issues, and counseling interventions through a firm theoretical foundation.
4. Establish quality therapeutic relationships with clients and utilize appropriate counseling processes to foster maximal client wellness.
5. Effectively identify, competently implement, and critically evaluate prevailing and emerging counseling interventions that generate and inform evidence-based practice.
6. Critically examine, evaluate, and utilize their core values as they relate to the practice of professional ethics; understand and apply ethical principles, virtues, and standards of practice; and competently implement ethical decision-making processes.
7. Demonstrate through professional practice and involvement how their ethical self; knowledge of counseling theories and practice; and commitment to issues of diversity, equity and inclusion comprise their identity as a master's level counselor.
8. Engage in meaningful self-reflection and care that leads to enhanced professional practice and improved client outcomes.

Course List

The following courses are required for the program:

• Core Requirements:
  • EDCO 500: Career and Employment Concepts (3 credits)
  • EDCO 625: Foundations of Counseling (3 credits)
  • EDCO 650: Theories of Counseling and Development (3 credits)
  • EDCO 651: Group Guidance and Counseling (3 credits)
  • EDCO 652: Ethics in Counseling/Career Development (3 credits)
  • EDCO 653: Counseling for Cultural Diversity (3 credits)
  • EDCO 655: Brief Counseling (3 credits)
  • EDCO 656: Counseling Assessment and Appraisal (3 credits)
  • EDCO 660: Career Development Counseling (3 credits)
  • EDCO 665: Career Development Institute (3 credits)
  • EDCO 670: Introduction to Mental Health Counseling (3 credits)
  • EDCO 686: Practicum-Guidance and Counseling (3 credits)
  • EDRM 600: Introduction to Research Methods (3 credits)
  • HDFS 505: Human Development for Helping Professionals (3 credits)
• Specialization Requirement:
  • EDCO 687: Internship-Guidance and Counseling 1 (6 credits)
  • EDCO 675: Mental Health Counseling and Treatment (3 credits)
  • Career Counseling Electives (9 credits)

A minimum of 60 credits are required to complete this program. The program requires completion of a common written final exam and an oral presentation.

Program Total Credits

The total credits required for the program is 60 credits.

Effective Date

Effective Spring 2026.

Summary of Procedures for the Master's and Doctoral Degrees

The following procedures are required for the Master's and Doctoral degrees:

1. Application for admission (online) - Six months before first registration
2. Diagnostic examination when required - Before first registration
3. Appointment of advisor - Before first registration
4. Selection of graduate committee - Before the time of fourth regular semester registration
5. Filing of program of study (GS Form 6) - Before the time of fourth regular semester registration
6. Preliminary examination (Ph.D. and PD) - Two terms prior to final examination
7. Report of preliminary examination (GS Form 16) - (Ph.D. and PD) - Within two working days after results are known
8. Changes in committee (GS Form 9A) - When change is made
9. Application for Graduation (GS Form 25) - Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website
10. Submit thesis or dissertation to committee - At least two weeks prior to the examination or at the discretion of the graduate committee
11. Final examination - Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website
12. Report of final examination (GS Form 24) - Within two working days after results are known; refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website
13. Submit a signed Thesis/Dissertation Submission Form (GS Form 30) to the Graduate School and Submit the Survey of Earned Doctorates (Ph.D. only) prior to submitting the electronic thesis/dissertation - Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website
14. Submit the thesis/dissertation electronically - Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website
15. Graduation - Ceremony information is available from the Graduate School website.