Last Updated: November 29, 2025

Study Master’s in Counseling in Colorado

Counseling is a noble profession that allows you to help people in need overcome significant obstacles in their lives. And becoming a counselor is more important than ever—the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts job growth to be 19 percent in this field in the coming years, which is much faster than average.

You must first complete a graduate-level program in counseling to work as a counselor in Colorado. You have your choice of numerous programs to do so, including several in-state online programs from top colleges and universities.

This guide explores popular master’s in counseling programs in Colorado, all of which offer completely online learning alongside opportunities for field experience in or near your hometown. Which program is best for you? Let’s find out!

Best Accredited Online Master's in Counseling Programs in Colorado - School Counseling Degrees in Colorado

Online Master’s in Counseling in Colorado

Listed below are some of the popular schools offering online master’s in counseling in Colorado:

  • Adams State University
  • University of Denver
  • Colorado Christian University
  • Grand Canyon University
  • Capella University
  • Northwestern University
  • The Chicago School
  • National University
  • Arizona State University Online

Adams State University

Online Master of Arts in Counseling

The CACREP-accredited Master of Arts in Counseling from Adams State University offers two tracks: school counseling or clinical mental health counseling. The former leads to licensure as a school counselor in Colorado. The latter meets the educational requirements needed for a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) designation in the Centennial State.

Let’s assume you prefer the Clinical Mental Health Track because you want to work in private practice, residential treatment facilities, community mental health, and other settings. This track requires you to complete 60 credits of coursework and field experiences.

Your training begins with foundational classes like Introduction to Research. This class offers a broad overview of the importance of research in the counseling field. You’ll examine qualitative, quantitative, and action research. You’ll also learn about various research methods and how to be a good consumer of information.

Another important foundational class is Multicultural and Diversity Issues. This course helps you understand how sociocultural influences affect the development of individuals’ identities. You’ll learn about oppressive social systems, change theory, and advocacy principles, too. Additionally, you’ll discuss methods you can use to help combat negative forces and oppressive systems that negatively impact individuals and groups.

Other early coursework you’ll complete as part of this degree includes the following:

  • Life Span Development
  • Counseling Theories and Helping Relationships
  • Group Counseling
  • Career Development
  • Couples and Family Systems

The remaining core requirements include specialized coursework in areas such as trauma counseling, assessment, and addiction counseling. You’re also required to complete an Ethics and Professional Issues course that examines current legislation, regulations, and court decisions that govern professional conduct for counselors. You’ll have opportunities to clarify and develop your personal professional identity, too.

The core sequence of classes also includes a practicum. This field-based experience puts you in a supervised setting where you can apply the techniques and skills you’ve learned to this point in the program. You’ll refine your understanding of the counseling relationship and counseling process while also further developing your personal approach to counseling.

Upon completing the core requirements, you’ll move into the specialization phase of the program. In this case, that means completing five courses focusing on clinical mental health counseling. For example, the Diagnosis and Psychopathology class examines the evolution of the DSM over the years. You’ll explore its classification systems and how they’ve changed from one version to the next. You’ll also discuss the etiology of mental disorders and various treatment options as well.

Another important clinical mental health counseling-focused class is Counseling Modalities for Clinical Mental Health. This course teaches you the skills needed to provide competent counseling services. You’ll learn about various counseling techniques, interventions, and modalities. Furthermore, you’ll learn how to use evidence-based practice to address the presenting issues for individual clients, including those with co-occurring disorders.

The final component of this program is a two-part internship. Like the practicum, the internship is supervised and offers you ample opportunities to refine who you are as a counselor. You’ll focus on day-to-day counseling activities that range from paperwork to conducting individual counseling to participating in case consultations. The internship also offers opportunities to explore who you are as a counselor and further develop your self-awareness.

The requirements for admission are as follows:

  • Have an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university.
  • Have a 2.75 cumulative undergraduate GPA or higher. If you don’t meet this threshold, you must submit a brief letter addressing your GPA.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
  • Submit two online recommendation forms from references who can speak to your academic abilities and your professional potential.
  • Provide answers to numerous short answer questions, including the following:
    • How do you plan to use your counseling degree?
    • Explain your preparation for graduate-level work. Describe your skills and the resources you have available to help you be successful in this program.
    • Describe the counseling process. What is important in developing a supportive therapeutic relationship with clients?
    • Explain how you would work with someone who has different values or a different perspective than your own.
    • Describe a hard truth you’ve learned about yourself. How did you learn about it, and how have you responded to this knowledge?

University of Denver

Online Master of Arts in School Counseling

The University of Denver’s online Master of Arts in School Counseling prepares you to work with children in preschool through the twelfth grade. The program is accredited by CACREP, and your graduation makes you eligible for a school counselor license in Colorado and other states as well. Additionally, you can complete this program in as little as 22 months, provided you attend on a full-time basis.

This program offers you many different ways of acquiring the knowledge and skills needed to be successful in this field. For example, you get round-the-clock access to the University of Denver’s online campus, where you can complete coursework, interact with classmates, and get support from your professors. Additionally, your classes are held live each week and are streamed in HD video, so you have a crystal clear view of your professors and small groups of your classmates.

The curriculum begins with introductory coursework like Orientation to Professional Counseling and Ethical Practice. This class offers a broad overview of the counseling profession, the legal and ethical issues you may face as a counselor, and considers structural issues within the profession as well.

You are also required to take a Counseling Techniques class, which explores the foundations of counseling, interview skills, and the application of counseling techniques with various types of clients. The course especially focuses on building counseling relationships and maintaining those supportive relationships with clients throughout your time working with them.

The Counseling Techniques class piggybacks with the required Counseling Theory course. This class offers an examination of essential counseling theories. You’ll explore psychological theories and philosophical theories pertinent to counseling, too. Additionally, you’ll have opportunities to participate in experiential activities that help you apply what you’ve learned and develop your own approach to counseling.

Other critical foundational courses you’re required to complete include the following:

  • Research Methods
  • Social and Cultural Diversity
  • Group Counseling
  • Assessment and Appraisal
  • Lifespan Development

Other coursework focuses more specifically on the practice of school counseling. For example, the Roles and Responsibilities of the School Counselor class offers a detailed examination of what it means to work as a school counselor. You’ll explore various aspects of the job, from providing academic advising to individual and group counseling to educational leadership activities.

Furthermore, you’ll take a course on Exceptionalities that helps you understand the unique approaches necessary to working with children with exceptional abilities. This includes, but is not limited to, children with physical, cognitive, emotional, or behavioral needs.

The Career Counseling class focuses on the career-related issues you’ll encounter as a school counselor. More specifically, you’ll gain an appreciation for the occupational resources available to you to assist students in clarifying their future path. For example, you’ll learn how to use technology and paper assessments to gauge students’ aptitudes and interests. You’ll also learn how to help students clarify their career goals.

Another school counseling-specific course that’s important for your development as a professional is Comprehensive School Counseling Programs. This class offers you a framework for developing programs that meet the needs of all students within a school. You’ll discuss the National Model from the American School Counselor Association, learn how to use research and data to make decisions, and how to evaluate the programs you implement, too.

Other school counseling-related courses you must take include the following:

  • Counseling for Trauma, Crisis, and Grief
  • Educational Strategies and Policies
  • School Counselor Interventions
  • Counseling Youth and Families
  • Activity-Based Counseling

This program requires two field experiences as well. The first is a 100-hour supervised practicum that you’ll complete in an approved school environment. You’ll work alongside a credentialed school counselor to expand your understanding of the day-to-day workings of a professional counselor in a school.

The second field experience is a 600-hour internship that extends across two semesters. Again, you’ll work in a P-12 school setting where you’ll conduct typical school counseling duties under the watchful eye of an experienced school counselor. You’ll also complete weekly seminars with your classmates and professors to debrief any problems and check in on your progress.

You must meet the following criteria to be considered for admission:

  • Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
  • Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.5 or above or a 2.5 GPA for your last 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of undergraduate work.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
  • Provide a current resume.
  • Provide a statement of your professional goals.
  • Provide a diversity statement.

Colorado Christian University

Online Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

At Colorado Christian University, you can complete a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling online. This program is CACREP accredited and prepares you to take the National Counselor Exam. Passing this exam is required for licensure as an LPC (and many other states, for that matter).

This program requires you to complete 60 credits to graduate. You’ll proceed through the curriculum by taking two courses at a time. Courses are usually seven weeks long, so the pace is accelerated, but having a lighter course load helps prevent you from being overwhelmed with work. Most students can complete these requirements in about three years.

The curriculum breakdown is as follows:

  • 39 credits of Counseling Core Coursework
  • 4 credits of Electives
  • 4 credits of Bible and Theology Coursework
  • 4 credits of Residency Activities
  • 9 credits of Practicum and Internship Work

The core coursework explores many broad areas of counseling. For example, the Counseling and Helping Relationships class discusses the major theories of counseling. You’ll learn about each theory’s philosophical underpinnings, the empirical research that backs it up, and how to use the theory in an applied counseling setting.

You’ll also take Psychopharmacology, which is critically important for understanding how drug treatments can be used effectively to treat mental health disorders. You’ll learn about psychodynamics, psychokinetics, neuronal function, and neuroanatomy as well.

Another clinical practice-related class that’s crucial for your development as a counselor is Theories of Groups and Group Counseling. This class analyzes the major tenets of group work, such as group leadership, decision-making, and group counseling techniques. You’ll also explore ideas related to group communication, multiculturalism, and legal and ethical issues you may encounter in group counseling.

Other required core courses include the following:

  • Telemental Health
  • Appraisal
  • Lifestyle and Career
  • Social and Cultural Foundations
  • Professional Ethics and Clinical Practice

Other coursework comes in the form of residency, theology, and elective requirements. Three residency classes are required: Clinical Skills Development, Orientation to Clinical Practice and Skills, and Advanced Clinical Practice and Skills. In each case, you’ll develop the skills necessary for working with individuals, families, and groups in the context of the counseling relationship.

Meanwhile, the theology requirement includes taking two of the following three classes: Theological Foundations for Counseling and either Spiritual Formation for Counseling or Spiritual Formation Retreat.

The final coursework element is the elective component. You can choose two courses from more than a dozen options, including the following:

  • Introduction to Play Therapy
  • Anxiety and Mood Disorders
  • Child and Adolescent Diagnosis and Treatment
  • Grief and Loss Counseling
  • Military Veteran Clinical Counseling

The remaining credits for this degree come in the form of the practicum and internship requirements. The three-credit practicum requires you to complete 100 or more supervised clock hours of counseling work. You’ll have an on-site supervisor to help guide your development. You’ll also participate in weekly supervision in class with your professors and peers.

A two-part internship is the final aspect of this program. During the internship, you’ll take on full-time counseling duties, though you’ll still work closely with your on-site supervisor and professors to ensure you’re making adequate progress in your training. You’ll apply your classroom learning in practice with clients and further refine your professional identity in preparation for graduating from the program.

You can apply to this program online. To do so, you must complete the following steps:

  • Have a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
  • Have a 2.5 cumulative undergraduate GPA or higher.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
  • Submit a current resume or curriculum vitae.
  • Provide your answers to the required essay prompts.
  • Provide a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID.
  • Complete a criminal background check.
  • Participate in an admission interview, if required.

Grand Canyon University

Online Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Yet another option available to you for completing your online counseling degree comes from Arizona. Grand Canyon University’s online Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a 62-credit program that takes about three years to complete. Each course is accelerated and is just eight weeks long.

The curriculum includes advanced studies in counseling, addiction, trauma, and lifespan development, to name a few. For example, you’ll take Substance Use Disorders and Addictions to explore the unique processes involved in treating someone with a substance use disorder. Likewise, you’ll take a Counseling Skills class that explores various counseling processes, counseling orientations, and techniques you can use to build a trusting relationship with your clients and devise a treatment plan to address their needs.

Other essential coursework you’ll complete early in this program includes the following:

  • Professional Counseling, Ethical, and Legal Considerations
  • Theories and Models of Counseling
  • Group Counseling
  • Counseling Couples and Families
  • Counseling the Culturally Diverse

Other required courses focus on highly specific topics. For example, Human Sexuality and Issues of Aging explores the psychological, social, moral, and biological aspects of sexual development and aging. The Lifespan Development course similarly examines the developmental aspects of the human experience.

Another topic-specific class is Abuse, Crisis, and Trauma Counseling. This course explores the theories and strategies related to trauma counseling and crisis intervention. Likewise, you’ll learn about various types of abuse and how to detect it, as well as the legal and ethical issues involved when children are subject to domestic violence and abuse.

You’re required to take numerous classes relating to research and assessment, too. These classes include the following:

  • Research Methods and Program Evaluation
  • Assessment, Tests, and Measurements
  • Clinical Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment
  • Assessment of Mental and Emotional Health Status

Of course, the final components of this program include a practicum and internship. As is typical of programs like this, the practicum is an introductory experience during which you must acquire 100 or more hours of clinical counseling work (40 of which must be in direct contact with clients). In addition to completing these counseling-related activities, you must also participate in at least one hour per week of supervision via zoom.

The two-part internship builds on the practicum experience by giving you wider latitude for independent work. You’ll still be supervised on-site and have weekly supervision with your classmates and professors. However, you’ll also have greater opportunities to work one-on-one with clients and conduct the daily business of being a professional counselor.

The admissions requirements are as follows:

  • Have an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution.
  • Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.8 or higher. If you don’t meet the GPA requirement, you can submit GRE scores (300 combined verbal and quantitative is the minimum accepted score).
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
  • Submit a registration form for this degree program.

Once you’ve submitted your application, a GCU counselor will contact you to help guide you through the process of applying.

Capella University

Online Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

At Capella University, you have the opportunity to enroll in the online MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. This program provides you with a foundational understanding of mental health counseling. You will acquire skills in building relationships, assessing and treating clients, understanding cultural differences, and maintaining ethical standards.

Within this program, you will begin with core courses that establish a base of knowledge in clinical mental health counseling. After this foundation, you will select specialized courses based on your interests, leading up to hands-on training experiences.

You will need to complete 13 core courses, four specialization courses, two in-person residencies, one practicum and two internships. This program is accredited by the CACREP.

You can customize your studies with one of the following specializations:

  • Addiction Treatment and Recovery: This specialization equips you to understand and address substance-related disorders and addictive behaviors. You will study addiction theories, treatments, and interventions, while considering cultural, ethical, and legal aspects of treatment.
  • Child and Adolescent Counseling: This specialization is designed for those interested in supporting the emotional and social growth of children and teenagers. The curriculum covers areas like play therapy, family therapy, and interventions for challenges faced by young individuals.
  • General Clinical Mental Health Counseling: This flexible option allows you to choose from a variety of courses within the program, letting you shape your education based on your preferences.

Throughout your studies, you will focus on acquiring both foundational knowledge and practical skills essential for effective clinical mental health counseling. Emphasis is placed on delivering counseling services that are sensitive to cultural and ethnic differences.

Upon completing this 98-credit program, you will be prepared to:

  • Apply clinical mental health counseling theories and research to real-world practice.
  • Provide counseling services that respect and understand cultural and ethnic differences.
  • Engage in critical thinking and clear writing within the field of clinical mental health counseling.
  • Adhere to the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics in professional conduct.
  • Communicate with understanding and respect in all professional settings.
  • Ensure your professional practices align with state and national standards for clinical mental health counselors.

You must provide the following information for admission:

  • A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
  • Official bachelor’s transcripts and a minimum GPA of 2.7 or higher (on a 4.0 scale).
  • Two letters of recommendation.
  • Your resume or curriculum vitae.
  • A 3–6 page goal statement describing your interest and aptitude for clinical mental health counseling.
  • A valid, government-issued form of photo ID.

How Much Do Licensed Mental Health Counselors Make in Colorado?

As of January 2025, the average annual salary for a licensed mental health counselor working in Colorado is $78,469. More experienced and top earning licensed mental health counselors working in Colorado make over $140,000 per year.

Related Reading