School Counseling MA

  • Graduate Educator Licensure or Endorsement
  • Master's Degree
UNC Extended Campus Center with University of Northern Colorado sign on building.
Format
  • In-Person
Location
  • Denver Center
  • Loveland Center
Estimated Completion Time

2-3 Years

Start Date

Denver:
Fall Term (Aug.)
Spring Term (Jan.)
Summer Term (May)

Loveland (some Denver Weekends):
Fall Term (Aug.)

Tuition Rate

$722/Credit

Credits

63

Area of Study
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Master’s in School Counseling

Ready to become a school counselor? The Denver and Loveland delivery options of our School Counseling master’s degree are perfect for working adults. You’ll gain the skills to help children, teens and adults in a school setting.

Delivered on Nights and Weekends

This program is designed to fit your busy life. We offer classes in the evenings and on weekends, so you can earn your degree without quitting your job. You’ll learn from the same great teachers and get the same results as students in our on-campus program. Please note: three courses are only offered at our Denver Center, so all students will attend those courses there.

Applied Learning

This school counseling program is an intense experience that gives you hands-on training. Learn from expert teachers and work with a small group of students. You’ll learn to:

  • Counsel students of all ages and backgrounds.
  • Diagnose, treat and assess students.
  • Apply history, trends and ethics to your counseling
  • Facilitate skill-building activities in classroom settings.
  • Create data-driven school counseling and career counseling programs.

In-Depth Internship

You’ll complete 600 internship hours, giving you real-world counseling experience in K-12 schools. You will perform:

  • Individual counseling
  • Group counseling
  • Teacher, administrator and guardian consultation
  • Systemic interventions

You’ll work on your own, with support from a supervisor.

Your Career as a School Counselor

Our program prepares you to become a counselor in a school. School counselors have many important roles. You will:

  • Help students face challenges.
  • Work with teachers to support student needs.
  • Help with college applications and other career paths.
  • Measure and adapt your work to improve student outcomes.

This degree gives you the strongest possible training for a career in school counseling. Make a real difference in students’ lives.

Qualify for Counseling Licensure / Certification

State Licensure

In Colorado, graduates of the School Counseling program are eligible to apply for:

  • The Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential through the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA)
  • Endorsement as a Special Services Provider-School Counselor with the Colorado Department of Education.

For other state licenses and certifications, please see the Licensure Eligibility by State section below.

National Certification

Because our program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP), graduates are eligible to become Nationally Certified Counselors.

Course of Study

Designed for Working Professionals

You can work full-time while completing this graduate degree in either Denver or Loveland.

  • Weekend format: Friday 4-10 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • One course at a time: you will take one course at a time over two weekends, typically with a weekend off in between.
  • Full-time or part-time: Most students attend full-time, taking nine or more credits per term. Part-time enrollment is also available.

Loveland students, please note: Three courses are only offered in Denver. You will only need to travel to Denver for six weekends during the program to complete these courses.

To see specific course offerings, visit a current students page for this program: Denver or Loveland.

Courses and Requirements

This is a 63-credit master’s degree program.

View Courses & Degree Requirement Details

Have Questions? Get in Touch!

Tuition Rate

Simple Per-Credit Tuition Rate

You pay the same rate whether you are in-state or out-of-state.

$722

Per Credit

Rate for the 2025-26 academic year (fall, spring and summer terms).*

No Student / Technology Fees

Certain courses, e.g., field experiences, may include course fees to support added services and materials.

*Tuition for the 2026-27 academic year will be decided mid-June 2026.

Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP): UNC provides a health insurance plan to all degree-seeking graduate students who are enrolled in 6 or more credits for a term. If you have comparable insurance coverage, and do not want to be charged for SHIP coverage, you can opt out of this plan. Please visit the UNC Student Health Insurance pages for more information.

Estimates of additional costs: For the purposes of determining financial aid, UNC follows Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) and federal guidelines to develop an estimated, average Cost of Attendance (budget) for different student classifications. For your personal tuition estimates, we recommend using the program-specific tuition information above. But UNC’s official Cost of Attendance/Student Budgets page can help you identify other estimated expenses for which you may be responsible while completing your program.

Federal Financial Aid

Degree-seeking students are encouraged to apply for federal financial aid. Master’s degree students need to be enrolled in a minimum of 5 credits per academic term for financial aid eligibility. Full-time enrollment is based on 9 credits per term.

You will complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The UNC Applying for Aid page provides important dates, including the release date and deadline for each academic year (a Fall-Spring-Summer cycle which begins each August).

  • Late FAFSA submissions are still accepted throughout the academic year, but you may not be considered for the maximum amount of aid.
  • If the priority deadline has passed for the upcoming/current school year, we encourage you to apply for FAFSA consideration as soon as you enroll for your first courses.
  • Depending on the time of year, you may be able to submit an application for the current academic year and an early/priority application for the following academic year.

You can also find helpful information in the Federal Student Aid Resources.

Access the FAFSA Form

Program Eligibility

General Admission Requirements

  • Possess a baccalaureate degree from an institutionally accredited college or university.
  • Have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or better, on a 4.00 point scale, for the most recent degree earned or current degree in progress.
    • If you are in the process of completing a previous degree or have special GPA considerations, please read the specific requirements for this program type.

Program-Specific Admission Requirements

  • Two years of work experience recommended.
  • GRE for those with a GPA below 3.0: The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required by the program if your cumulative GPA is below 3.0. If you need to submit the GRE, see the current GRE score guidelines and minimums for this program.

Eligibility for Out-of-State Students

Licensure Eligibility by State

UNC’s professional licensure programs are designed to lead to Colorado licensure. Each state sets their own requirements, so a UNC program might not lead to licensure in other states. Visit the UNC Licensure page to learn more about which states UNC programs meet educational requirements for licensure.

It’s important to understand requirements in the state where you plan to work. Visit the State Licensure Boards page to find each state’s licensing agency and contact information. Questions? Contact Licensure@unco.edu.

International Student Eligibility

This school is authorized under Federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students.

If you are not a U.S. citizen and do not have an existing U.S. visa status, you would be seeking F-1 or J-1 visa status to be able to come to the U.S. to complete this program. You will need to submit financial documentation to prove that you can pay for tuition and living expenses while you will be in the U.S.

If you have a sponsor for your U.S. education, please check with them about any restrictions for your program choice, location, or ability to take online or hybrid courses.

You will need to provide proof of your English language ability or complete the UNC Intensive English Program. Please visit the International Admissions page for information about:

  • Minimum English language requirements
  • Financial documentation
  • Applying as an international student

Meet with an Enrollment Counselor

Speak with an Enrollment Counselor by phone or video.

Meet with Enrollment Counselor

Faces of our four Enrollment Counselors and a UNC logo

UNC Applied Psychology Counselor Education

On-Campus Delivery Also Available

Are You Ready to Apply?

Thank you for your interest in this UNC program! Here are some elements you can check to be sure you are eligible and ready to apply to this program.

Program Eligibility

See the Program Eligibility section above.

Licensure Eligibility by State

This program is related to a state licensure, endorsement or other credential. If you intend to pursue a credential outside of Colorado, please check the Licensure Eligibility by State section above.

International Applicants

Please see the International Student Eligibility section above to check your eligibility for this program.

Recommended Application Deadlines

Denver Center Rolling Admission

You can begin the Denver Center program any term once you are admitted. You will need to have your application submitted (preferably including your supplemental items) in time to register for a pre-admission workshop that is offered prior to the term in which you intend to start the program.

Loveland Center Deadlines

Accepted applicants for the Loveland Center delivery may begin the program each Fall term.

Priority Application Deadline: March 1. We recommend that you complete your application and supplemental materials, including registering for a pre-admission workshop, by this date.

Standard Application Deadline: April 15. If space is available, additional applicants will be considered until this date. Please contact the Program Coordinator about available space if the priority deadline has passed.

Pre-Admission Workshop Required

Applications will not be reviewed for admission until all application materials are received and a pre-admission workshop is attended

  • You will register for a workshop during the Application Checklist phase. Please note: spaces are limited, and registration closes one week prior to each workshop. Please register as soon as possible to secure your spot.
  • Upcoming workshops: Feb. 27 and May 29, 2026 (each occurs Friday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mountain Time).
  • If you will not have your other application materials complete before the workshop, please contact the Program Coordinator.

Application Process Details

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