Fall 2024 application window opens September 15 2023

Early Bird deadline: December 1, 2023

Final Deadline: March 15, 2024

A masters degree is the minimal required degree to be eligible for licensure in Colorado.  Employers look for a masters degree when promoting and/or hiring, especially for supervisory roles.  A masters is also the minimum required degree for 3rd party reimbursement.

Choosing a graduate program is a significant and personal decision.  We encourage you to meet with a faculty member for advising, look at the Clinical Behavioral Health course list, and reflect on your career goals as you decide the best academic home for your graduate pursuits.

Feel free to message us at [email protected] to request an appointment.

This program is unique in that students will earn licenses in both substance abuse and mental health. Additionally, while most licenses are earned two years post masters, students may apply for their Licensed Addictions Counselor (LAC) immediately upon graduation (assuming you have accrued the 2,000 clinical work hours and passed the state-administered MAC exam). This dual licensure option gives you the opportunity to work as a LAC while accruing post-masters hours towards your LPC.

Licensure allows clinicians to diagnose, treat, bill insurance companies, provide Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) services, and provide clinical and administrative supervision to a wider range of people, including interns and licensee candidates. Having dual licensure in both addictions counseling and mental health expands your areas of expertise.

The MSU Denver Department of Human Services and Counseling does not oversee licensure for Addiction Counselors. The state is the final authority on licensure, and students are responsible to follow state guidelines set forth by the state of Colorado.

Refer to Colorado’s Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) for more information:
https://dpo.colorado.gov/AddictionCounselor

This program is currently undergoing accreditation through NASAC (National Addictions Studies Accreditation Commission) and is CACREP  aligned (the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs).  Additionally, MSU Denver is accredited through the Higher Learning Commission, or HLC.

Currently, our program structure complies with the new standards for delivery methods for both F-1 and M-1 student visas and can, therefore, accept international applicants for admittance. Please note, if accepted, per the visa standards set by the United States government, F-1 and M-1 students in postgraduate programs at a college or university must take a full course of study as certified by the institution to keep their visa status.

Finally, this master’s program leads to eligibility for the license of License Addiction Counselor (LAC) and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), both of which are specific to Colorado. Although equivalency and portability of licenses within the country are possible, the program cannot guarantee any license portability or reciprocity outside of the state or out of the country.

Additionally, please visit MSU Denver’s International Student Support page.

The State of Colorado does not require individuals to be US citizens in order to obtain licensure as a Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).

Courses are currently $575 per credit, and the program is 60 (LAC) to 66 (LAC + LPC) credits total.  Total program cost is $34,500 or $37,950.  Prices may change over time.

You can see the 23-24 Graduate Tuition and Fees Table on this webpage. Scroll down the page to find our program.

Our cohorts begin every fall. Students are admitted into the full-time track. The full-time track is completed in 8 consecutive semesters: 3 classes each fall semester, 3 classes each spring semester, and 2 classes each summer semester.

A limited number of part-time spots are available. Students must request and be approved for the part-time track which is completed in 12 consecutive semesters: 2 classes each fall semester, 2 classes each spring semester, and 1 class each summer semester.

Our program is designed for working students. Classes are offered evenings and some weekends.

Because classes are skills-based, this program is not designed to be completed entirely online.

The program consists of traditional (on-campus), hybrid (part on-campus and part virtual), and online courses.

Many professional organizations offer scholarships.  Colorado has a loan forgiveness program for LAC candidates. Click here for more information.

There are also loan forgiveness programs for students who work in non-profit agencies via the federal government.  Information about the federal loan forgiveness program can be found here.

Students are encouraged to connect with the MSU Denver Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to explore aid options.

Thank you for your service. We are pleased to offer you a waiver for the graduation application fee.

If you are a veteran, please send a picture or scan of your DD 214 Certificate of Release/Discharge From Active Duty document to [email protected] and let us know that you are requesting a waiver for the graduation application fee. MAKE SURE TO REDACT/COVER YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER BEFORE SENDING THIS DOCUMENT TO US. 

If you are a reservist or on active duty, please email us at [email protected]. State that you are requesting a waiver for the graduation application fee, and whether you are active duty or a reservist. We will schedule a time to meet virtually for verification purposes.

Fee waiver requests must be sent while the application window is open. This is generally mid-September through mid-April for the following fall semester.

The fee waiver code must be entered into your application BEFORE you get to the final page where payment is due. For this reason, we encourage you to request your fee waiver code sooner rather than later.

We also want to make sure that you are connected to our award-winning MSU Denver Veteran and Military Student Services. They are available to offer a wide variety of support and resources. Find their website at https://www.msudenver.edu/veterans/.

At this time the GRE is not required for application or admission to our Master of Science in Clinical Behavioral Health program.

Applicants accepted into our program whose undergraduate degree was in an unrelated field may be required to take a specific undergraduate class at MSU Denver the summer before the start of their cohort. Foundations of Addiction and Mental Health Counseling is a 3-credit course designed to lay the groundwork for our master’s program. There are no other undergraduate prerequisite courses for the program. An undergraduate degree in an unrelated field should not stop you from applying.

While we prefer recommendation letters from professional and academic sources, the applicant ultimately gets to decide who they feel would best be able to speak to their professional and academic potential. Please ask your references to discuss what makes you suitable for a clinical program. If they have not observed you in a clinical role, we encourage applicants to have their recommenders highlight transferrable skills such as empathy, connection, listening skills, critical thinking, writing skills, and other personality traits that might help you to be successful in a clinical counseling program.  Letters of recommendation should include any clinical experience, if applicable.

Applicants may contact the MSU Denver Writing Center to make an appointment for assistance with the grad school application essay. Current status as an MSU Denver student is not required.

Essays should address topics such as your motivations for pursuing a behavioral health degree, reasons for applying specifically to this program instead of other programs, and how this program matches your career goals. Help the review committee understand why you and our program are a good match for each other.

Applicants may submit unofficial transcripts for application review purposes. If accepted, official transcripts will be required and must be submitted for students to be able to register for their second semester.

Applications may be submitted before letters of recommendation are received. Each letter writer is emailed a unique link that will tie their letter back to the specific applicant, even if the applicant has already submitted their application.

Applications will be reviewed once all required items are submitted, including letters of recommendation.

Currently there is no requirement for you to be in personal therapy.  Due to the nature of the program and work, however, students are strongly encouraged to ensure their own emotional needs have been sufficiently addressed.

MSU Denver students are eligible for no-cost services at the MSU Denver Counseling Center.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis as they are received, so once the application window is open the earlier you submit your application and the required items, the better.

Generally, agencies and DORA are looking for two years of sobriety.

Graduate students can still be licensure eligible with a felony conviction depending on the charge and how recently it occurred.  As different sites have different requirements, however, there is no guarantee of an internship placement. We encourage students to explore having their records sealed, if possible. A history of felony charges may also impact students’ ability to secure malpractice insurance, which is a requirement prior to seeing clients.

Due to licensing and accrediting requirements, students must complete all of the coursework and clinical hours while enrolled in the program.

Unfortunately not.  CAT/CAS courses usually consist of community-based workshops and don’t have the same depth or breadth as our master’s level courses.

In addition, accreditation requires all courses to be completed at the master’s level, therefore community courses do not count towards credit for your graduate degree.

Talk to your academic advisor if you have graduate-level transcripts you’d like to have reviewed.

Practicum I hours will be completed on campus under the supervision of course faculty so it will not be possible to use your place of employment for practicum.  Practicum II and Internship hours are completed in the field. Students may be eligible to use their employment for their internship providing they are engaging in new learning and can demonstrate fulfillment of program objectives and competencies. Please reference the Student Handbook for more information on concurrent employment.

Practicum and Internship hours can be applied toward your LAC if you have the appropriate supervision (CAC III or LAC).  However, all LPC hours must be accrued post-graduation.  LAC hours are accrued over a period of at least 18 months, and LPC hours are accrued over a period of at least 24 months. If you still need additional clinical hours for your LAC after graduation, you may apply those work hours towards both your LAC and LPC if your supervisor is appropriately licensed for both LAC and LPC supervision.

LACs can work in multiple settings ranging from hospitals, acute care facilities, outpatient treatment, residential, detox, and private practice.

While there are no guarantees, the expected salary range for an LAC/LPC can range from $50,000 to more than $70,000 in Colorado according to ONETONLINE.org.

Our cohorts only begin in the fall semester.

We are not able to respond to requests for information regarding the reasons for an applicant’s denial.  In general, if a student applied with a low Grade Point Average (GPA), they can take 9 credits at the college or university level and reapply, assuming they have earned a GPA of 3.0 or higher. If a student had a 3.0 GPA and was not accepted, they can re-apply at a later date with a different essay and letters of reference.

Make sure to thoroughly read the acceptance letter you received. It will have many important pieces of information and next steps for you, starting with signing the enrollment agreement to ensure your spot in our program.

We require students to participate in academic advising in order to register for their first semester of classes. Your advisor must lift holds in order for you to register.  After setting up your student account and MSU Denver student email, schedule an advising appointment with Angela Furney here.

The MSU Counseling Center is a resource that offers support for a variety of mental health and emotional issues. Making time for self-care along with balancing the stresses of college life can be difficult but at the same time very important. The Counseling Center offers a variety of tools and resources to improve mental health and help cope with the stressors of everyday life.

The MSU Counseling Center is currently operating remotely.

Website: http://www.msudenver.edu/counsel  Office: 303-615-9988

For mental-health related concerns call 303-615-9902.

For the 24/7 Crisis and Victim Assistance Line call 303-615-9911.

The Student Care Center provides holistic, non-clinical case management support to MSU Denver Students who are facing challenging life circumstances that may prevent them from otherwise pursuing their educational goal.

Services Offered:
Non-Clinical Case Management
Roadrunner Food Pantry
Student Emergency Retention Fund
Single Stop Public Benefits Screener

Student Care Center

The Writing Center has introduced a new asynchronous writing consultation program called “Doc Drop Consulting.” Students submit their work and within three days, they’ll receive written feedback from a consultant.  Traditional consultations are also available by appointment and are conducted online or over the phone. We encourage you to use the Writing Center to enhance your skills.

For the current schedule or to make an appointment, visit the Writing Center’s website at

https://www.msudenver.edu/writectr/

or call 303-615-1888 to schedule an appointment.

Visit the OGS Current Students Page to find a wealth of resources to support your academic and personal success.

Attendance during the first week of class is required. The first week of each semester is the time when course expectations are clearly defined, a culture of learning and communication is established, and relevant course content is covered. If you know you will miss the first day of class in advance of the first week of the semester, contact the instructor to discuss your situation. If you miss the first day for an emergency or illness, it is your responsibility to contact the instructor as quickly as possible.

Due to the interactive nature of the human services class, attendance throughout the semester is critical to the learning process and to student success. Students who miss one quarter of a course will automatically fail. For a full semester course that meets once a week, one quarter is four class periods.

Students are responsible for full knowledge of the provisions and regulations pertaining to all aspects of their attendance at MSU Denver, and should familiarize themselves with the policies found in the MSU Denver Catalog.

Given the nature of the field of Human Services, there is a possibility that you may have a faculty member for one of your Human Services classes who you have worked with in a helping relationship.  As a mental health based discipline, we encourage our students and faculty to avoid the confusion that may be caused by a dual relationship of this nature.  The relationship between a therapist and a client is quite different than the relationship between a faculty member and a student.  Our concern is that prior therapeutic relationship issues may be triggered, such as transference or counter-transference, which may impact the class experience.  In order to support appropriate boundaries for both students and faculty members, we encourage students to consider taking another section of a particular class and/or another class in order to avoid a dual relationship.  If you need assistance in switching classes based on a dual relationship, please contact the chairperson for assistance. If you decide to stay in the class, we encourage you to have an open and frank conversation with your instructor about the distinctions between a teacher/student relationship and a helper/client relationship. In some cases, the instructor may not be comfortable with having a student in her/his class who s/he has worked with or is currently working with in a helping context. This type of situation will be facilitated on a case-by-case basis and may involve moving the student to another course. Instructors should keep the chair informed (without violating confidentiality) when there is a potential dual relationship in a classroom setting.

Students should be aware that any kind of withdrawal can have a negative impact on some types of financial aid and scholarships, as well as Grade Point Average (GPA) and more. Find further information here.

Deadlines differ proportionally for courses offered during part of a semester, including late-start and weekend courses. Students should refer to the Student Detail Schedule via the Student Hub to review drop and withdrawal deadlines for individual courses. When a student withdraws from a course, no academic credit is awarded. The course remains on the student’s academic record with a “W” notation and counts toward the student’s attempted hours. The course is not calculated in the student’s GPA or quality points. Students who withdraw from a course are responsible for the full tuition and fees for that course. After the withdrawal deadline, students may not withdraw from a course and will be assigned the grade earned based on the course syllabus. A student-initiated withdrawal will appear as an “F” on the student’s academic record in any case of academic misconduct resulting in a permanent “F”.

As students, faculty, staff and administrators of Metropolitan State University of Denver, it is our responsibility to uphold and maintain an academic environment that furthers scholarly inquiry, creative activity and the application of knowledge. We will not tolerate academic dishonesty.  We will demonstrate honesty and integrity in all activities related to our learning and scholarship. We will not plagiarize, fabricate information or data, cheat on tests or exams, steal academic material, or submit work to more than one class without full disclosure.

For further information see the Academic Integrity page.

Electronic communication (i.e., email and personal portal announcements) is a rapid, efficient and cost-effective form of communication. Consequently, reliance on electronic communication is expanding among students, faculty, staff and administration at MSU Denver. Because of this increasing reliance and acceptance of electronic communication, forms of electronic communication have become in fact the means of official communication to students, faculty and staff within MSU Denver. This policy acknowledges this fact and formally makes electronic communication an official means of communication for the University.

For more information, see the Electronic Communication policy page.

The Metropolitan State University of Denver is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive learning environment for all students, including those with disabilities.  Students with a diagnosed condition/disability which may impact their access, performance, attendance, or grades in this class should contact the Access Center, located in the Plaza Building, Suite 122, 303-615-0200.

The Access Center is the designated department responsible for coordinating accommodations and services for students with disabilities.  Students will need to provide an Accessibility Notification Letter obtained from the Access Center to their faculty to activate their accommodations.  Information pertaining to a student’s disability is treated in a confidential manner.  Further information is available by visiting the Access Center website www.msudenver.edu/access

Becoming a professional entails learning appropriate professional behavior. It will, thus, be expected that you behave as a professional in the class. Please do not use audible pagers, cell phones, or alarm watches in class. If you are late to class, please do not be disruptive to the class when entering. The Department of Human Services has a Professional Review Policy designed to support professional development for our students. See our website for the full policy.

The Incomplete (I) notation may be assigned when a student who is achieving satisfactory progress in a course and who has completed most class assignments is unable to take the final examination and/or does not complete all class assignments due to unusual circumstances, such as hospitalization or disability. Incomplete work denoted by the Incomplete “I” notation must be completed within one calendar year or earlier, at the discretion of the faculty member. If the incomplete work is not completed within one year, the “I” notation will convert to an “F.” Students must have completed at least 75% of the course work to qualify for consideration for an incomplete. The student must be passing the course in order to be granted an incomplete. The course counts toward the student’s attempted hours, does not count toward earned hours, and is not calculated in the GPA or quality points.

Determination of eligibility does not guarantee that an incomplete will be granted. Students who meet the qualifications may request an incomplete from the faculty member who is teaching the course. The decision to grant an incomplete is up to the faculty member or at the department chair’s discretion. The decision to grant an incomplete as an accommodation based on a student’s disability shall be made by the faculty member or the department chair, if the faculty member is not available, in consultation with the Director of the Access Center.
If an incomplete is granted, the student and instructor should fill out and sign an Incomplete Agreement form to clarify what the student needs to do to complete the course.

For more information see Academic Policies page.

The Administrative Withdrawal (AW) notation is assigned when a student requests to be withdrawn from a course due to unforeseen or extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control. Students may withdrawal themselves online through the withdrawal deadline. Students should meet with an academic advisor prior to withdrawing from a course. After the withdrawal deadline, students may submit a request for AW due to unforeseen or extenuating circumstances.

For more information see Academic Policies page.

Metropolitan State University of Denver prohibits sexual misconduct in any form, including sexual assault or sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and other forms of nonconsensual sexual conduct, including stalking and electronic harassment. Forms of intimate partner violence, including dating violence and domestic violence, are also prohibited under this policy.  Students, faculty, staff and visitors, should be able to live, study, and work in an environment free from sexual misconduct.  It is the policy of MSU Denver that sexual misconduct in any form will not be excused or tolerated.  Retaliation in any form for reporting such sexual misconduct or for cooperating in a sexual misconduct investigation is strictly prohibited and will be addressed as a separate violation of the Student Code of Conduct. This policy is promulgated under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq., and its implementing regulations, 34 C.F.R. Part 106; Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000c).

For further information, see the Title IX page and refer to the Student Code of Conduct page.

Students at MSU Denver who, because of their sincerely held religious beliefs, are unable to attend classes, take examinations, participate in graded activities or submit graded assignments on particular days shall without penalty be excused from such classes and be given a meaningful opportunity to make up such examinations and graded activities or assignments provided that advance written notice that the student will be absent for religious reasons is given to the faculty members during the first two weeks of the semester.

For further information, see the Class Attendance policies page.