Courses & Requirements
For the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Low-Residency Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling Concentration
The Low-Residency MTC program provides a similar curriculum as the on-campus version and can also be completed within three years. It has a unique delivery format that makes it a great fit for those with busy lives or who cannot relocate to Boulder:
- Mostly online and asynchronous, with a dispersed course load over eight semesters, to make the program more accessible for those with packed schedules, full-time jobs, and other commitments.
- The expected time commitment is generally estimated at 10-12 hours per week. This may be slightly higher at times, especially during the two nine-credit semesters, but there are also usually weeks when students spend less than 10 hours.
- The expected time commitment is generally estimated at 10-12 hours per week. This may be slightly higher at times, especially during the two nine-credit semesters, but there are also usually weeks when students spend less than 10 hours.
- The program can be completed from anywhere in the United States, but students are required to attend either five or six five-day intensives held in Colorado. (Clinical placement also must be completed within the US.)
The number of in-person intensives depends on when the student begins the program:- Students starting in August will have five in-person intensives in Colorado.
- Students starting in January and May will have six in-person intensives in Colorado.
- Students starting in August will have five in-person intensives in Colorado.
- Twice per semester, either online or in person, students meet as a group for intensives – live classes that last the bulk of each day. Students complete a big portion of the coursework at the intensives—they’re called “intensives” for a reason!
- Each semester begins with an online intensive lasting either two or three days. (The first is three days; the rest are two days.)
- A five-day intensive follows in the second half of each semester. Five-day intensives in the summer and fall semesters are held in Colorado; the five-day intensive in the spring is online*.
- Classes for the summer in-person intensives are held on campus in Boulder, but students are responsible for off-campus accommodations.
- The fall in-person intensives are held at the Drala Mountain Center. Accommodations are included in the program fees – students are only responsible for travel to and from the retreat site.
- * Starting January 2025, students starting in the spring semester will come to Colorado for the program’s first five-day intensive, per new government requirements that all low-residency counseling programs include some type of in-person programming in the first semester. (The second spring semester would then be entirely online.)
- Classes for the summer in-person intensives are held on campus in Boulder, but students are responsible for off-campus accommodations.
- No live classes are held during the semester except for the intensives, giving students the flexibility to complete assignments on their own time. Students are required to meet virtually, based on their own availability and schedule, with fellow cohort members to connect and engage over the coursework.
Low-Residency MTC Degree Requirements
* Course offerings and sequencing are subject to change.
Total Credits: 66
Semester 1 (Spring, First Year)
Three-day online intensive, five-day intensive in Colorado
- CMHC 600, Foundations and Orientation of Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3)
- CMHC 603 Counseling and Helping Relationships I (3)
- CNST 622 Foundations of Mindfulness (2)
Credits: 8
Semester 2 (Summer, First Year)
Two-day online intensive, five-day intensive in Colorado
- CMHC 604 Counseling and Helping Relationships II (3)
- CMHC 601 Social/Multicultural Foundations (3)
- CNST 721 Cultivating Mindful Presence (2)
Credits: 8
Semester 3 (Fall, First Year)
Two-day online intensive, five-day intensive in Colorado
- CNST 671 Mindful Counselor (2)
- CMHC 605 Group Counseling (3)
- Elective (3)
Credits: 8
Semester 4 (Spring, Year Two)
Three online intensives: One two-day intensive, and two 2.5-day intensives
- CMHC 606 Legal and Ethical Aspects of Counseling (3)
- CMHC 602 Human Growth and Development (3)
- CNST 670 Transpersonal Counseling (3)
Credits: 9
Semester 5 (Summer, Year Two)
Two-day online intensive, five-day intensive in Colorado
- CMHC 607 Diagnosis and Treatment Planning (3)
- CNSM 602 Gestalt I (2)
- CMHC 620 Counseling Practicum (3)
- CNST 770 Compassion Training for Counselors (1)
Credits: 9
Semester 6 (Fall, Year Two)
Two-day online intensive, five-day intensive in Colorado
- CNSM 651 Gestalt II (3)
- CMHC 608 Assessment (3)
- CMHC 621 Initial Internship (2)
Credits: 8
Winter Break, Year Three
- CMHC 623 Winter Intercession Internship (0)
* Students will continue with internship over Winter Break but will not have classes.
Credits: 0
Semester 7 (Spring, Year Three)
Three online intensives: One two-day intensive, and two 2.5-day intensives
- CMHC 622 Internship I (3)
- CMHC 609 Research & Program Evaluation (3)
- CNST 810 Mindfulness Based Counseling (2)
Credits: 8
Semester 8 (Summer, Year Three)
Two-day online intensive, five-day intensive in Colorado
- CMHC 624 Internship II (3)
- CMHC 617 Capstone I & II (2)
- CMHC 610 Career Development (3)
Credits: 8
* Course offerings and sequencing are subject to change.
Total Credits: 66
Semester 1 (Summer, First Year)
Three-day online intensive, five-day intensive in Colorado
- CMHC 600, Foundations and Orientation of Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3)
- CMHC 603 Counseling and Helping Relationships I (3)
- CNST 622 Foundations of Mindfulness (2)
Credits: 8
Semester 2 (Fall, First Year)
Two-day online intensive, five-day intensive in Colorado
- CMHC 604 Counseling and Helping Relationships II (3)
- CMHC 601 Social/Multicultural Foundations (3)
- CNST 721 Cultivating Mindful Presence (2)
Credits: 8
Semester 3 (Spring, First Year)
Three online intensives: One two-day intensive, and two 2.5-day intensives
- CNST 671 Mindful Counselor (2)
- CMHC 605 Group Counseling (3)
- Elective (3)
Credits: 8
Semester 4 (Summer, Year Two)
Two-day online intensive, five-day intensive in Colorado
- CMHC 606 Legal and Ethical Aspects of Counseling (3)
- CMHC 602 Human Growth and Development (3)
- CNST 670 Transpersonal Counseling (3)
Credits: 9
Semester 5 (Fall, Year Two)
Two-day online intensive, five-day intensive in Colorado
- CMHC 607 Diagnosis and Treatment Planning (3)
- CNSM 602 Gestalt I (2)
- CMHC 620 Counseling Practicum (3)
- CNST 770 Compassion Training for Counselors (1)
Credits: 9
Semester 6 (Spring, Year Two)
Three online intensives: One two-day intensive, and two 2.5-day intensives
- CNSM 651 Gestalt II (3)
- CMHC 608 Assessment (3)
- CMHC 621 Initial Internship (2)
Credits: 8
Semester 7 (Summer, Year Three)
Two-day online intensive, five-day intensive in Colorado
- CMHC 622 Internship I (3)
- CMHC 609 Research & Program Evaluation (3)
- CNST 810 Mindfulness Based Counseling (2)
Credits: 8
Semester 8 (Fall, Year Three)
Two-day online intensive, five-day intensive in Colorado
- CMHC 624 Internship II (3)
- CMHC 617 Capstone I & II (2)
- CMHC 610 Career Development (3)
Credits: 8
* Course offerings and sequencing are subject to change.
Total Credits: 66
Semester 1 (Fall, First Year)
Three-day online intensive, five-day intensive in Colorado
- CMHC 600, Foundations and Orientation of Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3)
- CMHC 603 Counseling and Helping Relationships I (3)
- CNST 622 Foundations of Mindfulness (2)
Credits: 8
Semester 2 (Spring, First Year)
Three online intensives: One two-day intensive, and two 2.5-day intensives
- CMHC 604 Counseling and Helping Relationships II (3)
- CMHC 601 Social/Multicultural Foundations (3)
- CNST 721 Cultivating Mindful Presence (2)
Credits: 8
Semester 3 (Summer, First Year)
Two-day online intensive, five-day intensive in Colorado
- CNST 671 Mindful Counselor (2)
- CMHC 605 Group Counseling (3)
- Elective (3)
Credits: 8
Semester 4 (Fall, Year Two)
Two-day online intensive, five-day intensive in Colorado
- CMHC 606 Legal and Ethical Aspects of Counseling (3)
- CMHC 602 Human Growth and Development (3)
- CNST 670 Transpersonal Counseling (3)
Credits: 9
Semester 5 (Spring, Year Two)
Three online intensives: One two-day intensive, and two 2.5-day intensives
- CMHC 607 Diagnosis and Treatment Planning (3)
- CNSM 602 Gestalt I (2)
- CMHC 620 Counseling Practicum (3)
- CNST 770 Compassion Training for Counselors (1)
Credits: 9
Semester 6 (Summer, Year Two)
Two-day online intensive, five-day intensive in Colorado
- CNSM 651 Gestalt II (3)
- CMHC 608 Assessment (3)
- CMHC 621 Initial Internship (2)
Credits: 8
Semester 7 (Fall, Year Three)
Two-day online intensive, five-day intensive in Colorado
- CMHC 622 Internship I (3)
- CMHC 609 Research & Program Evaluation (3)
- CNST 810 Mindfulness Based Counseling (2)
Credits: 8
Winter Break, Year Three
- CMHC 623 Winter Intercession Internship (0)
* Students will continue with internship over Winter Break but will not have classes.
Credits: 0
Semester 8 (Spring, Year Three)
Three online intensives: One two-day intensive, and two 2.5-day intensives
- CMHC 624 Internship II (3)
- CMHC 617 Capstone I & II (2)
- CMHC 610 Career Development (3)
Credits: 8
Connect
with your counselor
Matt Powers
Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions
Intensive Dates for 2024 Cohorts
Important Dates for MTC Low-Residency Students Starting in January 2025
*For the fall intensives held at the Drala Mountain Center, please plan on arriving the afternoon of the day prior to the start of the intensive for check-in.
Spring 2025 Semester
*Please be aware that due to recently announced updated Department of Education regulations, the Spring 2025 Semester will be required to have an in-person intensive. The second spring semester would be completed entirely via Zoom.
January 9 | Online Orientation |
January 13 | First Day of Spring Semester |
January 16–18 | Three-Day Intensive (Online)* |
February 24–28 | Five-Day Intensive (Nalanda Campus, Boulder, CO) |
March 24–30 | Spring Break |
May 9 | Last Day of Spring Semester |
*Classes will be from 9:00am – 12:00pm on 1/18
Important Dates for MTC Low-Residency Students Starting in May 2025
* For the intensives held at the Drala Mountain Center, please plan on arriving the afternoon prior to the start of the intensive for check-in.
Dates TBD
Important Dates for MTC Low-Residency Students Starting in August 2024
* For the intensives held at the Drala Mountain Center, please plan on arriving the afternoon prior to the start of the intensive for check-in.