Summer 2026 Start Options

For the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentrations

Federal legislation passed in Summer 2025—commonly referred to as the “Big Beautiful Bill”—includes significant changes to graduate financial aid that will affect how many students fund their education. Most notably, Graduate PLUS Loans will be eliminated beginning in July 2026, removing a key financing option that many have relied on to afford graduate studies.

Students who enroll in a graduate program before July 2026 will remain eligible for Graduate PLUS Loans under the current rules.

To help prospective students take advantage of this opportunity—and to support responsible financing of graduate education—Naropa is offering a special pathway to begin any of our Clinical Mental Health Counseling programs in May. This option allows students to start their studies earlier than the traditional late-August start for Naropa’s residential counseling programs.

Students entering through this pathway will begin in a low-residency (mostly online) format during the summer, allowing them to start their degree while maintaining flexibility. Then, in August, students will transition into the residential format for their chosen counseling concentration and continue in that format for the remainder of their studies.

Students who prefer a low-residency learning format may also continue their studies in one of Naropa’s counseling concentrations designed for flexibility and accessibility: Somatic Counseling or Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling, both of which combine primarily online coursework with periodic in-person intensives.

Degree Pathways for Summer Start Students

*Please note that course offerings, sequencing, and delivery format are subject to change.

Total Credits: 67

Semester 1 (Summer, First Year) — Classes Taken Online/Low-Residency

CMHC 600e Foundations and Orientation of Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3)
CMHC 602e Human Growth and Development (3)
Elective (2)

Credits: 8

Semester 2 (Fall, First Year) — Begin On-Campus Program

CMHC 603 Counseling and Helping Relationships I (3)
CNST 622 Foundations of Mindfulness (2)
CMHC 607 Diagnosis and Treatment Planning (3)
CNSG 799 Special Topics; Marriage, Couples, & Family Therapy (3)

Credits: 11

Semester 3 (Spring, First Year)

CMHC 604 Counseling and Helping Relationships II (3)
CMHC 601 Social/Multicultural Foundations (3)
CNST 721 Cultivating Mindful Presence (2)
CNST670 Transpersonal Counseling (3)

Credits: 11

Semester 4 (Fall, Year Two)

CNST 671 Mindful Counselor (2)
CMHC 605 Group Counseling (3)
CMHC 609 Research & Program Evaluation (3)
CNSM 602 Gestalt I (3)

Credits: 11

Semester 5 (Spring, Year Two)

CMHC 608 Assessment (3)
CNSM 651 Gestalt II (3)
CNST 770 Compassion Training for Counselors (1)
CMHC 620 Counseling Practicum (3)

Credits: 10

Semester 6 (Summer, Year Two)

CMHC 622 Internship I (3)
CMHC 611 Substance Abuse & Addictions Counseling (3)
Elective (2)

Credits: 8

Semester 7 (Fall, Year Three)

CMHC 624 Internship II (3)
CMHC 617 Capstone I & II (2)
CMHC 610 Career Development (3)

Credits: 8

*Please note that course offerings, sequencing, and delivery format are subject to change.

Total Credits: 68

Semester 1 (Summer, First Year) — Classes Taken Online/Low-Residency

CMHC 600e Foundations and Orientation of Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3)
CMHC 602e Human Growth and Development (3)
CMHC 606 Legal and Ethical Aspects of Counseling (3)

Credits: 9

Semester 2 (Fall, First Year) — Begin On-Campus Program

CMHC 603 Counseling & Helping Relationships I (3)
CMHC 609 Research and Program Evaluation (may be online) (3)
CMHC 608 Assessment (may be online) (3)
CNSN 610 Nature-Based Counseling I: Foundations (1)
CNST 622 Foundations of Mindfulness (2)

Credits: 12

Semester 3 (Spring, First Year)

CMHC 601 Social/Multicultural Foundations (3)
CMHC 604 Counseling & Helping Relationships II (3)
CMHC 605 Group Counseling (3)
CNSN 612 Nature-Based Counseling II: Theory in Practice (1)
CNST 721 Cultivating Mindful Presence (2)

Credits: 12

Semester 4 (Fall, Year Two)

CMHC 620 Counseling Practicum (3)
CMHC 611 Substance Abuse and Addictions Counseling (3)
CMHC 612 Family, Couple, & Relationship Counseling (3)
CNSN 621 Person/Plants/Land: Horticulture in Counseling (1)

Credits: 10

Semester 5 (Spring, Year Two)

CMHC 609 Research and Program Evaluation (3)
CMHC 621 Initial Internship (2)
CNSN 623 Counseling with Animals (1)
CNSN 626 Transitions Through the Lifespan (2)
CNSN 630 Nature-Based Facilitation (2)

Credits: 10

Semester 6 (Summer, Year Two)

CMHC 610 Career Development (3)
CMHC 622 Internship I (3)
CNSN 631 Contemplative Perspectives & Practice (1)

Credits: 7

Semester 7 (Fall, Year Three)

CMHC 624 Internship II (3)
CMHC 617 Capstone I & II (2)
CNSN 632 Crisis, Trauma & Disaster Counseling (3)

Credits: 8

*Please note that course offerings, sequencing, and delivery format are subject to change.

Total Credits: 68

Semester 1 (Summer, First Year) — Classes Taken Online/Low-Residency

CMHC 600 Foundations and Orientation of Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3)
CNSB 627 Foundations of Somatic Counseling (2)
CNSS 646 Contemplative Practices (1)

Credits: 6

Semester 2 (Fall, First Year) — Begin On-Campus Program

CMHC 606 Legal & Ethical Standards (3)
CNSS Applied Anatomy & Neuroscience (2)
CMHC 601 Social/Multicultural Foundations (3)
CMHC 609 Research & Program Development (3)

Credits: 11

Semester 3 (Spring, First Year)

CMHC 603 Counseling & Helping Relationships I (3)
CNSS 622 Body Movement Observation & Assessment (3)
CMHC 602 Human Growth and Development (3)
CNSB 716 Specialized Approaches to Somatic (2)

Credits: 11

Semester 4 (Fall, Year Two)

CMHC 604 Counseling & Helping Relationships II (3)
CMHC 605 Group Counseling (3)
CMHC 611 Substance Use & Addictions Counseling (3)
CMHC 610 Career Development (3)

Credits: 12

Semester 5 (Spring, Year Two)

CMHC 612 Family, Couples, & Relationship Counseling (3)
CNSS 606 Advanced Counseling Skills (3)
CMHC 607 Diagnosis & Treatment Planning (3)
CMHC 620 Practicum (3)

Credits: 12

Semester 6 (Summer, Year Two)

CMHC 608 Assessment (3)
CMHC 622 Internship I (3)
Elective (2)

Credits: 8

Semester 7 (Fall, Year Three)

CMHC 624 Internship II (3)
CMHC 617 Capstone I & II (2)
CNSS 664 Crisis, Trauma, & Disaster Counseling (3)

Credits: 8

*Please note that course offerings, sequencing, and delivery format are subject to change.

Total Credits: 68

Semester 1 (Summer, First Year) — Classes Taken Online/Low-Residency

CMHC 600 Foundations and Orientation of Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3)
CNSB 627 Elective (2)
- *Recommended course: Foundations of Somatic Counseling
CNSS 646 Contemplative Practices (1)

Credits: 6

Semester 2 (Fall, First Year) — Begin On-Campus Program

CMHC 606 Legal & Ethical Standards (3)
CNSS XXX Applied Anatomy & Neuroscience (2)
CMHC 601 Social/Multicultural Foundations (3)
CNSD 617 Foundations of Dance Movement Therapy (2)
CMHC 609 Research & Program Development (3)

Credits: 13

Semester 3 (Spring, First Year)

CMHC 603 Counseling & Helping Relationships I (3)
CNSS 622 Body Movement Observation & Assessment (3)
CMHC 602 Human Growth and Development (3)
CNSD 716 Specialized Approaches to Dance/Movement Therapy (2)

Credits: 11

Semester 4 (Fall, Year Two)

CMHC 604 Counseling & Helping Relationships II (3)
CMHC 605 Group Counseling (3)
CMHC 611 Substance Use & Addictions Counseling (3)
CMHC 610 Career Development (3)

Credits: 12

Semester 5 (Spring, Year Two)

CMHC 612 Family, Couples, & Relationship Counseling (3)
CNSS 606 Advanced Counseling Skills (3)
CMHC 607 Diagnosis & Treatment Planning (3)
CMHC 620 Practicum (3)

Credits: 12

Semester 6 (Summer, Year Two)

CMHC 608 Assessment (3)
CMHC 622 Internship I (3)

Credits: 6

Semester 7 (Fall, Year Three)

CMHC 624 Internship II (3)
CMHC 617 Capstone I & II (2)
CNSS 664 Crisis, Trauma, & Disaster Counseling (3)

Credits: 8

*Please note that course offerings, sequencing, and delivery format are subject to change.

Total Credits: 66

Semester 1 (Summer, First Year) — Classes Taken Online/Low-Residency

CMHC 600e Foundations and Orientation of Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3)
CMHC 602e Human Growth and Development (3)

Credits: 6

Semester 2 (Fall, First Year) — Begin On-Campus Program

CNSA 604 Foundations of Transpersonal Art Therapy in Counseling (3)
CNST 622 Foundations of Mindfulness (2)
CNSA 634 History and Theory of Art Therapy (3)

Credits: 8

Semester 3 (Spring, First Year)

CMHC 603 Counseling and Helping Relationships I (3)
CMHC 601 Social/Multicultural Foundations (3)
CMHC 606 Legal and Ethical Aspects of Counseling (3)
CNST 670 Transpersonal Counseling (3)

Credits: 12

Semester 4 (Fall, Year Two)

CMHC 604 Counseling and Helping Relationships II (3)
CMHC 605 Group Counseling (3)
CMHC 612 Family, Partnership, and Couples Counseling (3)
CMHC 610 Career Development (3)

Credits: 12

Semester 5 (Spring, Year Two)

CMHC 607 Diagnosis and Treatment Planning (3)
CMHC 620 Counseling Practicum (3)
CMHC 611 Substance Abuse and Addictions Counseling (3)
CNSA 734 Creative Arts Counseling with Children and Adolescents (3)

Credits: 12

Semester 6 (Summer, Year Two)

CMHC 622 Internship I (3)
CMHC 609 Research & Program Evaluation (3)
CMHC 608 Assessment (3)
CMHC 615 Capstone I (1)

Credits: 10

Semester 7 (Fall, Year Three)

CMHC 624 Internship II (3)
CNSA 834 Studio: Inquiry, Process, and Materials (2)
CMHC 616 Capstone II (1)

Credits: 6

*Please note that course offerings, sequencing, and delivery format are subject to change.

Total Credits: 71

Semester 1 (Summer, First Year) — Classes Taken Online/Low-Residency

CMHC 600 Foundations and Orientation of Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3)
CMHC 602 Human Growth and Development (3)
CMHC 606 Legal and Ethical Aspects of Counseling (3)

Credits: 9

Semester 2 (Fall, First Year) — Begin On-Campus Program

CNSC-600 Opening Retreat (0)
CMHC-612 Couples, Partnerships & Family Counseling (3)
CNSC-728 Community Dynamics Awareness Lab I (0.5)
CMHC-610 Career Development (3)
CNSC-603 Buddhist Foundations for Counseling I: Contemplative Views and Practices (2)
CNSC-660 Maitri I (1)
CMHC 600 Foundations and Orientation of Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3)

Credits: 12.5

Semester 3 (Spring, First Year)

CNSC-609 Interpersonal Dynamics Awareness Lab I (0.5)
CMHC-603 Counseling & Helping Relationships I (3)
CMHC-601 Social/Multicultural Foundations (3)
CNSC-623 Buddhist Foundations for Counseling II: Abhidharma (2)
CNSC-665 Maitri II (1)
CNSC-611 Substance Use & Addictions Counseling (3)

Credits: 12.5

Semester 4 (Fall, Year Two)

CNSC-629 Interpersonal Dynamics Awareness Lab II (0.5)
CNSC-828 Community Dynamics Awareness Lab II (0.5)
CHMC-604 Counseling & Helping Relationships II (3)
CMHC-605 Group Counseling (3)
CNSC-703 Buddhist Foundations for Counseling III: Mahayana/Heart of Emptiness (2)
CNSC-760 Maitri III (1)
Elective (2)

Credits: 12

Semester 5 (Spring, Year Two)

CNSC-709 Interpersonal Dynamics Awareness Lab III (0.5)
CMHC-620 Counseling Practicum (3)
CNSC-809 Interpersonal Awareness Dynamics Lab V (0.5)
CNSC-723 Buddhist Foundations for Counseling IV: Counselors as Bodhisattvas (2)
CNSC-765 Maitri IV (1)
CMHC-607 Diagnosis and Treatment Planning (3)
CNSC-890 Special Topics in Buddhist-Informed Counseling: Trauma-Informed Care (1)

Credits: 11

Semester 6 (Summer, Year Two)

CMHC-609 Research & Program Evaluation (3)
CMHC-608 Assessment (3)
CMHC-622 Internship I (3)
CMHC-615 Capstone I (1)

Credits: 10

Semester 7 (Fall, Year Three)

CNSC-729 Interpersonal Awareness Dynamics Lab IV (0.5)
CMHC-624 Internship II (3)
CMHC-616 Capstone II (1)
CNSC-803 Buddhist Foundations for Counseling V: Glimpses of Vajrayana (2)
CNSC-860 Maitri V (0.5)

Credits: 7

Important Dates for Students Starting in Summer 2026

Students take classes with the MTC Low-Residency program.

Online Orientation	May 12
First Day of Summer Semester	May 18
Online Intensive	May 21: 1:30–5:30pm Mountain Time May 22: 9:00am–12:00pm MT
In-Person Intensive	July 6: 1:30–5:30pm MT July 7: 1:30–5:30pm MT July 9: 1:30–5:30pm MT July 10: 9:00am–5:30pm MT
Last Day of Summer Semester	August 14

Students take classes with the MTC Low-Residency program.

Online Orientation	May 12
First Day of Summer Semester	May 18
Online Intensive	May 21: 9:00am–5:30pm Mountain Time May 22: 9:00am–12:00pm MT
In-Person Intensive	July 6: 1:30–5:30pm MT July 7: 1:30–5:30pm MT July 8: 9:00am–5:30pm MT July 9: 9:00am–5:30pm MT July 10: 9:00am–5:30pm MT
August 14	Last Day of Summer Semester

Students take classes with the Somatic Low-Residency program.
Unless otherwise noted, Intensives are scheduled 9:00am–5:30pm Mountain Time.

May 13	Online Orientation
May 18	First Day of Summer Semester
May 21–23	Three-Day Intensive (Online)
July 13–17	Five-Day Intensive (Naropa Arapahoe Campus)
August 14	Last Day of Summer Semester

Students take classes with the MTC Low-Residency program.

Online Orientation	May 12
First Day of Summer Semester	May 18
Online Intensive	May 21: 1:30–5:30pm Mountain Time May 22: 9:00am–12:00pm MT
In-Person Intensive	July 6: 1:30–5:30pm MT July 7: 1:30–5:30pm MT July 9: 1:30–5:30pm MT July 10: 9:00am–5:30pm MT
August 14	Last Day of Summer Semester

Students take classes with the MTC Low-Residency program.

Online Orientation	May 12
First Day of Summer Semester	May 18
Online Intensive	May 21: 9:00am–5:30pm Mountain Time May 22: 9:00am–12:00pm MT
In-Person Intensive	July 6: 1:30–5:30pm MT July 7: 1:30–5:30pm MT July 8: 9:00am–5:30pm MT July 9 9:00am–5:30pm MT July 10: 9:00am–5:30pm MT
August 14	Last Day of Summer Semester

FAQ Related to the Summer Start Option for GSC Concentrations

What will be different about my experience if I start in May instead of August?

The curriculum and learning outcomes will largely be the same. Core CACREP-required courses, and the classes considered distinct and foundational to each counseling concentration, remain unchanged, although some programs have made minor adjustments to course sequencing to allow for a May start.

The main differences are:

1. Low-residency format in your first semester
Students beginning through the Special Summer Start will complete their first semester in a mostly-online or fully online format before transitioning into the residential format in August. The overall program length remains seven semesters.

2. Some courses may be taken in a different order
To accommodate the May start, some courses may be taken in different semesters than they would be for students beginning in the traditional Fall start. As a result, you may take some classes alongside students from different cohorts.

I see that the Special Summer Start includes two “Intensives” during the summer. What are Intensives?

Intensives are live class sessions held either virtually on Zoom or in person in Colorado. They allow instructors to observe students in real time, provide guidance, and support the experiential learning that is central to Naropa’s counseling programs.

Intensives are typically scheduled over several consecutive days, usually from 9:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m., with a variety of interactive learning activities throughout the day.

Special Summer Start students will only attend the portions of these Intensives that correspond to their specific courses. This means some days may be partial days, and there may be days during the Intensive that students are not required to attend.

Will starting in May allow me to graduate sooner?

Yes. The total program length remains the same—7 semesters—but because Special Summer Start students begin in May rather than August, they are scheduled to complete the program earlier: Instead of finishing in May 2029, they would be scheduled to finish in December 2028.

Could starting through the Special Summer Start pathway affect my program cost?

It's possible. For some programs, beginning in May may change how coursework is distributed across semesters, which could affect the overall cost of attendance.

Naropa is currently finalizing tuition for the upcoming academic year due to recent federal financial aid changes. Because of this, we are not yet able to confirm the exact cost impact of the Special Summer Start option. Updated tuition information is expected to be available soon.

If you have questions in the meantime, please contact your Admissions Counselor or email finaid@naropa.edu.

Will I need to move to Boulder in May?

No. Summer courses will primarily be delivered online, meaning students can participate from anywhere. However, students will be required to attend two live Intensives as part of the summer coursework. The first Intensive is fully online; the second is in person, on campus in Boulder. Dates and times for these Intensives are listed on this webpage.

Where can I learn more about the low-residency format for the summer classes?

Students beginning through the Special Summer Start will take their summer counseling classes alongside students in Naropa’s existing low-residency counseling programs—primarily the Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling (MTC) Low-Residency program, but also the Somatic Low-Residency program.

To better understand how low-residency courses are delivered, we encourage you to review the MTC Low-Residency program details webpage. Please keep in mind that some information on that page will not apply to Special Summer Start students, since they will transition into their residential program in August.

Low-residency courses are primarily online and asynchronous, but students are also required to attend two live Intensives. The first intensive is held online; the second is held in person, on campus in Boulder. Intensive dates and times are listed on this webpage.

If I receive a Grad PLUS Loan, can I take time off from my graduate program and still remain eligible for the loan?

No. To maintain eligibility for the Grad PLUS Loan, students must remain continuously enrolled in their program. Taking a semester off would result in losing access to Grad PLUS funding. Grad PLUS loans also cannot be transferred to a different graduate program.

If I applied (or was accepted) for the Fall Semester (beginning in August) but would like to begin in the Summer Semester (beginning in May), how do I change my start term?

Changes to your intended start term must be made by the Office of Admissions. Please contact your Admissions Counselor to discuss the change, or email your request to admissions@naropa.edu.

If I planned to begin in the Fall semester (August) and have already received my financial aid package, how would starting in the Summer semester (May) affect my aid?

Changing your start term requires your financial aid package to be recalculated, which may change the types or amounts of aid you receive. For guidance specific to your situation, email finaid@naropa.edu or schedule a call with a Financial Aid Advisor.