Low-Residency Intensive Details

In the Graduate School of Counseling, intensives serve as an opportunity to dive deeper into course content, connect with your peers, and practice counseling skills. A required part of the low-residency programs, intensives last for a week, with each day consisting of lessons and activities that overview course material. Depending on which certificate you pursue, your time may also be spent with contemplative practice, movement-based coursework, or meditation experientials.  

A Day in the Life of the In-Person Intensive… (narrative schedule, subject to change!) 

• Arrive on campus around 8:00 am, get yourself a cup of coffee from the snack table, sign in and meet with other students.  

• After orienting to the intensive space, begin your day in meditation with your peers and faculty. 

• Your first course of the day might be around 9:00–12:00 pm, with breaks built in by your faculty member. During this time, you may discuss coursework, readings, or practice counseling skills.  

• Your lunch is about an hour and a half, and perhaps you’ll take the bus down the street to BlackBelly Butcher for a breakfast burrito or sandwich. Or will you go to Pica’s and enjoy chips & queso? You may also consider stopping at Ozo Coffee for an iced latte before heading back to campus for your afternoon session.  

• The afternoon coursework is from around 1:30–5:30 pm, and again you will dive back into coursework, readings, or counseling skills. Breaks will be built-in by your faculty members.  

• At 5:30 pm, the day is over, and you’re free to spend the evening how you wish.  

• The final day of intensives, Friday, can sometimes end a bit early—around 4:00 pm. Otherwise, expect to be required to be on campus from around 8:00 am–5:30 pm each day.