Home Master’s Degrees Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling (M.A.) Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling: Marriage and Family

Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling: Marriage and Family

Residential Program for the M.A. in Pastoral Counseling: Marriage & Family

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Get the skills and knowledge you need to counsel families and couples in a variety of ministry and/or agency-based settings with the Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling – Marriage and Family degree. From newly married couples to families with teenage children, you’ll learn how to help families at all stages overcome challenges and fulfill God’s purpose for them.

Courses for this degree will introduce you to the theories and skills required to provide pastoral crisis intervention and counseling. And, they’ll also help you develop the skill sets to address specific psychological issues that apply to men, women, and children throughout their lifespan.

Learn from professors who have years of experience in licensed professional counseling and/or pastoral counseling and ministry. Many of our faculty members currently hold professional positions in secular, ministry, and agency-based settings.

Please note that while the marriage and family area of study may allow you to apply for some Christian counseling certifications, the Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling is not designed to fulfill any requirements for state-licensed professional counseling. You can view Liberty University’s licensure-track Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree for more information about counseling licensure.


Liberty Theological Seminary is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). Your divinity degree is approved by ATS and has met rigorous accreditation standards. So you can feel confident that your degree is both academically excellent and well-respected among churches, ministries, and nonprofit organizations. Liberty University is also accredited by SACSCOC.

Academics for the M.A. in Pastoral Counseling: Marriage & Family

Marriage & Family Courses You Could Take

  • Premarital & Marital Counseling (PACO 603)
  • Counseling the Adolescent and Their Families (PACO 620)
  • Healthy Sexuality (PACO 625)
  • Counseling Women (PACO 687)

Career Opportunities for Marriage & Family Graduates

  • Church/pastoral counselor
  • Marriage and family counselor
  • Lay Church Counseling
  • Chaplaincy
  • Agency-based settings