Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling Mentor Future Generations
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Degree Options
100% online,* 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Provide Biblical Guidance and Counsel with a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Counseling
A Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling is a degree that can travel far in an imperfect world. If you want to help people work through life’s challenges, Liberty University’s non-licensure pastoral counseling degree is a great option. Our program can provide you with the counseling skills and biblical knowledge needed to help people in all walks of life – from spouses and families to service members and new believers.
Pastoral counselors combine theology with psychotherapy to address relational, emotional, and spiritual needs. By integrating modern psychology with ministry training, they can help people overcome many challenges, including addiction, marital issues, family conflict, and trauma. As leaders in ministry and mental health, they provide valuable guidance and comfort to people of all ages and stages.
Partner with us and learn how to provide quality care to those in your community.
*Some exclusions apply. Please refer to our exclusions page for more information.
Accreditation
Liberty Theological Seminary, as part of Liberty University’s John W. Rawlings School of Divinity, is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). Your seminary 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.
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What is pastoral counseling?
Our MA in pastoral counseling is a graduate-level program designed to blend the principles of mental health counseling with spiritual guidance, allowing you to support individuals not just psychologically, but spiritually as well. As a student in this program, you can dive deep into understanding human behavior, emotional distress, and the methods of therapeutic intervention.
However, what sets pastoral counseling apart is its integration of religious, spiritual, and theological insights into the counseling process. This means you’ll also study religious texts, spiritual formation, and the ethical considerations unique to spiritual counseling.
What Will You Study in Our Pastoral Counseling Master’s Degree Program?
What sets pastoral counselors apart from regular counselors? The ability to offer counseling from a biblical perspective.
In this program, you’ll learn how to address emotional, relational, and psychological needs within a spiritual context. Our courses can help enrich your understanding of what the Bible says about suffering and human nature, giving you the tools needed to employ scientifically and biblically sound counseling methods.
This pastoral counseling program integrates foundational courses with various specializations, allowing you to earn a degree that aligns with your interests and career goals. No matter which specialization you choose, this degree can help you become more biblically responsible, relationally wise, and ministry-ready.
The core pastoral counseling courses will address a variety of topics, including crisis intervention, marriage and family counseling, counseling theory, theological doctrine, and multicultural issues. You’ll also gain real-world experience by completing a supervised internship, which includes 225 hours – a minimum of 50 which are required to be face-to-face counseling experience. With a master’s in pastoral counseling, you can be better prepared to pursue work in a variety of settings like churches, hospitals, correctional facilities, military bases, and counseling centers.
Featured Courses
Online Master’s in Pastoral Counseling Degree Information
- This program falls under Liberty’s Liberty Theological Seminary.
- View the Graduate Divinity Course Guides (login required).
- This is a non licensure program.
Why Choose Liberty University’s Pastoral Counseling Degree?
If you’re struggling to balance school with your other commitments and priorities, we have just what you need. Our MA in Pastoral Counseling is offered 100% online, so you won’t need to relocate to take on-campus courses. You can complete your degree when and where it’s most convenient for you — even from the comfort of your own home!
In this program, you can learn from professors who have years of experience in pastoral counseling and ministry. Like you, they are passionate about serving others. Many of our faculty members currently hold professional positions in ministry and agency-based settings. Drawing on their knowledge and experience, they can help you learn clinically and biblically sound methods for counseling people.
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What Sets Us Apart?
- Private Nonprofit University
- 600+ Online Degrees
- No Standardized Testing for Admission
- Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
- Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree
Potential Careers with a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Counseling
- Associate pastor
- Church counselor
- Hospital counselor
- Non-licensed counselor
- Prison chaplain
- Rehabilitation specialist
- Substance abuse counselor
- Trauma counselor
MA in Pastoral Counseling Degree Options
Within our pastoral counseling degree online, you’ll get to choose a specialization that provides specialized training and knowledge. These cognates will allow you to personalize your degree to meet your unique goals.
Addictions and Recovery
Liberty’s 100% online Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling – Addictions and Recovery program can prepare you to diagnose and treat addictions, as well as oversee the recovery process – all through the lens of a Christian worldview. You’ll study aspects of psychology, biology, and theology so that you can effectively counsel people who struggle with various types of addictions.
View the Degree Completion Plan.
Community Chaplaincy
Liberty University’s Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling – Community Chaplaincy can equip you to serve in pastoral counseling roles beyond the walls of the church. You’ll learn how to serve as an effective, biblically sound chaplain in a variety of secular settings, including corporations, prisons, sports organizations, and college campuses.
View the Degree Completion Plan.
Crisis Response and Trauma
Liberty’s online Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling – Crisis Response and Trauma can equip you to meet the needs of individuals, organizations, and groups who have experienced trauma, disaster, or other crises. You’ll learn how to counsel and treat those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, grief, combat-related trauma, and acute stress. You’ll also explore how different types of crises affect a person’s mind, body, emotions, and spiritual state.
View the Degree Completion Plan.
Discipleship and Church Ministry
Liberty University’s 100% online Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling – Discipleship and Church Ministry can prepare you to serve in many positions in the local church and within other Christian ministries. You’ll be equipped to understand and improve methods for family discipleship, small group ministries, and church administration.
View the Degree Completion Plan.
Dobson Center Family Advocacy, Public Policy, and the Future
Liberty University’s online Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling – Dobson Center Family Advocacy, Public Policy, and the Future will provide you with practical tools to train up children, educate families, and empower parents. You’ll also learn how to influence public policy and advocate for traditional marriage and family standards in the public sphere. Graduates of this program are also equipped to provide godly counsel and assist in family conflict resolution.
View the Degree Completion Plan.
Dobson Center Marriage and Family Studies
Liberty’s online Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling – Dobson Center Marriage and Family Studies is offered through the James C. Dobson Center for Child Development, Marriage, and Family Studies. The program’s curriculum features lectures and study material from Dr. James C. Dobson, the world-renowned psychologist, author, radio host, and family expert. This program equips men and women to positively impact families by offering guidance on discipline strategies, healthy sexuality, and child/adolescent wellness.
View the Degree Completion Plan.
Dobson Center Parenting and Child/Adolescent Development
Liberty University’s 100% online Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling – Dobson Center Parenting and Child/Adolescent Development will help you learn biblically sound methods for assisting parents and children in a variety of situations and settings. By completing this cognate, you can empower families to grow closer and stronger as they navigate different stages of life together.
View the Degree Completion Plan.
General
Liberty University’s 100% online Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling – General is designed so that you can mix and match courses across many of our specializations and hone your skills in areas that reflect your interests – no matter how diverse they are.
View the Degree Completion Plan.
Leadership
Liberty University’s 100% online Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling – Leadership can equip you to counsel and lead those in ministry. You can learn how to develop a mission and vision for your church, as well as how to prevent ministry burnout. This cognate will enhance your effectiveness as a church leader, giving you the strategic planning and administrative skills needed to oversee Christian organizations.
View the Degree Completion Plan.
Life Coaching
Liberty’s Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling – Life Coaching can prepare you to address various situations and problems in individuals’ lives. You will focus on encouraging individuals to achieve their personal and professional goals through a variety of coaching techniques, as well as offer guidance on health, marriage, and financial issues.
View the Degree Completion Plan.
Marriage and Family
Liberty University’s 100% online Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling – Marriage and Family can equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to counsel families and couples in a variety of church and parachurch settings. 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 themselves.
View the Degree Completion Plan.
Military Resilience
Liberty University’s online Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling – Military Resilience is designed for students who want to minister to service members and their families. You will be equipped to work in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, churches, community centers, and state agencies by learning how to foster resilience in yourself and in the military members you serve.
View the Degree Completion Plan.
Pastoral Counseling
Liberty’s Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling – Pastoral Counseling provides a broad introduction to biblically sound counseling methods. This program can equip you to serve as a non-licensed counselor within the church and enable you to provide guidance on a variety of issues.
View the Degree Completion Plan.
Theology
Liberty University’s Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling – Theology provides an in-depth look at theological doctrine and principles, providing you with the biblical foundation you’ll need to provide compassionate pastoral counseling. This cognate can equip you to provide care, guidance, and comfort in a variety of church and ministry settings.
View the Degree Completion Plan.
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Not sure what to choose?
Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.
Tuition & Aid
Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.
Grad & Postgrad Divinity Block Rate (9-15 credit hours) | $2,750 |
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Grad & Postgrad Divinity Part Time (0-8.99 or over 15 credit hours) | $395/Credit |
Military Grad & Postgrad Divinity Block Rate (9-15 credit hours) | $2,475 |
Military Grad & Postgrad Divinity Part Time (0-8.99 or over 15 credit hours) | $275/Credit |
All Tuition & Fees
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Admission Information for the MA in Pastoral Counseling Degree Program
Admission Requirements
- Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
- Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited bachelor’s degree with at least a 2.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing. Applicants who have earned a master’s degree or at least 12 graduate credits from an accredited institution will be assessed on the basis of the master’s-level degree work.
- Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form.
- Admission to this program also requires:
- The School of Divinity Questionnaire (login required).
- Submission of contact information (login required) for 1 pastoral recommender.
- Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.
Preliminary Acceptance
If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:
- Be in your final term and planning to start your master’s degree after the last day of class for your bachelor’s degree.
- Complete a Bachelor’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
- Submit an official/unofficial transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show a minimum of 105 completed credit hours.
- If you are a current Liberty University student completing your undergraduate degree, you will need to submit a Degree/Certificate Completion Application.
- Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new master’s degree.
Dual Enrollment
Please see the Online Dual Enrollment page for information about starting graduate courses while finishing your bachelor’s degree.
Transcript Policies
Unofficial College Transcript Policy
Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:
- Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
- Cumulative GPA
- A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
- Degree and date conferred (if applicable)
Official College Transcript Policy
An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.
If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
Admissions Office Contact Information
Liberty University Online Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
Military
Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.
Who May Qualify?
- Active Duty
- Reserve/National Guard
- Veterans/Retirees
- Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
- Current Department of Defense Employees
Available Benefits:
- Tuition discounts – $275 per credit hour for part-time graduate and postgraduate divinity courses
- Discounted divinity block rate – $2,475 per semester*
- Additional discount for veterans who service in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $625 per course)**
- 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)
*Credits taken below 9 and above 15 credit hours per semester are charged at the part-time rate.
**Not applicable to certificates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can you do with a master’s degree in pastoral counseling?
With a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Counseling, you can provide holistic counseling services that integrate spiritual, emotional, and mental health support. This degree prepares you for roles in religious communities, hospitals, and non-profit organizations, where you can offer guidance and support to individuals navigating life’s challenges, transitions, and spiritual journeys.
How does pastoral counseling differ from traditional counseling?
While pastoral counseling includes many techniques used in traditional counseling, it uniquely incorporates spiritual and religious discussions that align with the client’s beliefs. Pastoral counselors often address issues from a perspective that considers the soul or spirit, not just the mind and body.
Inner Navigation
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