Master of Divinity (M.Div.) – Pastoral Counseling

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Master of Divinity (M.Div.) – Pastoral Counseling

Overview
What You Will Learn
Careers
Benefits
Military

Minister to Others with an M.Div. in Pastoral Counseling

Pastors and ministry leaders often find themselves in a counseling role, helping believers work through complex issues such as sexuality, grief, and marital struggles. You can ensure you are prepared to guide your congregation through these and other concerns with Liberty University’s Master of Divinity (M.Div.) in Pastoral Counseling degree. Liberty’s M.Div. degree offers you a flexible and affordable education that will give you a foundation in biblical counseling and pastoral care to help you communicate biblical truth in a way that speaks to the heart of the issue.

Master Of Divinity MDiv Tuition Comparison ChartLiberty University’s Master of Divinity in Pastoral Counseling degree is offered 100% online, and the tuition for this program has not increased in 9 years, making Liberty’s degree a realistic option for busy ministry professionals. You can continue your present ministry while furthering your ministry skills through the M.Div. in Pastoral Counseling program and more effectively disciple others in your current ministry as you learn and apply counseling principles.

What Will You Learn in Our M.Div. in Pastoral Counseling?

  • Study foundational doctrines for Christian counselors
  • Examine multicultural issues in pastoral care and counseling
  • Learn a research-informed biblical standard for healthy sexuality
  • Study unique issues in counseling such as end-of-life care

Because the pastoral counseling M.Div. is part of the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity, you will be equipped with a foundation in core Master of Divinity courses like hermeneutics, discipleship ministries, and systematic theology. Your pastoral counseling area of study adds classes specialized in giving you an understanding of specific counseling issues likely to be encountered in ministry. In your specialization, you will be able to customize your pastoral counseling courses to best suit your specific ministry needs.

Our professors have real-world experience in ministry and are dedicated to helping you grow into a more effective servant of Christ throughout your M.Div. degree program courses. They facilitate interactive online learning environments to give you the opportunity to ask questions and connect with other online students.

Potential Careers for M.Div. in Pastoral Counseling Graduates

  • Church counselor (non-licensed)
  • Family pastor
  • Senior pastor

Benefits of Pursuing Liberty University’s M.Div. in Pastoral Counseling

As a leader in distance education since 1985, we understand what it takes to create a flexible and affordable education for busy people. Since we have been investing in distance and online learning for decades, our experience has taught us how to streamline our degree options so you can focus on what really matters to you. While many schools offer online degrees, we believe Liberty stands out.

Here’s what sets us apart:

  • We are recognized by multiple institutions for our academic quality, affordability, and accessibility. Our commitment to excellence also helped us rank in the top 10% of Niche.com’s best online schools in America. Earning your online degree from a nonprofit university with this kind of recognition can help set you apart from others in your field.
  • Liberty University’s John W. Rawlings School of Divinity has been accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). Your divinity degree has been 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.
  • Your ministry matters – so when you take 9-15 credit hours per semester in your divinity program, you’ll pay a discounted block rate of $2,750. It’s our way of supporting all you do to serve others.
  • The majority of tuition for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs has not increased in 9 years. While many other online colleges have raised tuition, Liberty has been able to keep costs low as a nonprofit university. 
  • You can complete the Master of Divinity in Pastoral Counseling degree program in as little as 2 years!

Military Benefits

Service is important to us, so whether you’re currently serving in the Armed Forces, have served, or are married to someone who serves, we’re here to serve you. Liberty’s military benefits are available to:

  • Active duty service members of the U.S. Armed Forces
  • Reserve/National Guard
  • Veterans/retirees
  • Spouses of service members and veterans/retirees
  • Current Department of Defense employees

We are proud to support you in your pursuit of a flexible and affordable online education by offering you the following benefits: 

  • Tuition discounts – $275 per credit hour for graduate courses
  • Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $625 per course)
  • Discounted divinity block rate: $2,475 per semester – only $165/credit at 9-15 credit hours*
  • 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 for the online Master of Divinity are charged at the part-time rate.

75

Credit Hours

Class Type

100% online, 8-week courses

Interested in studying on campus?

Transfer Credits

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

Next Start Date

May 13, 2024

Accreditation

ATS Commission on Accrediting

“In the times in which we’re living today, Liberty University’s mission, the mission of training up a generation of Champions for Christ in literally every occupation, has never been more important.”

FORMER VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE

Experience That Matters to You

As an accredited Christian college with a 7,000-acre campus in Lynchburg, Virginia, Liberty University offers you an education that is both academically challenging and rooted in a biblical worldview.

At Liberty, you’ll benefit from 35+ years of learning, growing, adapting, and innovating for the distance learner — and more than a decade of researching the needs of the online student. You can be confident that we’ve taken the time to learn what’s important to you.

And what’s that?

  • Affordability
  • Accessibility
  • Academic Quality

These important factors challenged us to find new financial solutions, get ahead of industry trends, and blaze trails into cutting-edge career fields — and it’s paid off. That’s the difference experience makes.

 

Ranked in the top 10% of Niche.com’s best online schools in America and recognized by multiple institutions for academic quality, affordability, and accessibility.

Why Choose Liberty University?

Enjoy Flexible Courses

Choose from a wide variety of programs at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral level, most of which are 100% online*. With an 8-week format and 8 start dates per year, it’s easy to fit your courses around your schedule!

* Some exclusions apply. Please refer to our exclusions page for more information.

Maximize Your Time

Start and finish your degree faster! Liberty requires no standardized testing for admission, and you can transfer previous course credit — transfer in up to 75% of a bachelor’s degree and up to 50% of a master’s, postgraduate, or doctoral degree — or discover how your life, career, or military experience may count toward your college degree.

Grow in Your Faith

All of our courses are taught from a Christian perspective, and our faculty see themselves as mentors. Our mission is to Train Champions for Christ — we’re committed to championing you as you study to go further in your field, become a leader in your industry, or start a new career.

Access Academic Support

Throughout your educational journey, you will have access to academic resources that will aid in the completion of your degree. Services include our online library, writing center, tutoring, study aids, IT assistance, 30+ tutorial videos, live webinars, and personalized help from our academic advising team.

An Online Education with On-Campus Benefits

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Why We’re Nonprofit

As a nonprofit (not-for-profit) university, Liberty is in the business of training skilled professionals to make a difference in the world – not gaining profit, revenue, or producing dividends for shareholders. In keeping with our commitment to your education, we invest our resources back into degree programs and into your student experience.

While many other online colleges have raised tuition, Liberty has been able to keep costs low as a nonprofit university and has not increased tuition for 9 straight years. Lower tuition means less student loan debt for students.

For Liberty University, nonprofit is more than a status; it is a valuable opportunity to invest in the lives of students who will go out and impact the world.

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Financing Options

Financial Aid

Nearly 80% of all Liberty students in an online program are awarded financial aid. Virginia residents may qualify for additional aid — learn more!

Corporate Tuition Assistance

Deferred – If your company reimburses you for the cost of your education, you pay only a portion of your balance up front. You submit your grades to your employer who pays you, and then you pay the remaining balance for your classes.

Tuition Discounts

Qualified military service members, veterans, and their spouses can receive up to 55% off their tuition rate for eligible programs!

Contact one of our Admissions Counselors for more information by calling (800) 424-9595.

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