Master of Arts (M.A.) in Pastoral Counseling – General
Faculty and Internships
Gain the Counseling Tools You’ll Need for an Effective Ministry
If you are looking to take the next step in your academic journey or career and have a desire to initiate church growth and discipleship, a pastoral counseling master’s degree could be for you! With various specializations available, you can be sure to earn a degree that properly equips you for ministry.
At Liberty, our mission has always been to Train Champions for Christ. Our pastoral counseling degree is a great way for us to do so. Our curriculum stresses biblical application across all of the courses you take. Whether you are learning about human sexuality or how to counsel men and women uniquely, you will gain vital insight into what the Bible teaches in these areas and how to apply that understanding in various situations.
Pursue Your Degree with Confidence
- You can pursue opportunities to earn several certificates from the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC). These certificates include Crisis Response, Life Coaching, and Saving Your Marriage Before it Starts (SYMBIS).
- Our residential graduate students benefit from an 6:1 student to professor ratio.
- Gain invaluable hands-on, face-to-face counseling experience in individual, relationship, and group therapy as you complete your internship.
What Will You Learn?
- Dynamics of marriage and family relationships
- Fundamentals of the therapeutic relationship
- Selected theories of counseling and psychotherapy
- Solution-based models for short-term counseling
- Theories and skills required to provide pastoral crisis intervention and counseling that will cultivate resiliency and promote spiritual growth
- Ways the counselor may approach marriage and family counseling as a creative, preventative, and healing ministry
Career Opportunities for Pastoral Counseling Graduates
- Associate pastor
- Chaplain
- Church counselor
- Human services specialist
- Lay leader
- Life coach
- Family counselor
- Non-licensed counselor
- Outpatient care counselor
- Teaching pastor
- Youth pastor
Admission Requirements for Our M.A. in Pastoral Counseling
Every application is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and all applicants must submit the following documents and meet the minimum requirements for admission:
- Admission application
- Official bachelor’s degree transcripts with a 2.0 GPA or higher
- Self-certification form (for students who are in the final term of their bachelor’s degree)
- John W. Rawlings School of Divinity Questionnaire
- Contact information for 1 pastoral recommender
- Current Liberty undergraduate students seeking preliminary acceptance into a graduate program must complete a degree completion application through their ASIST account
Faculty and Internships Available to Pastoral Counseling Students
- Complete a 225-hour internship in an approved, related setting.
- Gain invaluable hands-on, face-to-face counseling experience in individual, relationship, and group therapy.
- Our residential graduate students benefit from an 6:1 student to professor ratio.
- Our faculty care deeply for their students, praying for and with them throughout their academic journey.
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
Credit Hours
Available On Campus
Class Type
Residential
Transfer Credits
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Next Start Date
Aug 18, 2025
Accreditation
Liberty University is accredited by SACSCOC
