Master of Arts in Religion Pastoral Counseling
Our Master of Arts in Religion – Pastoral Counseling Degree Trains You to Bring Spiritual Growth to Your Congregation
If you are called to ministry, you have the incredible opportunity to serve and guide people through every stage of life. Pastors and church leaders play a vital role in shaping faith communities, offering biblical wisdom, and helping others grow spiritually and emotionally. Just like you, we understand the weight and privilege of that calling — and we’re passionate about helping you prepare to fulfill it.
At Liberty University, we are committed to meeting the academic and spiritual needs of our students through a Christ-centered education. Our 100% online Master of Arts (M.A.R.) in Religion – Pastoral Counseling degree can help provide the flexibility you need to balance ministry, family, and studies while gaining practical skills that can strengthen your leadership.
Through your pastoral counseling courses, you can learn how to integrate biblical principles with real-world applications, gaining insight into human behavior, emotional wellness, and spiritual care. By combining theological training with hands-on counseling knowledge, this degree can help equip you to offer guidance, hope, and compassion to your congregation and community.
What Will You Study in the Online Master of Arts in Religion Degree in Pastoral Counseling?
- Apologetics and theology
- Biblical interpretation and hermeneutics
- Christian history and discipleship
- Faith-based counseling methods
- Marriage and family ministry
In this program, you’ll take a deep dive into both the academic and practical aspects of ministry as you learn to serve people with greater compassion and insight. Your studies can help you think critically about how faith shapes human behavior, prepare you to guide others through personal and spiritual challenges, and strengthen your ability to teach biblical truth in diverse ministry settings. Each course is designed to help you connect theology to real-world practice so that your service reflects both sound doctrine and genuine care for others.
Potential Career Options with an MAR Degree in Pastoral Counseling
- Adjunct religion instructor
- Associate pastor
- Church education administrator
- K-12 religion instructor (non-licensure)
- Lay ministry leader
- Missionary
Benefits of the M.A.R. in Pastoral Counseling Degree
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:
- Our online programs are backed by our brick-and-mortar campus – ranked as Niche.com’s #2 Best College Campus in America for 2026 – and that commitment to excellence extends to our online students as well. Earning your online Master of Arts in Religion — Pastoral Counseling degree from a nonprofit university with this kind of recognition can help set you apart from others in your field.
- Liberty University’s 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 $2,850. It’s our way of supporting all you do to serve others.
- Online undergraduate tuition rates have been frozen for the last 10 years. While many other online colleges have raised tuition, Liberty has been able to keep costs low as a nonprofit university.
- To continue our mission of providing affordable education, electronic textbooks are provided for many divinity courses* all for one convenient fee.
*Electronic textbooks are not provided for courses that fall under departments outside the School of Divinity.
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 – $290 per credit hour for graduate courses
- Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder
- Discounted divinity block rate: $2,575 per semester – only $172/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 above 15 credit hours for the online Masters of Arts in Religion are charged at the part-time rate.
Cited tuition rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
Credit Hours
Available Online
Class Type
100% online, 8-week courses
Transfer Credits
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Next Start Date
Jan 19, 2026
Accreditation
ATS Commission on Accrediting
