Master of Divinity (M.Div.) in Pastoral Counseling
Minister to the Needs of Others with an M.Div. in Pastoral Counseling
Do you feel called to help people by providing spiritual guidance and biblical direction? A pastoral counselor integrates spirituality, faith, and theology with psychotherapy to provide help for those in need. As a pastoral counselor, you may provide counseling for a variety of needs such as personal, pre-marital and marital, family, and faith issues.
If you have a heart for people and ministry, our M.Div. in Pastoral Counseling can give you the knowledge you need to effectively lead others through difficult life circumstances. Throughout this degree, you will also study a wide range of topics like the Old and New Testament, apologetics, church ministry, evangelism, homiletics, and theology. This biblical foundation will help you counsel others from a Christian worldview.
Pursue Your Degree with Confidence
- Liberty University is accredited by SACSCOC, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
- Liberty University’s John W. Rawlings School of Divinity is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of ATS, the Association of Theological Schools.
- Learn from theologians who have years of experience as well-respected authors, speakers, and researchers.
- We are committed to defending the authority of Scripture and conservative evangelical theology.
- Our master’s degree in theology provides hands-on experience within the local church as well as opportunities to serve with churches and organizations like the International Mission Board, Hume Lake, Samaritan’s Purse, and Second Baptist Houston.
What Will You Learn?
- Best practices in pastoral counseling
- Premarital and marital counseling
- Research, writing, and ministry preparation
- Systematic theology
Career Opportunities for Graduates of Liberty’s M.Div. in Pastoral Counseling
- Church counselor (non-licensed)
- Family pastor
- Senior pastor
Facilities and Resources Available to Divinity Students
- The Rawlings School of Divinity is the world’s largest school for religious studies and ministerial training.
- As a member of the Association of Theological Schools, Liberty’s School of Divinity stands on a solid, biblically-based foundation and a firm commitment to conservative evangelical theology.
- Liberty’s Rawlings Scriptorium Museum exhibits Christian scriptural artifacts valued at over $1 million, which are available for scholarly research and study.
- The faculty in our School of Divinity are first-rate biblical scholars and theologians in their own right. Liberty’s faculty have impacted the field of biblical scholarship since our founding, including Dr. Ed Hindson who is a fellow of the International Biographical Association in Cambridge, England.
- The option to take Monday-only classes allows residential graduate students to complete large portions of their M.Div. by attending classes 1 day a week.
- We offer multiple scholarship opportunities to our residential students, including the full-tuition Keesee Scholarship.
Admission Requirements for Graduate Divinity Degrees
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 in the final term of their bachelor’s degree
- Rawlings School of Divinity questionnaire
- Pastoral recommender contact information
- Current Liberty undergraduate students seeking preliminary acceptance into a graduate program must complete a degree completion application through their ASIST account
These rates are reflective of academic year 2024-2025. 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
ATS Commission on Accrediting
