M.A. in Pastoral Counseling – Marriage & Family

What Will You Study in the Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling – Marriage and Family?

• Counseling adolescents and their families
• Healthy sexuality
• Premarital and marital counseling

Each course in our marriage and family degree is designed to help equip you with a biblical worldview of human behavior and the application of helping skills. You will be introduced to the theories and skills required to provide pastoral crisis intervention and counseling, as well as knowledge of how to address specific psychological issues affecting men, women, and children throughout their lifespans. Courses that play an important role in this degree cover spiritual formation in pastoral counseling, theories and techniques in pastoral counseling, and real-life skills through the pastoral counseling internship.  

M.A. in Pastoral Counseling – Marriage and Family Program Highlights

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’s in pastoral counseling degree from a nonprofit university with this kind of recognition can help set you apart from others in your field. 
• Most of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2025 when compared to our leading online competitors. As a nonprofit university, Liberty continues to strive to keep costs low for our students!
• 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.
• To continue our mission of providing affordable education, electronic textbooks are provided for many divinity courses** all for one convenient fee.
• Liberty University values your previously earned college credit, training, military, and on-the-job experience by offering potential course credit for life experience.
• Gain hands-on experience in your own community with the online M.A. in Pastoral Counseling program’s internship.

*Credits taken below 9 or above 15 credit hours will be charged at the part-time tuition rate.
** Electronic textbooks are not provided for PACO courses or 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 below 9 and above 15 credit hours for the master’s of pastoral counseling – marriage and family degree program are charged at the part-time rate.

Potential Career Opportunities for Master’s in Pastoral Counseling – Marriage and Family Graduates

• Church counselor
• Military chaplain
• Non-licensed counselor
• Pastoral counselor