Master of Arts Pastoral Counseling: Crisis Response and Trauma
The Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling – Crisis Response and Trauma Equips You to Help Rebuild Hurting Communities
Are you interested in a career where you can help individuals struggling with a traumatic experience? Do you want to share the gospel with people in their time of need? Look no further than Liberty University’s online Master of Arts (M.A.) in Pastoral Counseling – Crisis Response and Trauma degree.
Liberty University’s Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling – Crisis Response and Trauma, an online program, can help equip you to meet the needs of individuals, organizations, and groups who have experienced trauma, disaster, or other crises. You can obtain the skills to counsel individuals in a variety of situations from post-traumatic stress disorder to natural or man-made disasters in addition to understanding how these events can shape someone’s identity or ability to cope with life. In-person components allow you to develop hands-on experience helping others in times of need.
What Will You Study in the Online Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling?
- Acute stress, grief, and trauma and how to discern the differences between them
- Crisis and first responder training, as well as tools, skills, and techniques required in the field
- PTSD and combat-related trauma, as well as treatment methods and strategies for individuals struggling with these traumas
This M.A. in Pastoral Counseling – Crisis Response and Trauma provides courses that incorporate cutting-edge technology and up-to-date lesson plans so you can learn in-demand skills while you study on your schedule. These distance learning classes are designed to accommodate you as an online student while in-person components can be completed at an approved location near you, mitigating the need to travel far!
Crisis Response and Trauma Potential Career Options
- Chaplain
- Church counselor
- Life coach
- Pastor
M.A. in Pastoral Counseling 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 among Niche.com’s Top 5 College Campuses in America – and that commitment to excellence extends to our online students as well. Earning your online pastoral counseling degree from a nonprofit university with this kind of recognition can help set you apart from others in your field.
- 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.
- 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.
- Gain hands-on experience in your own community with the online M.A. in Pastoral Counseling program’s internship.
- Studying counseling techniques and principles from a biblical perspective can help you become uniquely qualified to assist those in crisis.
Military Benefits for the Online MA in Pastoral Counseling
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 M.A. in Pastoral Counseling program are charged at the part-time rate.
These 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

Transfer Credits
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Next Start Date
Aug 18, 2025
Accreditation
Liberty University is accredited by SACSCOC










600+ Online Degrees
With over 600 online degrees, we have something that will accommodate your dreams and calling.
Backed by a brick-and-mortar campus
Our residential campus ranked among Niche.com’s Top 5 College Campuses in America. That commitment to excellence extends to our online students as well.
Top 35% for Affordability
Most of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2025 when compared to our leading online competitors.
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