Master of Arts in 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 in Pastoral Counseling – Crisis Response and Trauma degree.
Liberty University’s Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling – Crisis Response and Trauma, a 100% online program, will equip you to meet the needs of individuals, organizations, and groups who have experienced trauma, disaster, or other crises. You will 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.
Every professor will be teaching you through a biblical worldview. In this way, you will be able to look at counseling techniques from a unique perspective that teaches you how to apply Christian principles to your future career. Your professors have had experience in the fields that they teach and will be able to provide knowledge beyond what you can learn from a textbook.
What Will You Study in the Online Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling?
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. The flexible and affordable 8-week format makes it easy to complete your courses without major disruptions to your current lifestyle. Courses available include lessons on:
- PTSD and combat-related trauma, as well as treatment methods and strategies for individuals struggling with these traumas
- 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
Crisis Response and Trauma Potential Career Options
- Chaplain
- Church counselor
- Life coach
- Pastor
MA 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.
- The majority of tuition for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs has not increased in 9 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 $2,750. 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.
- You’ll be able to complete our Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling – Crisis Response and Trauma online in as little as 1.5 years.
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 – $275 per credit hour for graduate courses
- Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $625 per course)
- Discounted divinity block rate: $2,475 per semester – only $165/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.
Credit Hours

Transfer Credits
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Next Start Date
Jun 23, 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.
No tuition increase for 9 years
We want to help you pursue your goals – so while tuition rates at most universities have continued to increase over the years, the majority of our rates haven’t.
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Hear from our Graduates
“The best part of my LU experience has been my growing faith formation through my developing educational understanding, as an aspiring school administrator.”
Megan Schultz, EdD School Administration & Supervision
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Morgan Schlesselman, Master’s in Public Policy
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James, Master of Divinity