MA Pastoral Counseling | Marriage and Family

Credit Hours

Online,* 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

Next Start Dates: January 19, 2026 | February 16, 2026 | March 23, 2026

Help Heal Broken Marriages and Families by Earning Your Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling – Marriage and Family

If you want to help others in ministry or agency-based settings, then conferring Liberty University’s online Master of Arts (MA) in Pastoral Counseling – Marriage and Family degree might be a great next step for you! Our MA in Pastoral Counseling – Marriage and Family can help equip you with the knowledge and skills critical for offering pastoral counseling to families and individuals in a variety of church and parachurch settings.

This online degree is also a valuable option if you want to further your education and pastoral counseling skills to further your career. It is important to note that this is a non-licensure program that is suitable for ministry and agency-based professionals, as well as students just entering the field. If you want to pursue licensed counseling, we invite you to review our Master of Marriage and Family Therapy degree.

*Some exclusions apply. Please refer to our exclusions page for more information.

Accreditation

Liberty Theological Seminary, as part of Liberty University’s John W. Rawlings School of Divinity, is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). Your seminary degree is 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.

Backed by a brick-and-mortar campus ranked as Niche.com’s #2 Best College Campus in America for 2026

Private Nonprofit University
600+ Online Degrees
No Standardized Testing for Admission
Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

Top 10 Reasons to Choose Liberty

Why Choose Liberty’s Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling – Marriage and Family Online Program?

If you are already a ministry professional and find that you need more training to help people struggling with spiritual and mental health crises, then earning an online pastoral counseling degree like the online Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling can help you get the tools to continue your career journey.

This program is designed to build on your ministry experience to support your pastoral counseling and care role, as well as to receive important life coach training. The field-specific training and biblical counseling techniques in the online Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling can help provide much-needed support for pastoral counseling in a variety of settings.

The online Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling can give you training in pastoral counseling for families and marriages that will help you start a new ministry or expand your current ministry scope. Liberty’s James C. Dobson Center for Child Development, Marriage, and Family Studies will ensure that your ministry training is rooted in field-tested practices and sound pastoral counseling studies.

Please note that the online Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling program is not designed to fulfill clinical counseling requirements. You can view Liberty University’s licensure-track Master of Marriage and Family Therapy degree for more information about counseling licensure.

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

The Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling – Marriage and Family degree is designed with core content in pastoral counseling ministry, while also providing specialized marriage and family degree courses. Each of the courses within the degree is designed to equip you with a biblical worldview of human behavior and the application of pastoral counseling skills. Not only will you be introduced to the theories and skills required to provide pastoral crisis intervention and counseling, but you will also develop the skill sets to address specific psychological issues that apply to men, women, and children throughout their lifespan.

Potential Career Opportunities

Associate Pastor
Church Counselor
Non-Licensed Marriage and Family Counselor
Non-licensed Counselor

After completing our master’s degree in pastoral counseling – marriage and family, graduates can have the opportunity to obtain or advance their positions in ministry, lay church counseling, chaplaincy, and local, agency-based settings.

Additional requirements may be necessary for licensure or practice in these roles. Liberty University does not guarantee employment.

Featured Courses

Degree Information

Degree Completion Plan

Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.

Request Information

Tuition & Aid

At Liberty University, a private Christian education is less expensive than you think. Over the last 10 years, Liberty University’s Online Program has only raised its standard tuition costs by less than 5% – and most of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2025 when compared to our leading online competitors.

Grad & Postgrad Divinity Block Rate (9-15 credit hours)	$2,850
Grad & Postgrad Divinity Part Time (1-8.99 or over 15 credit hours)	$410/Credit
Military Grad & Postgrad Divinity Block Rate (9-15 credit hours)	$2,575
Military Grad & Postgrad Divinity Part Time (1-8.99 or over 15 credit hours)	$290/Credit

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.

All Tuition & Fees

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Financial Aid Forms & Eligibility

Scholarship Opportunities

Admission Information for Our MA in Pastoral Counseling – Marriage and Family

Admission Requirements

Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited bachelor’s degree with at least a 2.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing. Applicants who have earned a master’s degree or at least 12 graduate credits from an accredited institution will be assessed on the basis of the master’s-level degree work.
- Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form.
Admission to this program also requires:
- The School of Divinity Questionnaire (login required).
- Submission of contact information (login required) for 1 pastoral recommender.
Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.

Preliminary Acceptance

If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:

Be in your final term and planning to start your master’s degree after the last day of class for your bachelor’s degree.
Complete a Bachelor’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
Submit an official/unofficial transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show a minimum of 105 completed credit hours.
If you are a current Liberty University student completing your undergraduate degree, you will need to submit a Degree/Certificate Completion Application.
Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new master’s degree.

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy

Transcript Policies

Unofficial College Transcript Policy

Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:

Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
Cumulative GPA
A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
Degree and date conferred (if applicable)

Official College Transcript Policy

An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.

If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Admissions Office Contact Information

Submit your application online or over the phone.

Start Online Application

Apply by phone: (800) 424-9595

Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.

Who May Qualify?

Active Duty
Reserve/National Guard
Veterans/Retirees
Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
Current Department of Defense Employees

Available Benefits:

Tuition discounts – $290 per credit hour for part-time graduate and postgraduate divinity courses
Discounted divinity block rate – $2,575 per semester*
Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder **
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 per semester are charged at the part-time rate.

**Not applicable to certificates, postgraduate, or doctoral programs.

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.

View Military Benefits

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Liberty University’s online seminary, the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity, unique?

The Liberty Theological Seminary, part of the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity, has experienced pastoral counselors and ministry professionals who teach practical ministry skills while imparting deep theological teaching.

Learn from content developed by renowned biblical scholars from the Liberty Theological Seminary, such as Dr. Elmer L. Towns and Dr. Gary R. Habermas.

Are there other similar online degree programs?

Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling – Dobson Center Marriage and Family Studies – This marriage and family studies degree is offered online and features lectures and material from world-renowned psychologist, author, radio host, and family expert, Dr. James C. Dobson. The overarching goal of the program is to equip men and women with knowledge to positively impact the family and society.
Master of Marriage and Family Therapy – Liberty’s marriage and family therapy degree provides you with a strong understanding of counseling principles and strategies to prepare you to seek licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist. Our courses will provide you with a thorough background in individual and group counseling theories and techniques, as well as clinical practice. In our MA in Marriage and Family Therapy, an emphasis is placed on the understanding of ethical, professional, and legal issues in counseling.

Are you ready to change your future?

Apply Now

App Fee Waived This Week*

Request Information

*Some restrictions may occur for this promotion to apply. This promotion also excludes active faculty and staff, military, non-degree-seeking, DGIA, Continuing Education, WSB, and certificate students.

Choose a Program Level

Choose a program level

Associate

Bachelor’s

Master’s

Doctorate

Certificate

Select a Field of Study

Select a field of study

Select a Program

Select a program

Change

Legal First Name

Enter legal first name

Legal Last Name

Enter legal last name

Email

Enter an email address

Phone

Enter a phone number

Full Address

Enter an address

Apt., P.O. Box, or can’t find your address?Enter it manually instead.

Country

Select a Country

Street Address

Enter Street Address

City

Enter City

State

Enter State

ZIP/Postal Code

Enter Zip Code

Back to automated address search

Start my application now for FREE

You will be automatically taken to the application once you submit your request for information

By submitting contact information through this form, I agree that Liberty University and its affiliates may call and/or text me about its offerings by any phone number I have provided and may provide in the future, including any wireless number, using automated technology.

Message and data rates may apply. For additional information, text HELP to 49595 or 49596. You may opt-out at any time by sending STOP to 49595 or 49596. Visit for Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Chat Request Info Apply

MA in Pastoral Counseling – Marriage and Family Revive Hope, Restore Families

Help Heal Broken Marriages and Families by Earning Your Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling – Marriage and Family

Accreditation

What Sets Us Apart?

Why Choose Liberty’s Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling – Marriage and Family Online Program?

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

Potential Career Opportunities

Featured Courses

Degree Information

Not sure what to choose?

Tuition & Aid

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Admission Information for Our MA in Pastoral Counseling – Marriage and Family

Admission Requirements

Preliminary Acceptance

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy

Transcript Policies

Admissions Office Contact Information

Ready to Apply?

Military

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Liberty University’s online seminary, the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity, unique?

Are there other similar online degree programs?

Are you ready to change your future?

Request Information About a Program

Request Info About Liberty University Online

Choose a Program Level

Select a Field of Study

Select a Program

Next: Contact Info

Legal First Name

Legal Last Name

Email

Phone

Full Address

Country

Street Address

City

State

ZIP/Postal Code

Request Information