MA Pastoral Counseling – Dobson Family Advocacy Help Families Grow Closer to God

36

Credit Hours

View Courses

100% online,* 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

Do you want to help families grow closer to God as they grow closer together? Liberty University’s 100% online Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling – Dobson Center Family Advocacy, Public Policy, and the Future will provide you with practical tools to help children, educate families, and empower parents. The skills you will develop are foundations to advocate for the rights of children and families as well as to assist families who are facing emotional and spiritual challenges. Liberty’s online pastoral counseling program will help you develop the skills you need to be a champion for Christ for families in your community.

Please note: While this degree may assist students seeking professional licensure, it does not meet all licensure requirements.

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


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What Sets Us Apart?

  • 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

Liberty University has collaborated with world-renowned psychologist, author, radio show host, and family expert Dr. James C. Dobson to create Liberty University’s James C. Dobson Center for Child Development, Marriage, and Family Studies. Through this partnership, Liberty University offers a family advocacy, public policy, and the future track for the Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling that is designed to give ministry professionals and pastors the tools to help parents and their children grow together.

We value your time at Liberty, and that is why we created a master’s degree in pastoral counseling that is offered completely online. Study online while remaining active in your job, with your family, and in your community without the worry of having to take courses on a college campus. Our flexible and affordable online format can also give you the training you need to further your career in less time than attending classes on a traditional college campus.


The core content of the online Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling provides a broad set of foundational Christian counseling skills along with field-specialized topic courses and hands-on skill areas. Graduates of this program are equipped to provide godly counsel and assist in conflict resolution. If you are passionate about making a positive impact for Christ in the lives of families, Liberty’s M.A. in Pastoral Counseling can help you get the training you need!

The Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling will provide you with a biblical worldview of human behavior and application of helping skills for a non-licensure counseling role. Through our courses, you can master essential biblical counseling skills and apply evidence-based practices in addictions and recovery, pastoral counseling, marriage and family therapy, pastoral leadership, and life coaching. With the specialized family advocacy content created in partnership with the James C. Dobson Center, you will be better equipped to apply these skills to help struggling families.

Degree Completion Plan (PDF)


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Not sure what to choose?

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

Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.

Grad & Postgrad Divinity Block Rate (9-15 credit hours) $2,750
Grad & Postgrad Divinity Part Time (0-8.99 or over 15 credit hours) $395/Credit
Military Grad & Postgrad Divinity Block Rate (9-15 credit hours) $2,475
Military Grad & Postgrad Divinity Part Time (0-8.99 or over 15 credit hours) $275/Credit

These rates also apply to the MA in Pastoral Counseling, which falls under the School of Behavioral Sciences.

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Military

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 – $275 per credit hour for part-time graduate and postgraduate divinity courses
  • Discounted divinity block rate – $2,475 per semester*
  • Additional discount for veterans who service in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $625 per course)**
  • 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)

These benefits also apply to the MA in Pastoral Counseling, which falls under the School of Behavioral Sciences.

*Credits taken below 9 and above 15 credit hours per semester are charged at the part-time rate.

**Not applicable to certificates.