Master’s in Pastoral Counseling – Community Chaplaincy Serve Your Community

36

Credit Hours

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100% online,* 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

Liberty University’s online Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling is designed to train ministers and church leaders to become Christian counselors in ministry and agency-based, non-licensure settings. Students in the online Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling will study how psychology, human nature, theory, and practice inform biblical counseling. Additionally, students will study the mental, emotional, and spiritual needs of people.

The community chaplaincy area of study for the online Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling provides Christian counseling and pastoral care training designed for public or private chaplaincy roles. The community chaplaincy area of study will cover biblical counseling practices and psychological theory necessary to becoming a Christian counselor or chaplain in a non-licensure setting.

*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

If you are a ministry professional and find that you lack the training or counseling experience needed to help people struggling with spiritual and mental health crises, completing an online Christian counseling degree like the Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling can help. If you want to branch out into a Christian counseling role, the field-specific training and biblical counseling techniques offered in the online master’s in pastoral counseling can help you guide congregations on a variety of issues.

What Are the Benefits of Liberty’s Online Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling?

  • Unlike many online Bible colleges and seminaries, Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
  • Study a balanced perspective on the theological principles that underlie psychology and develop effective Christian counseling techniques.
  • If you choose to take advantage of the optional on-campus intensives, you will receive additional, hands-on training and meet directly with your peers and professors.
  • Gain marketable, real-world experience helping people in your community with the pastoral counseling internship.
  • The online Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling falls within the School of Behavioral Sciences but receives the graduate tuition rate of just $395 per credit hour for part-time students, as well as the online seminary’s block rate. Students attending full time (9-15 credit hours) are eligible for a block rate of $2,750 per semester!*

*Credits taken above 15 credit hours for the Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling online are charged at the part-time rate.


The online Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling pairs a broad set of foundational Christian counseling skills and knowledge with field-specialized topics and hands-on skill areas. Students who pursue biblical counseling training in the online Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling can learn how the science of psychology reflects biblical principles and human nature. You will also learn how mental health treatment benefits from spiritual health.

Students in this degree program will have the opportunity to pursue hands-on training during 2 optional, on-campus intensives, and all pastoral counseling students will gain experience in their communities through the pastoral counseling internship.

Students who complete the online pastoral counseling – community chaplaincy degree will be trained to apply their pastoral care and Christian ministry skills to an official chaplain role outside of the church. Chaplain roles often differ from church leadership roles and may have restrictions based on state and federal regulations. As such, the community chaplaincy area of study provides an important overview of chaplaincy ministry and its particular requirements, as well as important, role-specific skills for professional development.

Degree Completion Plan (PDF)


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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.