Education Specialist (EdS) in Community Care and Counseling – International Cross-Cultural Counseling Serving Diverse Communities with Compassion

30
Credit Hours
100% online, 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Help Meet Global Needs with an EdS in International Cross-Cultural Counseling
Are you passionate about supporting people from diverse backgrounds and guiding them through life’s most difficult seasons? Liberty University’s Education Specialist (EdS) in Community Care and Counseling – International Cross-Cultural Counseling program aims to help you take the next step in your career as a compassionate, informed, and globally minded counseling professional.
This fully online EdS degree offers advanced training for those who want to provide emotional and spiritual support in international or multicultural contexts. Whether you’re working with displaced populations, engaging in global nonprofit work, or serving in ministry or missions, this program can help you develop the cultural awareness and counseling strategies needed to make a meaningful impact.
With the flexibility of online learning, this program is designed for professionals who are looking to pursue new opportunities in counseling, ministry, education, or social services. While it stands as a valuable credential on its own, this EdS can also serve as a pathway to doctoral study – such as Liberty’s EdD in Community Care and Counseling – if you choose to continue your academic journey.
Your officially conferred degree name will be Education Specialist (EdS) in Community Care and Counseling – International Cross-Cultural Counseling.






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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
Why Choose an EdS in International Cross-Cultural Counseling Online?
At Liberty, we believe that counseling is more than a profession – it’s a calling to serve, support, and walk alongside others through life’s challenges. That’s why our community care and counseling – international cross-cultural counseling program is designed to equip you with both the practical tools and cultural understanding needed to help individuals across the globe.
This program is ideal if you’ve already earned a master’s degree and want to expand your skill set without the commitment of a full doctoral program. You’ll have the opportunity to study topics such as trauma and crisis response, multicultural counseling practices, and global mental health concerns – all through a flexible format that fits your schedule.
You’ll also learn from faculty who are grounded in ethical practice and who bring real-world experience into the virtual classroom. While the program is intentionally designed to be accessible to students from all backgrounds, Liberty’s Christian worldview provides a foundation for developing integrity, empathy, and a heart for service in every area of life.
What Will You Study in an Online EdS in International Cross-Cultural Counseling?
In this program, you’ll explore the complex intersection of culture, faith, and mental health across international and cross-cultural environments. You can develop strategies to address trauma, promote resilience, and foster healing for people facing a wide range of emotional, spiritual, and psychological challenges.
You’ll also examine how to apply counseling methods in culturally diverse settings – from underserved communities to international aid organizations. Throughout your coursework, you’ll be encouraged to integrate research, practical application, and personal reflection to become a more effective leader and counselor.
In this cross-cultural counseling program, you will examine the following key areas:
- Advanced research methods and program evaluation
- Counseling techniques for working with displaced or underserved populations
- Crisis and trauma response in international and multicultural settings
- Cultural intelligence and its impact on counseling practices
- Ethics and leadership in community care
- Theoretical foundations for multicultural counseling
This program blends academic excellence with a commitment to ethical counseling standards while promoting integrity, compassion, and cultural sensitivity. Learn from professors with real-world counseling and global service backgrounds to help you chart your course to international counseling.
Potential Career Opportunities
Graduates of Liberty’s EdS in Community Care and Counseling – International Cross-Cultural Counseling may pursue roles in a variety of settings, including nonprofit organizations, government agencies, global ministries, and humanitarian aid work.
This program is not designed to lead to counseling licensure, but it can help you enhance your ability to serve in leadership, advocacy, and counseling support roles.
Career options may include:
- Community development specialist
- Crisis response specialist
- Cross-cultural counselor
- Cultural competency trainer
- Global nonprofit leader
- Humanitarian aid worker
- International outreach coordinator
- Mental health program advisor (non-licensed)
- Missions or ministry care coordinator
- Trauma support worker
Featured Courses
- EDCO 750 – Introduction to Member Care Counseling*
- EDCO 751 – Member Care from Calling to Reentry*
- EDCO 752 – Cultural Issues in Member Care Counseling*
- TRMA 800 – Child Adolescent Trauma Research Design
*Course guide coming soon
Degree Information
- This program falls under the School of Behavioral Sciences.
- View the Graduate Behavioral Sciences Course Guides (login required).
- This is a non-licensure program.
Degree Completion Plan

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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.
EdS and EdD Full Time | $610/Credit |
---|---|
EdS and EdD Part Time | $675/Credit |
Military EdS and EdD | $375/Credit |
These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
All Tuition & Fees
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Admission Information for Liberty’s EdS in Community Care and Counseling – International Cross-Cultural Counseling
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 master’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing.
- 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.
Applicants lacking a graduate-level statistics course will be required to complete CEFS 515 Research and Program Evaluation (3 c.h.), or EDUC 518 Educational Research and Assessment (3 c.h.), or its equivalent prior to EDCO 735 in the EdD
The Office of Graduate Admissions may request additional documentation while conducting admission reviews to evaluate a candidate’s record before a final admission decision can be made.
Preliminary Acceptance
If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:
- Be in your final term and planning to start your doctoral degree after the last day of class for your master’s degree.
- Complete a Master’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 transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show that you are within 6 credit hours of completion for a 30-48 credit hour master’s degree or within 9 credit hours of completion for a 49+ credit hour master’s degree.
- 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 doctoral degree.
Transcript Policies
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.
Admissions Office Contact Information
Liberty University Online Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515

Ready to Apply?
Submit your application online or over the phone.
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 – $375 per credit hour for EdS and EdD courses
- 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 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I do with an EdS in international cross-cultural counseling?
This program can help prepare you for leadership and support roles in global counseling, nonprofit organizations, humanitarian aid, international ministries, and community care. While this degree does not lead to licensure, it can enhance your ability to work in trauma support, crisis response, and culturally diverse environments – both in the U.S. and abroad.
Does this degree lead to counseling licensure?
No, this program is not designed to meet the requirements for professional counseling licensure. It is intended for individuals who already have a counseling background or those seeking non-licensed roles in cross-cultural, faith-based, or nonprofit environments.
Can this EdS program lead to a doctoral degree?
After completing your EdS degree through Liberty University, you can potentially transfer in up to 27 credits to our EdD in Community Care and Counseling.
What accreditation does Liberty University have?
Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Inner Navigation
- Overview
- What Sets Us Apart?
- Why Choose Liberty?
- What Will You Study?
- Tuition & Aid
- Admission Information
- Military
- FAQs
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