MA in Pastoral Counseling – Pastoral Counseling Sow Seeds of Healing: Cultivate Your Calling

36

Credit Hours

View Courses

100% online,* 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

You are fascinated with psychology and the intricacies of the human mind. You love working in a ministry setting and sharing the Gospel with other people. You want to combine your passion for psychology and theology into a career that lets you bring hope and healing to those in your community.

If that sounds like you, Liberty’s online Master of Arts (MA) in Pastoral Counseling – Pastoral Counseling can help. Our program is designed to train ministry professionals and church leaders to become Christian counselors in churches and non-licensure agencies. With the pastoral counseling cognate, you can learn how to help people of various ages and backgrounds thrive mentally, spiritually, and emotionally.

Students in Liberty University’s counseling program will study clinically and biblically sound methods for understanding human nature, responding to challenging life circumstances, and providing guidance that addresses the root of human struggles. Whether you are already serving as a ministry professional or just getting started in the field, our M.A. in Pastoral Counseling can help equip you to fill a variety of Christian counseling roles.

Please note that the online Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling is not designed to fulfill clinical requirements for state-licensed professional counseling. Please see the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling for a fully licensure-track clinical counseling program.

*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.

ATS Accreditation

Niche Best Colleges

Ranked in the Top 10% of Niche.com’s Best Online Schools in America

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 already a ministry professional and want to branch out into pastoral counseling, our online Christian counseling degree can help you aid people who are struggling with spiritual and mental health crises. This program will help build on your previous ministry experience so you can provide the best possible pastoral care to those in your church community.

If you’re worried that school will get in the way of your other commitments and priorities, we have just what you need. This degree is offered 100% online, and the courses have no set login times — which means you can complete your classes from the comfort of your home and stay invested in your family and career while earning your degree.

Our pastoral counseling professors have years of experience working in professional ministry settings. They are ready and eager to share their expertise with you as you take this important next step in your academic journey. With their guidance, you can develop a deeper understanding of how to meet people’s spiritual and psychological needs.


This degree contains a mix of core courses and the pastoral counseling cognate. By completing this general track, you can develop a flexible skill set and potentially pursue many different types of counseling roles. The pastoral counseling area of study will cover a wide variety of counseling and pastoral care topics, and you can tailor your degree to fit your unique ministry needs.

Explore best methods for addressing spiritual and mental health issues in your congregation. In this program, you can learn how to understand personhood, suffering, and human nature through the lens of both psychology and theology. You’ll also examine how meeting people’s spiritual needs is a vital part of addressing their mental and emotional challenges.

Our pastoral counseling courses cover many essential topics, including crisis intervention, marriage and family counseling, spiritual formation, healthy sexuality, and multicultural issues in counseling. Whether you want to counsel couples, families with children, elderly people, or women, our M.A. in Pastoral Counseling can help. You’ll dive into practical methods for helping people of all ages work through grief, trauma, and the everyday hardships of life. By completing an internship, you can gain practical, hands-on experience.

Partner with us and prepare to serve as a Champion for Christ in your church and community.

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

Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

All Tuition & Fees


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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)

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

**Not applicable to certificates.

Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.