MA in Pastoral Counseling – Marriage and Family
Pursue Your Passion for Developing Healthy Marriages and Strong Family Units with Liberty’s Master’s in Pastoral Counseling
Marriage and family relationships are the foundation of a strong and thriving community – but navigating challenges within these relationships can be difficult. If you feel called to provide guidance and support to couples and families, Liberty University’s Master of Arts (MA) in Pastoral Counseling – Marriage and Family can help equip you with the knowledge and skills to serve others.
At Liberty, you’ll study topics like crisis intervention, family counseling techniques, and strategies for fostering healthy communication. Our non-licensure pastoral counseling program can help prepare you for countless positions in church, counseling, community, and hospital settings. Work to create unity, provide guidance, and help develop strong coping skills for needy people.
The non-clinical counselor program is designed for those who want to integrate biblical wisdom with practical counseling strategies to help individuals, couples, and families heal, grow, and strengthen their relationships. Whether you are already serving in ministry, looking to expand your role in church leadership, or simply passionate about supporting families through life’s challenges, this degree can help you make a lasting impact.
Credit Hours
View CoursesNext start date: Aug 18, 2025
ATS Accredited
Highlights
Highlights of Our Master’s in Marriage and Family – Pastoral Counseling Degree
Certification Opportunities
Receive opportunities to earn several certificates from the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC). These include Crisis Response, Life Coaching, and Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts (SYMBIS).
State-of-the-Art Learning Spaces
The 17-story School of Divinity Freedom Tower has many classrooms, including a high-tech room with seven projectors, an interactive classroom with teleconferencing, and a modern lab for teaching preaching skills.
Simplify Your Schedule
If you’re balancing work, family, studies, and church commitments, you can take advantage of optional Monday-only courses, giving you a flexible way to stay on track with your education while managing your busy schedule.
Ministry Scholarship
As a graduate ministerial student, you may be eligible for the Keesee Scholarship. This scholarship can significantly reduce the cost of your education, allowing you to focus more on your calling and less on financial concerns.
Career Potential
What Can You Do with an MA in Pastoral Counseling – Marriage and Family?
Liberty University’s Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling with a specialization in Marriage and Family can help prepare you for the following occupations:
- Associate pastor
- Church counselor
- Marriage and family counselor
- Non-licensed counselor
#4 Best College Campus in America
At Liberty, you’ll find an affordable, high-quality education designed to help equip students like you for the real world. Our commitment to excellence has earned us recognition as the #4 Best College Campus in America by Niche.com.
Earning your degree from a nonprofit university with state-of-the-art resources like ours can help set you apart from your peers.
Courses
What Will You Study in Our Marriage and Family – Pastoral Counseling Master’s Degree?
Our graduate students studying pastoral counseling explore the multicultural, family, and spiritual issues often faced in a pastoral setting. As a student in this program, you will receive training in solution-based models to apply various behavioral approaches and appropriate biblical teaching in your work. You will also examine the best ways to promote spiritual growth during crises and in premarital and marriage circumstances.
By specializing your degree in marriage and family, you will explore the issues surrounding familial relationships. Your courses will assess healthy problem-solving for both married and premarital couples. Additionally, our program can help prepare you to address healthy sexuality, family counseling, and counseling for women specifically.
Featured Marriage and Family Courses
PACO 603 – Premarital and Marital Counseling
PACO 618 – Advanced Marriage and Family Counseling
PACO 620 – Counseling the Adolescent and Their Families
PACO 687 – Counseling Women
Degree Information
- This program falls under the Liberty Theological Seminary
- View the Degree Completion Plan
- Check out our course catalog
- Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Accreditation
Your seminary degree is approved by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and has met rigorous accreditation standards. You can feel confident that your degree is both academically excellent and well-respected among churches, ministries, and nonprofit organizations.
BENEFITS
Why Choose Liberty’s Pastoral Counseling Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family?
Step Into a Life-Changing Ministry Role
Helping couples and families navigate pain, conflict, and crisis is a powerful way to live out your calling. By pursuing Liberty’s MA in Pastoral Counseling, you can be equipped with the practical tools and spiritual insight to help guide people through life’s most challenging seasons. Whether you’re called to the church, the community, or the mission field, this degree can help prepare you to counsel with compassion and clarity.
Study Under Leaders Who’ve Served on the Front Lines
At Liberty, you’ll study under professors who bring more than academic knowledge, they bring decades of real-world experience. Each faculty member has served for over 20 years in pastoral care, from hospital chaplaincy and marriage counseling to crisis intervention and in-home care. With doctoral degrees and a passion for ministry, they’re ready to invest in your growth as both a counselor and a Christian leader.
Put Your Training Into Practice
You’ll go beyond the classroom with a required 225-hour internship in an approved counseling-related setting. This hands-on experience will allow you to work face-to-face with individuals, couples, and groups under the supervision of experienced professionals. You won’t just study pastoral counseling, you’ll live it, with meaningful feedback and support every step of the way.
Receive Biblically Integrated, High-Quality Education
As a nonprofit Christian university, Liberty is committed to offering academically rigorous programs grounded in a biblical worldview. Our pastoral counseling degree combines professional preparation with spiritual formation, helping you grow both as a counselor and a follower of Christ. You can leave prepared to serve with excellence, integrity, and a heart for ministry.
Admissions
How do You Become a Master’s in Pastoral Counseling Student?
Every application is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and all applicants must submit the following documents and meet the minimum requirements for admission:
- Admission application
- Official transcripts showing a regionally or nationally accredited bachelor’s degree with at least a 2.0 GPA for admission in good standing
- John W. Rawlings School of Divinity Questionnaire
- Pastoral recommender contact information
- Self-certification form (for students who are in the final term of their bachelor’s degree)
- Current Liberty undergraduate students seeking preliminary acceptance into a graduate program must complete a degree completion application through their ASIST account
Have Questions?
We’ll make sure you have the information you need to take your next step.