MAR in Pastoral Counseling Degree Online Heal Hearts with Faith

60

Credit Hours

View Courses

100% online, 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

Are you a ministry professional seeking graduate-level training in biblical counseling? Do you enjoy learning about the relationship between Christianity and psychology? Are you passionate about ministering to the mental, emotional, and spiritual needs of those around you? If so, Liberty’s online Master of Arts in Religion (MAR) – Pastoral Counseling degree may be right for you!

Throughout this program, you’ll study core topics in theology, biblical studies, and ministry practice. Our goal is to help you explore rewarding ministry opportunities in churches, parachurch settings, and nonprofit settings. Additionally, our MAR in Pastoral Counseling degree online can help you prepare for future academic studies or pursue employment in higher education.

Learn how to provide effective pastoral care and counseling. With Liberty’s religion and pastoral counseling master’s degree, you can prepare to help meet the personal and spiritual needs of people in your ministry team and congregation. Partner with us and gain the tools you need to pursue God’s calling on your life.


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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

As an accredited university, Liberty seeks to offer online programs that blend flexibility, affordability, and high-quality academics. Our goal is to help equip you with the skills you need to impact the world for Christ. With our 100% online format, you can complete your MAR in Pastoral Counseling at Liberty University without putting your life on hold.

Liberty has been a pioneer in distance education since 1985. A lot has changed since then, but our commitment to Training Champions for Christ has not. Our online courses have no set login times, so you can complete your assignments on your own schedule. You’ll also have the freedom to stay invested in your family and job while achieving your academic goals.

Throughout this degree program, you’ll study under faculty who have years of experience working in ministry and pastoral counseling. Our professors are firmly rooted in the Christian faith and committed to helping you thrive in your career. With their guidance, you can develop the practical skills needed to serve the people in your congregation and community. And, because all of our courses are taught from a biblical perspective, you can be confident that your approach to counseling will be grounded in Scripture.

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

Liberty’s master’s degree in pastoral counseling online offers a mix of core religion classes and specialized pastoral counseling courses. You can enrich your understanding of Christian theology while learning how to minister to people’s psychological and spiritual needs from a biblical perspective. With this knowledge, you can prepare for a variety of ministry opportunities both inside and outside the church.

Prepare to conduct effective ministry in a variety of settings. The core of this program covers important topics in apologetics, the history of Christianity, discipleship, hermeneutics, and theology. You can also explore methods for fostering spiritual growth among believers, preparing sermons, and witnessing to non-believers.

Within the pastoral counseling specialization, you’ll explore how psychology and theology relate to each other so you can build a solid theoretical and practical foundation for faith-based counseling. Our program also introduces a solution-based model for short-term counseling that incorporates facilitation skills, cognitive behavioral approaches, and biblical teaching. By studying essential aspects of premarital and marital counseling, you can prepare to help couples work through challenges and grow stronger together.

After earning this pastoral counseling master’s degree, you may want to pursue our online Doctor of Ministry (DMin).

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.

Electronic textbooks are provided for many divinity courses* all for one convenient fee. To continue our mission of providing affordable education, this fee is waived for students who enroll by Summer 2024 D-term.

*Electronic textbooks are not provided for courses that fall under departments outside the School of Divinity.

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.


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 – $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.