• Completing our online Doctor of Education (EdD) in pastoral care and counseling program can give you a practice-focused degree that focuses on solving real-world problems with advanced research — in contrast to most Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Counseling programs, which emphasize more theoretical research.
• Our EdD in Community Care and Counseling online degree program does not require you to have current state licensure for clinical counseling. However, if you are a licensed counselor or social worker, our doctorate in pastoral care and counseling can help advance your skills and knowledge so you can bolster your effectiveness.
• Our online EdD in Community Care and Counseling degree’s integrated dissertation allows you to work toward significant parts of your dissertation research while you complete your online course content, giving you a clear, step-by-step path to finishing your doctoral studies in as little as 2.5 years.
• Completing our EdD in Community Care and Counseling online degree’s integrated dissertation allows you to focus your research on a real-world human services issue, giving you the opportunity to put your academic work into motion to help real communities.
• Our pastoral care studies degree is offered 100% online, so you won’t have to relocate or take time off from work to attend on-campus classes. We’re committed to offering high-quality programs that let you continue your education without giving up your other priorities.

Pastoral counselors offer a unique, well-rounded approach to counseling and human suffering. While clinical counselors focus primarily on people’s mental and emotional needs, pastoral counselors also recognize the importance of spiritual matters. They help people find lasting healing by offering biblical guidance that addresses spiritual, mental, and emotional issues.

Maybe you are a current pastoral counselor seeking additional credentials — or perhaps you’re a licensed clinical counselor or pastor looking to pursue Christian counseling roles for the first time. Either way, Liberty University’s community care and counseling EdD can help you provide effective care to those in your congregation and community.

Typically, a PhD in Pastoral Counseling online focuses on the theoretical aspects of counseling to help equip you for top-level roles in teaching, research, and academia. Liberty’s EdD in Community Care and Counseling – Pastoral Counseling also provides opportunities for you to conduct original research and possibly teach at the college level. However, our doctorate in pastoral care and counseling is a more practical, vocational degree that is designed to help you gain critical skills for real-world application.

Liberty University’s pastoral counseling doctorate can be completed in about 2.5 years. We offer a fast, flexible path to graduation that lets you earn your degree without putting your life on hold. Our 100% online format can help you reach your academic goals while staying invested in your family, job, and community.

Our EdD in pastoral counseling focuses primarily on effective counseling methods and theories. If you want a more ministry-focused degree that also provides training in biblical counseling, our DMin in Pastoral Counseling may be a better fit for you. Both degrees can help you provide valuable care to those around you — you’ll just need to evaluate which one better fits your interests and career goals!

Liberty’s pastoral community counseling degree is a non-licensure program that does not require licensure for admission. Our program is open to both licensed counselors and non-licensed professionals alike!