Master of Arts in Counseling
This two-year program is a specialized degree equipping persons for leadership ministry in the area of pastoral care and counseling. It is designed for individuals who wish to prepare for entry-level counseling positions and/or for more advanced study in the field of counseling. Whether students are preparing for work in a church or non-church setting, the program emphasizes counseling as a ministry. Click here to see what graduates of the Master of Arts in Counseling Degree Program are saying!
Licensure or accreditation in one of the specialized professional associations may require board examinations or clinical and academic work beyond this basic degree. Students seeking Illinois Licensed Professional Counselor status should work closely with their advisor to be sure that all academic requirements of the Illinois Department of Regulation are satisfied. Those admitted to the Master of Arts in Counseling program must not only meet all Seminary admissions requirements, but also have completed 12 hours in psychology or related social science courses at the undergraduate level. Completion of psychological profiles and/or an interview may be required. All students are admitted on a probationary basis with an evaluation for continuation in the program given at the end of the second semester. Those in the program may be required to seek and successfully complete counseling or therapy at any time during the program. Those who graduate with a Master of Arts in Counseling degree will be able to:
* Demonstrate an effective integration of Biblical and theological concerns with current psychological perspectives.
* Exercise pastoral and counseling skills in ministry to troubled persons and dysfunctional families.
* Use advanced exegetical resources to interpret the Bible.
* Conduct research and study at the graduate level in specialized areas relating to counseling ministry.
* Exhibit personal self-awareness and wholeness in the context of service to others.
* Demonstrate effective counseling skills in working within a larger clinical or ecclesiastical context.
1. The Counseling Core*
18
PC 601 Research and Administration for Counseling
3
PC 602 Basic Counseling Techniques
3
PC 603 Crisis Intervention Techniques
3
PC 663 Major Theories of Counseling/Psychotherapy
3
PC 667 Tests and Measures for Counseling
3
PC 804 Family Systems Counseling
3
2. Counseling Electives*
21
Choose any courses in counseling area totaling 21 hrs. One of the
clinical options, PC890, PC891, PC892, or PC895 must be included.
Students who seek licensure should choose courses which fulfill the
expectations of their state licensure agency.
3. The Theology-Ministry Core*
21
BI 603 -604 Interpreting Scripture I-II
6
CH 801 Implementing Restoration Movement Principles
3
LS 600 Shaping the Mind of a Leader
3
LS 601 Shaping the Heart of a Leader
3
TH 710 Insights for Ministering to Contemporary Minds
3
TH 810 Ethical and Legal Issues for Christian Leaders
3
60
Note:
* Students who have had coursework comparable to any of these core courses, may substitute another course in the same area of study, with permission of the faculty adviser. Students may also be granted up to 9 hours of “advanced standing with credit” in the program, if they have taken an equivalent college course with a grade of A or B or can demonstrate proficiency in one or more of these core courses (see Proficiency policy in Chapter 5), thereby reducing the total hours in the program from 60 to as few as 51 hours.
** The clinical options courses listed above are conducted off campus in a setting approved by the faculty adviser. If it better suits the professional development needs of the student, further counseling elective classes may be taken in the place of the clinical requirement.