Master of Arts in Counseling Ministries

Note:  This program will begin to be phased out in 2008 as we launch our new Graduate Counseling program leading to professional licensure.  Please contact Lori Garde at 260-359-4039 or lgarde @ huntington.edu for additional information.

The Master of Arts in Counseling Ministries is designed to develop the counseling knowledge and skills needed for those who desire to bring healing and hope to hurting people as counselors in churches or para-church organizations. This program will prepare you for church counseling, hospital chaplaincy, crisis pregnancy centers, family case management, or other counseling positions which do not require professional licensure.

View Our:

• Goals

• Program Objectives

• Core Curriculum

• Counseling Ministries Courses

We want to help our students:

• To grow spiritually and psychologically so that you will be more competent in your service to others.

• To create a concern for the spiritual and psychological needs of others and an appreciation for the differences between people.

• To acquaint you with those methods and conclusions of counseling which are relevant and applicable to the helping and healing ministry of the church.

• To enhance counseling skills and interpersonal relationships.

• To acquaint you with the areas of tension and harmony between Scripture and scientific psychology and to suggest approaches to the resolution of differences.

 “I thoroughly enjoy my classes at the Graduate School.  They are challenging, enlightening and energizing all at once!”

Dona Battisfore-Krebs, Current Student

Program Objectives:
To prepare graduate students for biblical and psychological counseling competency dealing with the emotional, social, and spiritual needs within the Christian community.

• Graduates of the Counseling program are expected (a) to articulate a philosophy of counseling ministry base upon the integration of biblical, empirical, historical and social science research, (b) to understand the most widely practiced counseling methods and principles, (c) to design and implement assessment strategies of ministry outcomes and processes that are consistent with the ultimate biblical ends of ministry, and (d) to know the dynamics of psychological and spiritual healing.

• Students are expected (a) to increase their attentiveness to their personal spiritual formation, (b) to demonstrate an understanding of biblical and theological foundations for counseling, (c) to know the value and practice of prayer, scripture, confession, restitution, and absolution, and (d) to know the role of the Holy Spirit in the counseling process and in spiritual warfare.

• Students are expected (a) to know how to be proactive in preventing problems from developing within the family structure, (b) to utilize small group peer counseling for help and healing, (c) to understand the causes for family dysfunction and understand the paths for help and healing, (d) to know how to establish objectives and goals for each counselee, and (e) to administer basic psychological tests and interpret measurement outcomes to their counselees.

• Students are expected (a) to know the importance of confidentiality, (b) to know the value of record keeping, (c) to know the legal issues involved with a counseling ministry, (d) to know when to refer a counselee for more intense therapy, and (e) to assess their own counseling performance.

Achievement in these areas is measured by classroom interaction, academic papers, case studies, supervised training, personal interviews, accumulated material in the ministry portfolio, the student’s mentoring, and the ministry culmination project. 

Core Curriculum:
The M.A. Program in Counseling Ministries includes a basic 11-hour Ministry Core, an 18-hour Counseling Core as well as an 9-hour Biblical Core plus 10 hours of counseling electives.  The Core Curriculum of the Graduate School helps students in all programs attain the understanding and skills necessary for effective leadership and biblical faithfulness while  integrating important ministry values.  

Counseling Ministries Courses:

Students pursuing a M.A. in Counseling Ministries will also complete 18 hours of Counseling Ministries courses and 7 hours of Counseling electives.

Course descriptions are available on-line

* Students may demonstrate proficiency in this area by 1) having a theology course at the undergraduate level with at least a B- grade; 2) passing the proficiency exam administered by the graduate school; 3) taking the class, which will add hours to your program. 

** CM 625 is a prerequisite for this course.
 

Note:  This program will begin to be phased out in 2008 as we launch our new Graduate Counseling program leading to professional licensure.  Please contact Lori Garde at 260-359-4039 or lgarde @ huntington.edu for additional information.

Prospective students should also consider the following Master's degree from Huntington University:

• Master's Degree in Discipling Ministries with a Specialization in College Student Development