Master of Arts (MA), Biblical Counseling

The Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling equips students with a profound understanding of human nature through the lens of Scripture. The program is designed for those passionate about applying biblical truths to foster emotional and spiritual well-being, and prepares graduates to offer wise, faith-driven counsel in various settings, both within and beyond the church.

Aligned with ACU’s integrated learning approach, students will leverage their real-life ministry contexts throughout their studies, ensuring immediate application and impact. The program is tailored to add impact to ministry leadership roles or for lay counseling roles and do not lead to professional counseling licensure.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the MA Biblical Counseling program, students will be equipped to apply biblical truth with wisdom and compassion, guiding individuals toward spiritual growth, emotional healing, and Christ-centered transformation in a variety of ministry and counseling contexts. Success will be demonstrated in the exercise of the following competencies:

1. Integrate Biblical Principles in Counseling: Develop a counseling philosophy and methodology rooted in a comprehensive biblical worldview.​
2. Understand Human Development: Analyze the stages of healthy human growth from a scriptural perspective.​
3. Enhance Communication: Promote healthy and effective communication patterns in relationships.​
4. Address Human Suffering: Recognize and respond to diverse patterns of suffering in our broken world with biblical wisdom.​
5. Assess Individual Callings: Assist individuals in evaluating their gifts, talents, and divine calling.
6. Develop Counseling Skills: Acquire essential counseling skills for effective ministry and leadership roles.

Total Program Hours: 30 Credit Hours

• Program Check Sheet — MA Biblical Counseling (PDF)

*NOTE: Applicants interested in completing the MA in Biblical Counseling program can evaluate a personal portfolio option for transferring ministry experience, training/education, and certifications (i.e. Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC )or Christian Counseling & Education Foundation (CCEF) certification/training) toward the MA program.

Biblical Counseling Core (12 credits)

The MA Biblical Counseling degree program is designed with a powerful core block that builds a foundational toolbox for Christ-centered compassionate care.  Core courses are as follows:

• COU506  Introduction to Biblical Counseling – Formulate and articulate a personalized philosophy of Biblical counseling with an emphasis on Scripture’s sufficiency in meeting human needs.
• COU509 Spiritual Formation & Identity – Engage the various biblical truths, spiritual disciplines, and processes that provide a foundation for personal spiritual formation.
• COU505 Methods of Biblical Change – Build a foundation of theology for biblical change and explore various biblical methods and skills to help others find gospel hope and power for life’s complex challenges.
• COU544 Helping Relationships – Develop a basic biblical framework and counseling skills for assisting others with processing emotions, building relational wisdom, and responding to conflict. 

Biblical Counseling electives (18 Credits)

The MA Biblical Counseling program is designed with a flexible elective block that allows students to select from a range of available Biblical Counseling courses to both broaden and target areas of personal focus and impact.  The following is a sample of available courses. Contact us to view all available courses or request the opportunity to develop a custom class related to a counseling topic of interest. 

• COU514 Counseling Children & Youth – An exploration of difficulties experienced by children and their parents as understood from the perspective of healthy development and biblical guidelines for parenting. 
• COU515 Counseling Grief and Loss –  Understand the multifaceted nature of grieving with hope and gain tools for working with different types of persons struggling with grief.
• COU517 Addictions – Introduces and defines the broadening scope of addictions and related issues, with a comparison and contrast between the biblical view with the secular understanding and treatment programs. 
• COU532 Career Counseling – A survey of developmental theories, decision–making paradigms, and principles for vocational guidance based on living by God’s design. 
• COU535 Group Counseling – A study of the process involved in group development, dynamics, counseling, and closure. Leadership styles, elements of community, and various strategies for facilitating healthy growth groups.
• COU539 Marriage & Family Counseling – Develop a biblical/theological template for working with marriages and families, engaging both relational competencies and practical tools for addressing common marriage and family issues. 
• COU540 Trauma & Abuse – Explore how, through Scripture, God speaks to our hearts when we encounter trauma and how his light shines into our deepest darkness to provide lasting hope and healing for those who are oppressed and harmed. 
• COU546 Psychological Disorders – Gain insights into the physical and spiritual nature of psychological disorders. Students will be better equipped to discuss the value of Scripture, psychology, and psychiatry in the life of believers facing complex spiritual, psychological, and emotional issues.