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Female student holding a notepad and pen while meeting with a client in a counseling office Female student holding a notepad and pen while meeting with a client in a counseling office

Master of Arts in Christian Counseling Degree Online

PROGRAM START DATES

Spring 2025

Classes start on Jan. 21 and Mar. 19, 2025

Format

  • Online

Credit Hours

  • 36 with up to 27 hours in transfer credits possible


Accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS).

Deepen your ministry skills with an M.A. in Christian Counseling Online Degree

Are you called to guide others through life’s challenges, offering both spiritual and skilled counseling support from a biblical perspective? The Master of Arts in Christian Counseling at Cornerstone Theological Seminary equips pastors, lay leaders, and ministry professionals with effective counseling tools to provide theologically sound, Christ-centered health support.

Through our flexible 100% online format, you’ll gain the skills to counsel individuals, couples, and families facing personal struggles, relational challenges, or spiritual crises—all from a Christian worldview relevant for today. Deepen your impact in the church, your community, or ministry organization with the M.A. in Christian Counseling non-licensure degree designed to help you guide others toward emotional and Christ-centered spiritual wholeness.

At Cornerstone, you will:

  • Develop a comprehensive, Christ-centered approach to counseling that integrates biblical principles with practical skills.
  • Explore counseling techniques for marriage and family, group and individual settings.
  • Lead others to enhance mental health through Christ-centered spiritual formation.
  • Gain the training and non-licensure* credential you need 100% online, accredited by the Association of Theological Schools.
  • One of the most affordable private, nonprofit online Christian counseling degrees in the country.
  • Scholarships and aid are available and no GRE or GMAT is required.



Why Choose An M.A. in Christian Counseling from Cornerstone Theological Seminary?

Character, Competency, Compassion. For over 83 years, Cornerstone Theological Seminary has equipped pastors, Bible scholars, chaplains, counselors, and ministry leaders to serve with knowledge, truth and moral goodness. Grounded in a biblical Orthodox view of scripture, the seminary is committed to God’s vision of the world and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ as reflected in Cornerstone University’s doctrinal confession.

As a trusted partner to churches and ministries, Cornerstone Theological Seminary is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), while Cornerstone University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). With over 65 degrees, Cornerstone prepares students for impactful, effective ministries and careers equipped with in-demand skills that are relevant for today, including the M.A. in Christian Counseling.

*Please note that the Master of Arts in Christian Counseling is not designed to fulfill any requirements for state-licensed professional counseling. You can view Cornerstone University’s licensure-track Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree for more information about counseling licensure.

Admission Requirements

  • Application
  • Ministry reference
  • A completed bachelor’s degree with a minimum 2.5 GPA from an accredited institution

What Degree Courses Will You Study?

The M.A. in Christian Counseling 36-credit hour degree program blends counseling and theology courses to develop your professional and spiritual growth and skills. Below are some examples of the comprehensive areas of study in which you will explore and learn.

Christian Counseling Philosophy

Develop a comprehensive counseling philosophy as a form of discipleship rooted in a Christian worldview. Identify the roles of both the counselor and client and how to apply ethical, legal standards in a church or pastoral setting.

Biblical Hermeneutics

Learn how to determine the original meaning and contemporary significance of biblical texts through lecture, discussion and individual research.

Christian Spiritual Formation

Explore biblical Christianity and its relationship to faith and spiritual formation within contemporary individual, group and cultural contexts.

Old Testament Foundations

Discover historical and cultural contexts of the events and authors of the Old Testament, exploring each book’s literary features and theological emphases.

New Testament Foundations

Explore historical and cultural contexts of the events and authors of the New Testament, examining each book’s literary features and theological emphases.

Theology for Counseling I: Christian Worldview

Understand and integrate the fundamental concepts of the Christian worldview into counseling situations.

Theology for Counseling II: Kingdom of God

Apply theology to counseling scenarios supported by core biblical doctrines and reflection on the person and work of Jesus.

Human Growth & Development

Study human development from the disciplines of individual and family developmental psychology framed within a multicultural, biblical flourishing context.

Social & Cultural Foundations in Counseling

Gain insights into complex dynamics involved in counseling people from diverse cultural contexts

Group Techniques

Understand and directly apply theories and dynamics of group counseling, group formation, therapeutic factors and effective group leadership techniques.

Start Your Online Christian Counseling Degree Now and Advance Your Ministry and Career!

An enrollment counselor is ready to help you start your journey today. Cornerstone offers:

  • Accelerated admissions to get you started sooner—simple steps to walk you through.
  • Competitive tuition rates—some of the most affordable in the region.
  • Credit transfers—up to 75% in transfer credits possible.
  • Financial aid advisers to explore funding opportunities for this valuable life investment.

Start your application for a bold, influential life with your Master of Arts in Christian Counseling from Cornerstone Theological Seminary today! Contact admissions@cornerstone.edu.

Influential Careers with an M.A. in Christian Counseling.

  • Pastoral Counseling
  • Church Ministry Roles
  • Lay Counseling Ministries
  • Christian Nonprofits and Para-Church Organizations
  • Spiritual Formation Leader

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