Master of Arts in Counseling

Oversight/Location of the Program within the Seminary: School of Practical Theology

Introductory Statement of Program Goal: The purpose of the Master of Arts in Counseling (M.A.C.) program is to offer instruction in the theory and practice of professional counseling within a Christian worldview. The program is designed to prepare graduates to (1) integrate biblical and theological understanding with historical and contemporary counseling theory and practice and (2) to meet the academic and professional standards of relevant state licensure boards and national counseling accrediting organizations.

DEGREE PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

Having successfully completed the Master of Arts in Counseling Degree Program, graduates should be able to:

Demonstrate skills in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of emotional and mental disorders with sensitivity to cross-cultural situations.
Comprehend ethical and legal obligations relative to professional counseling.
Apply relevant truths discovered through biblical and theological studies, psychological and other behavioral sciences so as to enhance their work with clients.
Utilize self-knowledge, personal faith, and moral reflection to facilitate their work with clients.
Demonstrate enhanced understanding and commitment to personal and social holiness through practices of moral, personal, and spiritual formation, in a context of accountability to a community of faith, and dependence of the Spirit of Christ.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

For admission requirements, see the section on Academic Information.

COUNSELING ADMISSIONS PROCEDURES

Submitted materials that give evidence of a potential to develop the personal and professional skills necessary for counseling, and an intention to engage in counseling as a significant part of one's chosen vocation.
Completion of tests and inventories for evaluation by the Faculty of the Department of Counseling and Pastoral Care ($40 fee). GPA must be verified before tests and inventories can be scheduled.
A minimum Grade Point Average of 3.00/4.00 at graduate or undergraduate level. Entry requirement may also be met by completion of 9 hours at graduate level with

G.P.A. of 3.0 or above.
A personal interview with a member of the Faculty of the Department of Counseling and Pastoral Care.

Due to limited enrollment, not all applicants can be accepted into the program. The screening process will be as follows:

Applications will normally be processed for both fall and spring semesters. The application deadline for fall admissions is February 1 and the deadline for spring or J-term is August 1. All application materials must be submitted and all supplementary required inventories must be completed by those dates prior to the academic year for which admission and enrollment is sought. Interviews will be given for applications in both fall and spring to those who meet the respective deadlines.
The Department of Counseling and Pastoral Care, in conjunction with the Office of Admissions, will develop a list (in proportion to the number of expected openings) of persons who are admitted to the program for the fall and January/spring semesters, or who are alternates. Applicants for the fall will be notified by April 1 of their admission, of alternate status, and/or of not being admitted. Applicants for the spring will be notified by November 1 of their admission, of alternate status, and/or of not being admitted.
Persons who have been admitted to the program for the fall must notify the office of their intent to enroll and send in a $100 matriculation fee by July 1. The matriculation fee for spring is due November 15. If, by those dates, an admitted student has not notified the seminary of his or her intent to enroll by sending the matriculation fee, that person's place in the fall class will be forfeited and an alternate will be admitted.
If an admitted student confirms his/her intent to enroll, but then is unable to attend, that person's place in the class will be given to the next alternate.

The M.A.C. is structured to begin in August of the year in which the student is admitted. Students admitted to the program are thus expected on campus in August in order to enroll in CO601 Counseling Theories and Techniques. (Contact the Office of the Registrar for specific dates and times. This course may also be available through the ExL program.) This course is a prerequisite for all other courses in the M.A.C. program.
Persons admitted to the M.A.C. program for spring semester enrollment are eligible to enroll for coursework only in the M.A. Core (see Course Requirements, below).

GRADUATION CLOSURE PROCEDURES

In order to exit the M.A.C. program, the following, two-part closure procedure is required:

A comprehensive objective exam covering the core courses comprising the M.A.C. degree program.

This exam is computer administered.
The exam shall ordinarily be completed in the last semester of the student's program.
To pass the exam, students must achieve a minimum score on the exam of 70 percent. In cases where students do not achieve the minimum score, they shall complete a second exam (oral or written), a paper, or some other form of remediation as determined by the Faculty of the Department of Counseling and Pastoral Care.

A paper, 4-5 pages in length (typed, double-spaced, with a 12-point font like Times New Roman), that integrates biblical/theological issues with psychology and counseling.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Satisfactory completion of 64 semester hours, including all required courses;
Completion of at least 30 hours on a geophysical campus of Asbury Theological Seminary. At least 6 semester hours of work should be taken within the 24 months preceding the date of graduation;
Attainment of a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00/4.00;
Satisfactory completion of all degree requirements in not more than seven academic years from the first term of matriculation.
Apply for graduation online.

DEGREE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

M.A. Core (15)

Counseling Core (40)

CO601 Counseling Theories and Techniques (3)
CO602, CO603, CO604 and CO605 Treatment Planning in Counseling (4)
(All four segments are required; CO603 is prerequisite to the others.)
CO610 Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling (3)
CO655 The Counseling Relationship: Process and Skills (3)
CO660 Crisis Counseling: Theory and Application (3)
CO675 Group Counseling (3)
CO680 Career Counseling (3)
CO705 -706 Counseling Practicum (6)
CO715 Assessment Inventories in Counseling (3)
CO720 Psychopathology: Theory and Assessment (3)
CO725 Research Seminar: Theory and Design (3)
CO730 Advanced Issues in Cross-Cultural Counseling (3)

Counseling Core Electives (9)

Human Development (choose 3 hours):

Counseling (choose 6 hours):

Note: More than the minimum of 64 hours required to complete this counseling degree may be needed to fulfill the academic requirements of some states and for certification with the National Board of Certified Counselors. Students will need to check with the states of their choice.

New students are expected to enroll in the August course CO601 Counseling Theories and Techniques. Exceptions need to be cleared with the Department of Counseling and Pastoral Care. Contact the Registrar's Office for the dates and time of this course. For additional program requirements (e.g., course sequencing), students should consult with an Academic Advisor.

Counseling Sample Degree Plan

Year 1

CO601 Counseling Theories and Techniques (August) (3)
CO603 Treatment Planning in Counseling (1)
CO604 Treatment Planning in Counseling (1)
CO610 Ethical/Legal Issues (3)
CO655 Counseling Relationship (3)
CO675 Group Counseling (3)
CO715 Assessment Inventories in Counseling (3)
CO720 Psychopathology: Theory and Assessment (3)
CO730 Advanced Issues in Cross-cultural Counseling (3)
IS501 Kingdom Church and World (3)
BS503 Introduction to Inductive Bible Study (2)
BS504 Introduction to Biblical Studies: Old Testament (2)
DO501 Basic Christian Doctrine (3) or
ST051 Method and Praxis in Theology (3)

Year 2

BS505 Introduction to Biblical Studies: New Testament (2)
CH500 Turning Points in Church History (3)
CO602 Treatment Planning in Counseling (1)
CO605 Treatment Planning in Counseling (1)
CO660 Crisis Counseling: Theory and Application (3)
CO680 Career Counseling (3)
CO725 Research Seminar: Theory and Design (3)
Human Development Elective (3)
Counseling Electives (6)
Practicum (6)

Asbury Theological Seminary

Academic Catalog