Master of Arts in Counseling
The MAC degree is designed for persons seeking graduate-level instruction in counseling and a curriculum that provides opportunities to integrate counseling theories and techniques with pastoral approaches and perspectives. The 66-hour MAC curriculum consists of 15 credit hours of core courses (Bible, theology, and ethics) and 51 hours of courses directly related to counseling. The MAC curriculum provides the academic foundation required by the State of Texas for credentialing as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). For additional information about requirements, please refer to the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/counselor/lpc_apply.shtm.
Through core courses in Biblical studies, history, theology, and ethics and through in-depth study of theories of human development, personality assessment, counseling theory and practice, students:
- secure the theoretical and practical understanding necessary for professional counseling, including the academic foundation for passing the State of Texas qualifying examination for the credential of Licensed Professional Counselor;
- develop an informed and sympathetic approach to religious-particularly Christian-expression, narrative, and aspiration as it is presented within the clinical setting;
- achieve competence in assessment, case formulation, and strategies of intervention within the context of a respectful therapeutic relationship, accompanied by a critical self-awareness on the part of the therapist;
- develop the skills for a discerning theological reading of a client's narrative, one able to inform the process of healing, whether or not that reading is made explicit in the counseling context;
- form and commit to personal spiritual practices capable of sustaining the vocation of a counselor.
- prepare to exercise the vocation of counseling with the highest standards of professional ethics and expertise.
Required Core Courses (15 credit hours)
B5310 Biblical Basis for Ministry 1
B5320 Biblical Basis for Ministry 2
T5310 Historical and Theological Basis for Ministry 1
T5320 Historical and Theological Basis for Ministry 2
T5340 Ethics in Ministry
Required Disciplinary Courses (39 credit hours)
Students are encouraged to take required courses at the earliest opportunity, however courses do not need to be taken in a prescribed order. *Courses must be taken before enrollment in the counseling practicum (C5312/C5313)
C5301 Normal Human Development*
C5302 Abnormal Human Behavior*
C5303 Counseling Theories*
C5304 Appraisal and Assessment Techniques*
C5305 Theories and Methods for Counseling Individuals*
C5306 Theories and Methods for Group Counseling
C5307 Theories and Methods for Marriage and Family Counseling
C5308 Counseling and Culture: Self and Other
C5309 Professional Ethics
C5310 Career Counseling and Development
C5311 Research Methods for Counseling Professionals
C5312 Counseling Practicum A
C5313 Counseling Practicum B
Electives (12 credit hours)
C5314 Chemical Dependency and Addictive Behaviors
C5315 Counseling Children and Adolescents
C5317 Medical issues and Healing Presence
C5321 Counseling from a Pastoral Perspective
C5323 Advanced Techniques for Marriage and Couples Therapy
C5324 Adolescence, Family Systems and Assessment
C5325 Comprehensive Clinical Treatment and Recovery in Addiction
C5326 Trauma Counseling and Crisis Intervention
P5302 Theologies and Practices of Christian Forgiveness
P5340 Issues in Death and Dying
