Master of Arts in Counseling (MAC)

The Master of Arts in Counseling 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 MA in Counseling curriculum consists of 15 credit hours of core courses (Bible, theology, ethics, church history, and ministry in a contemporary context) and 51 hours of courses directly related to counseling.                                                                                                                                                            

The Master of Arts in Counseling 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 will achieve formation and integration in these three areas:

Being-Character Objectives:

  • 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

Knowing-Content Objectives:

  • develop an informed and sympathetic approach to religious-particularly Christian-expression, narrative, and aspiration as it is presented within the clinical setting
  • 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

Doing-Practical Objectives:

  • 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
  • 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.


Required Core Courses (15 credit hours)

B5330   Intepretation of the Bible for Ministry
H5310   Historical Studies for Ministry
P5391    Contemporary Context for Ministry
T5340   Ethics for Ministry
T5350  Theological Studies for Ministry

Required 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 Individual Counseling*
C5306   Theories and Methods for Group Counseling
C5307   Theories and Methods for Marriage and Family Counseling
C5308   Counseling in a Multi-cultural Society: Identity and Difference
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
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
P5350   Issues in Loss and Bereavement

P5390   Medical issues and Healing Presence