Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling

This course offers a general introduction to basic concepts and distinctive features of biblical counseling. Students will discuss what biblical counseling is and what it involves, the role of the counselor in biblical counseling, the different kinds of counseling that are needed, the place of counseling in the ministry of the church, and how biblical counseling theory and practice relate to and differ from some of the more common secular models and theories. Part of the course will involve a personal improvement project in which the student will evaluate his/her own counseling qualifications, design a plan for improving some area of his/her life, put that plan into action, and then evaluate his/her progress as the course draws to a close.

This core course will help the student to understand the Christlike character and functional qualities of the discipler/counselor. The course will also provide the environment for self-examination for present and future growth, both in his/her personal walk with Jesus Christ and as a skilled biblical counselor.

This core course provides an overview of the counseling process, presenting a comprehensive methodological model for promoting biblical change in people. The goal of this course is to encourage biblical thinking and procedures in the process of helping people.

This core course is an advanced examination of the science and art of interpretation, with special attention given to the application of Scripture to counseling. Various interpretive approaches on key scriptural passages will be examined, especially as they relate to the biblical counselor and his task.

This core course offers a consideration of the theological realities that form the basis of a proper approach to counseling. Special emphasis is given to the nature of God and of man (fallen and unfallen), a biblical definition of the image of God, the nature of sin, the realities of regeneration, and progressive sanctification, the concept of “the flesh” (old man/new man), an understanding of the heart/mind as used in Scripture, and the place of the local church in the ministry of counseling.

This core course is designed to critically analyze secular and evangelical integrationist theories of psychotherapy in a theological context, emphasizing the uniqueness of divine revelation for ontological and epistemological positions and worldview. It will probe the anthropological presuppositions of treatment theory and seek to bring a thoroughly biblical critique to their foundational assumptions and methodology. Issues like theories of the subconscious, psychoanalytic approaches to personality, establishing norms, psychological testing, making the distinction between the normal and abnormal, major and mood disorders, schizophrenia, and multiple personality disorders are among the psychological constructs and their popular theoreticians that will be explored.

This core course is designed to continue to develop the skills of the graduate student in the science and art of biblical interpretation for greater accuracy in the application of truth in a counseling context. A proper hermeneutical approach will be modeled for difficult passages that are frequently used in counseling, especially as that approach relates to the use of texts from a variety of genres in Scripture. The focus of this course is for the graduate student to learn how to properly interpret each book of the Bible, with its special literary genre and subgenres, in order to be well-equipped to accurately apply its truth.

This core course is designed to help the student think biblically about conflict and how to biblically counsel interpersonal conflicts in a way that glorifies the Lord (1 Cor. 10:31). In particular, the graduate student will be taught how to exposit several key passages of Scripture that are appropriate to conflict and apply them to difficult situations in a very practical and life-changing way. Securing peace in a conflict is not the end. It is a means to an end. Bringing glory to God by seeking biblical reconciliation is our goal as biblical counselors. These principles apply to all walks of life where interpersonal relationships are formed, including business, the church, and marriage.

Marriage and family problems are present in the majority of counseling cases. This core course will give an overview of general marriage and family counseling issues relating to the content and process of counseling. It will then proceed to specifically address from a biblical perspective some of the major difficulties that troubled marriages and families experience. Included in the course are discussions of the biblical basis and purposes of marriage, family stages, in-law problems, developing unity, husband/wife roles and responsibilities, correcting communication problems, and how to resolve conflicts that arise.

This course addresses a biblical view of medical issues, involving biological and psychosomatic diseases, syndromes, and illnesses. The spiritual and physical aspects of counseling will also be addressed.

This core course is designed to apply the biblical principles taught in BC501 Introduction to Biblical Counseling, and BC503 Methods of Biblical Change to a range of specific counseling problems. Topics discussed include anger, fear, depression, homosexuality, anxiety, eating disorders, incest, child abuse, counseling youth, counseling divorcees, and crisis counseling. Each student will research and present to the class a detailed biblical counseling outline for a teacher-approved counseling issue.

This core course consists of observations and discussions of counseling sessions, designed to help the student learn practical skills in counseling by observation, evaluation, critique, and discussion. The course also involves practical application of the principles of biblical counseling and the various methodological aspects of the counseling process. The course will include student participation in counseling as a counselor, counselee, and observer. These activities will form the basis of seminar discussions where counseling will be analyzed from a biblical perspective. The goal is to help the student learn, evaluate, and sharpen their practical counseling skills. Due to the nature of this course, all students (including distance students) must take this course either in-person or synchronously.

All students are encouraged to seek membership in and certification by the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC). This core seminar transitions students from the application and examination requirements for ACBC certification to the required supervised counseling.

This is part one of a supervised and evaluated internship, consisting of at least two actual counseling sessions per week and a total of 25 hours of counseling. Assistance will be provided for the student in obtaining counseling opportunities.

This is part two of a supervised and evaluated internship, consisting of at least two actual counseling sessions per week and a total of 25 hours of counseling. Assistance will be provided for the student in obtaining counseling opportunities.

This course introduces the program capstone research project and guides the research task. The student is responsible to compose a fully-documented 20- to 30-page research outline, as the basis for either a seminar presentation or a formal 100- to 120-page thesis paper that deals with a special problem or area of investigation in biblical counseling. The research goal must be precisely stated in written form, pursued under faculty supervision, and approved by and presented to the chairperson and research coordinator of the Biblical Counseling Department. All students are required to defend their thesis outline in the Thesis Symposium held each year in the spring semester—the day before graduation. Students pursuing the Missions or Mediation emphases are required to focus their thesis outline topic on their chosen emphasis.

• Strong testimony of faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord
• Have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher
• A pastoral recommendation from a Christian leader (pastor, elder, etc.)
• Agreement with TMU’s doctrinal statement and a lifestyle that reflects the standards outlined on our Admission Requirements Page.

The Master’s University is an official ACBC Certified Training Center. Our MABC curriculum is fully integrated with ACBC certification, allowing you to complete all three phases of the certification process directly through your classes and coursework. For more information, visit the ACBC Certification in the MABC page.

We offer two learning tracks to fit both your schedule and location:

1. Live Lecture Track (In-Person/Synchronous): Allows students to attend real-time, live classes either on-campus or via Zoom.
2. Fully Online Track (Pre-Recorded/Asynchronous): Allows students to complete coursework on their own schedule with pre-recorded lectures and no fixed meeting times.

If you aren’t sure which option is best suited for you, visit our Track Comparison Page.

The Live Lecture track (In-Person/Synchronous) costs $660/unit. The Fully Online track (Pre-Recorded) costs $760/unit. Additional fees will also apply. For a full breakdown of tuition and additional fees, please check the Tuition and Costs page.

Yes; unless you are an On-Campus Live Lecture student already attending classes in-person, you will be required to come to campus at least once during your time in the program. Many students accomplish this by taking a single, one-week intensive class offered during the summer.

Having a MABC degree opens the door to many exciting career opportunities, including but not limited to:

• Local Church Ministry
• Missionary Work—both domestic and foreign
• Christian Education
• Chaplaincy
• Director or Staff Counselor
• Various Academic Vocations
• Camp Ministries
• Human Resources/Personnel
• Financial Counseling
• Communications
• Corporate Liaison