Best Online Master’s in Christian Counseling Programs of 2023
Christian and pastoral counseling blends spirituality and theology with traditional psychotherapy for a holistic approach to treating mental and behavioral health issues. Prepare for a career in this field with an online master’s in Christian counseling.
Why This Matters
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COUNSELING IS A MASTER’S LEVEL ENTRY FIELD
Although some entry-level positions may be open to individuals with a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree is generally required to obtain licensure and qualify for professional counseling jobs.
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22% PROJECTED JOB GROWTH PREDICTED BY 2028
The opioid crisis and prevalence of PTSD in veterans has increased the need for counselors who specialize in substance abuse and mental health counseling. The U.S. expects to add 68,500 jobs in this sector by 2028.
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29,200 NEW CLERGY POSITIONS ANTICIPATED
While additional education is needed to become a clergy member, earning a master’s in Christian counseling can enhance your skills in providing guidance and support to members of your congregation.
Our Research
For this list we set out to find the best master’s programs in Christian counseling. The three most common types of degrees in this area are Master of Science (MS), Master of Arts (MA), and Master of Divinity (MDiv).
Next we looked for programs that are delivered primarily or completely online to ensure accessibility for the greatest number of students, regardless of their location or schedule.
All of the schools on our list have either regional or national accreditation. Many programs are also accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Please note that the type of accreditation a school or program has may affect your eligibility for professional licensure post-graduation.
We evaluated each program on the basis of reputation, flexibility, affordability, faculty, and coursework, and then we calculated an Intelligent Score for each on a scale of 0 to 100. For a more extensive explanation, check out Our Ranking Methodology.
- 66 hours to write this article
- 143 universities and colleges we assessed
- 391 education programs we compared
The Top 32 Online Master’s in Christian Counseling Programs
