The Best Online Master’s in Biblical & Pastoral Theology
Updated June 2, 2023
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Individuals who feel called to minister others through counseling often complete a Christian counseling degree online. Flexible options make these degree paths ideal for those who want to use their skills and talents to help those who are struggling. While the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not maintain job data on those working in pastoral counseling specifically, roles for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors are predicted to grow by 23% between 2016 and 2026. If you're thinking about completing a biblical counseling degree online, use this guide to learn about common paths, curricular requirements, and available careers.
The Best Online Master’s in Biblical & Pastoral Counseling Degree Programs
These rankings include
#1 The Best Online Master’s in Biblical & Pastoral Theology
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Liberty University, located in Lynchburg, Virginia, offers a flexible online master of arts in pastoral counseling. The program helps graduates move into leadership roles and increase their earning potential.
The curriculum blends theory and practice to provide an advanced understanding of pastoral counseling. Learners take electives and other specialized courses to gain career-specific training. The master's program recommends a background in biblical counseling or a related field when applying.
Online enrollees gain hands-on experience during professional internships in their local area. Graduate students also build professional connections by attending networking events.
Liberty University at a Glance:
Type of School: Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above
Admission Rate: 51%
Total Online Master's Programs: 67
Program name: Data not available
Graduate Tuition In State: $7,980
Graduate Tuition Out of State: $7,980
Featured Online Schools
Online Master’s in Biblical & Pastoral Counseling Degree Program Ranking Guidelines:
We selected the degree programs based on the quality of program and range of courses provided, as well as school awards, rankings, and reputation.
Our Methodology
Here at TheBestSchools.org, we take the trust and welfare of our readers very seriously. When making our school and program rankings, our top priority is ensuring that our readers get accurate, unbiased information that can help them make informed decisions about online education. That's why we've developed a rigorous ranking methodology that keeps the needs of our readers front and center.
Our proprietary, multi-criteria ranking algorithm analyzes key data indicators — as collected by the federal government — for each school or program. What data we use depends on the focus of each specific ranking, but in all cases, our ranking methodology is impartial: Schools cannot buy better rankings at TBS.
While specific criteria under consideration can vary by ranking, there are a few data points that we value most highly. They are affordability, academic quality, and online enrollment. Below, we break down our algorithm to help you understand what you're getting when you use one of our rankings.
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Academics -
Affordability -
Online Enrollment
Data Sources
The data used in TBS rankings comes primarily from the federal government, and much of it is provided by the schools themselves. We aggregate and analyze this data to build our rankings.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) is our primary source. Its data comes from annual surveys conducted by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Every college, university, or technical school with access to federal financial aid must participate in these surveys, which include questions about enrollment, graduation rates, finances, and faculty qualifications. This is publicly available data, which you can access yourself through the College Navigator.
Additionally, because we value a personal touch and the professional experience of our staff and Academic Advisory Board, we vet all results and adjust rankings as necessary based on our collected knowledge of schools and degree programs. Depending on the ranking, we may obtain additional input from AcademicInfluence.com, subject matter experts, prior TBS ranking lists, or other sources we deem relevant to a particular ranking.
Breakdown of Our Rankings Methodology
About Our Ranking Factors
Here at TBS, we value what you value: quality education, affordability, and the accessibility of online education. These factors guide all of our program rankings.
Each of these factors are further broken down into weighted subfactors. For example, retention rates are weighted more heavily than availability of program options because they are a better indicator of student success.
We chose the following factors for our rankings because of their influence on learning experiences and graduate outcomes. However, students should always balance our rankings against their personal priorities. For instance, a learner who needs a fully online program may prioritize online flexibility more than our rankings do. Our rankings are designed to help you make a decision — not to make a decision for you.
Academics - 75%
Affordability - 15%
Online Enrollment - 10%
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Choosing an Online Master’s in Biblical & Pastoral Counseling Program
By completing a Christian counseling degree online, students gather knowledge and skills that help them in various professional settings. While some programs focus on preparing graduates for roles in the church, others outfit them for work in counseling centers or private practice. Common classes that learners can expect to take include marriage and family counseling, small group ministries, trauma assessment and interventions, and the biological components of addiction and recovery. Graduates often take on roles as substance abuse counselors, church counselors, chaplains, life coaches, or non-licensed counselors. In order to work as a licensed counselor, applicants must complete additional education.
When looking at Liberty University's online Master’s in Christian counseling, some of the specialization areas offered include addictions and recovery, community chaplaincy, marriage and family, crisis response and trauma, and military resilience. These mirror many other Christian counseling degree online paths, but prospective distance students should speak with admissions panels to learn about individual offerings. Depending on how they plan to use the degree upon graduation, and if they hope to complete additional education, students typically participate in a practicum, a culminating project, or a thesis.
Return to the topWhat Else Can I Expect From an Online Master’s in Biblical and Pastoral Counseling Program?
When reviewing the following sections, students should remember that programs vary. Before committing to any Christian counseling degree online, research the program to learn about specifics.
Concentrations Offered for an Online Doctoral Degree in Biblical and Pastoral Counseling
Given the specific nature of a pastoral counseling degree online, these programs often exist as specializations of other degrees rather than providing additional concentrations under the pastoral counseling umbrella. When researching prospective programs, learners will likely come across a variety of degrees leading to different outcomes. Individuals who decide to complete a master of divinity in pastoral care, for instance, usually pursue this program because they plan to work within the church to provide counseling services. Those who enroll in a master of arts program, conversely, often want to offer Christian counseling services but plan to do so without working at a church. For those who aren't sure which path they might take or are equally interested in both, the master of theology in pastoral counseling is commonly pursued by individuals who want to work inside and outside of the church.
Sample Courses for an Online Master’s Degree in Biblical and Pastoral Counseling
- Methods of Pastoral Counseling:
With a focus on bringing together theory and application, this course ensures students understand the tenets of common pastoral counseling methodologies and helps them decide which one best suits their beliefs and goals. Students take part in role-playing exercises using various frameworks. - Legal and Ethical Considerations in Pastoral Counseling:
Given the sensitive and confidential nature of counseling professions, students take this course to understand their responsibility as practitioners. In addition to analyzing court cases, students review ethical codes and case studies to help them think through various scenarios and how to respond to them. - Crisis Intervention as a Pastoral Counselor:
Students review some of the common tenets of crisis intervention and discuss how those fit into pastoral interventions. In addition to standard areas of crisis and trauma, learners also consider how spiritual challenges factor into these difficult moments and how their training can help.
- Pastoral Counseling for Children and Adolescents:
This course introduces students to the different cycles of child development before moving into discussions of how to appropriately provide counseling at different life stages. Common topics for this course include trauma, abuse, eating disorders, bullying, learning disabilities, and parental disagreements. - Pastoral Counseling for Military Mental and Behavioral Health:
This course exists for individuals who want to work with active military members and veterans experiencing issues related to their service, including posttraumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries. Students learn how to treat issues such as depression, addictions, anxiety, stress, and suicidal ideation.
Online Master’s in Biblical and Pastoral Counseling Careers
Graduates of online pastoral counseling degree paths can choose from a variety of careers, depending on the populations they hope to serve and the work environment they prefer. Some work for companies that employ counselors, while others choose to strike out on their own.
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor: Working in a variety of clinical and non-clinical settings, these professionals provide therapy to individuals working through issues such as addiction, behavioral problems, eating disorders, and mental trauma. They evaluate their clients' mental state, create treatment plans, monitor changes, and consult with other mental health professionals.
- Median Annual Salary: $43,300
- Projected Growth Rate: 23%
- Marriage and Family Therapist: Working with couples, children, and families, these professionals serve as mediators to work through feelings and emotions. They encourage dialog between spouses or children and their parents, create communication assignments, and connect patients with other valuable resources. Individuals must possess a Master’s degree to pursue these roles.
- Median Annual Salary: $48,790
- Projected Growth Rate: 23%
- School Counselor: Aside from helping students sort out classes and think about college, school counselors help students identify their strengths and talents, deal with issues affecting school performance, provide counseling, and serve as someone students can speak with about personal issues. School counselors must hold a Master’s degree.
- Median Annual Salary: $55,410
- Projected Growth Rate: 13%
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
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