Master of Arts in Counseling Ministries

The Master of Arts in Counseling Ministries (MACM) integrates a basic grounding in theological studies, spirituality, and ethical values with the perspectives and skills of counseling and psychotherapy. This course of study enables graduates to minister as a pastor with special counseling skills or, after achieving certification, as a counseling professional.

There are three tracks within this degree:

Track I, Pastoral Care and Counseling, is a general counseling degree for religious leaders and other helping professionals. Track I requires completion of 58 credit hours.

Track II, Addiction Counseling, has a specific focus on the counseling of persons who are chemically dependent. Track II requires completion of 59.5 credit hours. Students who receive the MACM – Track II degree will have fulfilled the 270 clock hours of chemical dependency specific education, which is part of the Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor requirements set by the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board. Post-graduation eligibility for licensure requirements include: related work experience (a Master’s degree in a behavioral science may be substituted for 2,000 hours of work experience); and successful completion of the AODA written examination and the case presentation (CPM) examination.

Track III, Pastoral and Professional Counseling, constitutes a sequence of graduate courses that fall within specific areas of counselor training. Students who receive the MACM - Track III degree will have satisfied the educational requirements of the State of Ohio Counselor and Social Worker Board and may apply to take the Professional Counselor Examination.

The MACM program is designed to:
    • foster the personal and professional formation of sensitive and competent practitioners for diverse mental health and addiction
      counseling ministries;
    • enlarge theoretical foundations for the practice of pastoral counseling and psychotherapy;
    • teach state-of-the-art diagnostic and assessment approaches;
    • integrate human development, multicultural perspectives, research methods, and clinical supervision;
    • heighten ethical leadership and social responsibility in the pastoral healing arts and clinical counseling.