Master of Arts in Counseling (MAC)
Our MAC students are those who are drawn to walk alongside hurting people, seeking to be conduits of God’s healing to emotional and relational brokenness. Missio prepares them to skillfully apply the grace and truth of the Gospel first to their lives and then to those of their counselees.
At our Philadelphia campus, MAC students come to class one night a week, one Saturday a month, for three years and learn to engage science and culture from a Christian perspective, with wisdom and discernment. Students are equipped for professional and non-professional counseling contexts, as they learn effective evidence-based counseling skills from faculty who are practicing clinical counselors. The MAC program is tailored to Pennsylvania state licensure requirements.
What do our graduates do with their degree?
The MAC program trains Christians for a broad spectrum of service. Missio’s Graduate School of Counseling program meets the needs of students in a variety of career and avocational settings. MAC graduates serve on pastoral teams or in counseling ministries in their local churches, in social service and mental health organizations, in para-church ministries, in specialized counseling services, and more. MAC’s curriculum is designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and self-awareness needed for effective, Christ-centered counseling. Courses, retreats, and fieldwork experiences address key professional counseling areas of study while maintaining a biblical and ministry focus.
How can the MAC program benefit you?
At Missio, the cohort model is a powerful delivery format for professional development because it taps into students’ prior life experiences, it is collaborative, and it occurs over a period of three years. Because students move through the program together, the quality of learning from one course to another is enhanced. Cohorts develop strong communication skills as students sharpen and challenge each other. This dynamic learning community produces the kind of deep learning, authentic contextualization, and relational wisdom that missional leaders need today.
Students will also embrace spiritual formation through participation in retreats, and share their internship experiences throughout their time in the program.
A counseling degree in the Philadelphia area with a distinctly Christian-based program that leads to licensure.
Listed below are six reasons why our counseling program is unique for Christian Counselors.
Wise Counsel:
Develop effective people-helping knowledge, skill, and self-awareness for wise practice (Proverbs 2:2).
Biblical Anthropology:
Explore the biblical story and God’s design for human life in light of creation, fall, and redemption.
Counseling Skills and Practice:
Gain experience over three years through mock counseling, then transition into fieldwork by completing 700 supervised hours.
Theology Developed for Counselors:
Combine a thorough understanding of the biblical text and theology and use it specifically in a counseling context.
Cohort Community:
Remain together and follow a sequenced curriculum. Annual retreats assist in building community.
Generalist Program:
Receive a broad and solid foundation for a wide variety of callings in God’s kingdom including both professional and pastoral settings.
Why choose Missio for my counseling degree?
Missio’s Master of Arts in Counseling program is tailored to assist in preparing you for the helping field, whether it is your career/ministry or your avocation/ministry. You will be learning from faculty who actively counsel and bring that expertise to the classroom. MAC faculty are passionate about training men and women to counsel others with “wise counsel.” You will be learning alongside others who desire to bring their faith commitments to counseling in a way that helps people in their life struggles and points them to Christ.
We also now have two options for obtaining your degree in counseling. The first is our 3-year program that provides all the core counseling classes and degree completion requirements that will lead directly into obtaining licensure. Our second option is the traditional 2-year program that will lead to a Master in Counseling degree.
All classes and programs are available on-line. The majority of our on-line classes are in a synchronous format. This means that you can engage with your professors and classmates from the comfort of your own home! For more information please contact our admissions department here.
Available Tracks and Curriculum
Below is a table that represents the course order that should be taken to ensure completing the MAC program at the end of three years.
| Courses | Year One | Candidacy Level: |
|---|---|---|
| MAC510 Helping Relationships† MAC525 Ethics & Professional Orientation* MAC500 Human Development & Change†* Retreat required; non-credit (must complete 2) | Fall (9 Credits) | |
| MAC501 Counseling & the Biblical Text 1 | Winter (2 Credits) Online | CCE - Clinical Counseling Exam Part A |
| MAC512 Psychopathology† MAC803A Social & Cultural Diversity* MAC704 Models of Counseling†* | Spring (9 Credits) | CCE - Clinical Counseling Exam Part B |
| Summer Counseling Institute Electives† | Summer (9 Credits) | Total of 1 credit needed for degree |
| Courses | Year Two | Candidacy Level: |
|---|---|---|
| MAC595 Counseling & Theology* MAC602 Counseling & Physiology MAC605 Advanced Counseling Skills Retreat required; non-credit | Fall (10 Credits) | |
| MAC511 Counseling & the Biblical Text 2 | Winter (2 Credits) | Practicum Candidate |
| MAC520 Practicum & Professional Orientation MAC805 Group Counseling* MAC621 Child & Adolescent Counseling* International Students must take Psychological Assessment in spring of year 2 | Spring (9 Credits) | |
| MAC804A Career & Lifestyle Development Summer Counseling Institute Electives† (credit varies) | Summer (3+ Credits) | Internship Candidate Total of 1 credit needed for degree |
| Courses | Year Three | Candidacy Level: |
|---|---|---|
| MAC600 Internship & Professional Seminar 1 MAC601 Marriage & Family Therapy* (GTRI online elective) MAC610 Internship & Professional Seminar 2 Elective Tracks (varies) Retreat non-credit; required International Students must take 3 elective credits in Fall of Year 3 | Fall (6-9 Credits) | |
| MAC521 Counseling and the Biblical Text 3 (GTRI online elective) MAC610 Internship & Professional Seminar 2 | Winter (2-3 Credits) Online | |
| MAC610 Internship and Professional Seminar 2 MAC802A Research and Program Evaluation* MAC801A Psychological Assessment (GTRI online elective (1)) Internship and Professional Seminar 2 | Spring (9-11 Credits) | Graduate Candidate, eligible to apply for NCC and take NCE exam NCC - National Certified Counselor NCE - National Counseling Exam |
| (GTR Immersion (elective) Topics (1-2 credit courses) | Summer (varies) |
Notes regarding the program:
† These courses can be taken in the certificate program and then rolled into the cohort program starting every fall.
* These courses include a Saturday class from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
** Students may choose electives from another program but the credits will not transfer back if returning to the licensure track.
See the cohort calendar for specific dates of courses.
Students will be expected to complete 20-25 hours of homework each week. Students will complete 700 hours of supervised practicum and internship in an area for which they have a passion.
Fieldwork Hour Estimates
If you would like to complete your fieldwork in 15 months (spring semester year 2 – spring semester year 3):
- 280 direct hours = 19 per month average
- 380 indirect hours = 25 per month average
- 40+ supervision hours = 4 per month average
- Total: 700 = 47 per month average
Total Required Credits – 60
Below is a table that represents the course order that should be taken to ensure completing the MAC program without licensure at the end of two years.
| Courses | Year One | Candidacy Level: |
|---|---|---|
| MAC510 Helping Relationships† MAC525 Ethics & Professional Orientation* MAC500 Human Development & Change†* Retreat - non-credit; required | Fall (9 Credits) | |
| MAC501 Counseling & the Biblical Text 1 | Winter (2 Credits) | CCE - Clinical Counseling Exam Part A |
| MAC512 Psychopathology† MAC803A Social & Cultural Diversity* MAC704 Models of Counseling†* | Spring (9 Credits) | CCE - Clinical Counseling Exam Part B |
| Summer Counseling Electives (credit varies)† | Summer (varies) | Total of 10 credits needed for degree** |
| Courses | Year Two | Candidacy Level: |
|---|---|---|
| MAC595 Counseling & Theology MAC601 Marriage & Family Therapy MAC605 Advanced Counseling Skills GTRI Online (elective)* Retreat - Non-credit; Required | Fall (8-9 Credits) | |
| MAC511 Counseling & the Biblical Text 2 | Winter (2 Credits) | Practicum Candidate |
| MAC520 Practicum & Professional Orientation MAC805 Group Counseling (elective)* MAC621 Child & Adolescent Counseling* (GTRI online elective) Counseling and the Biblical Text 3 | Spring (8-11 Credits) | |
| MAC 804A Career & Lifestyle Development Summer Counseling Institute Electives† | Summer (varies) | Total of 10 credits needed for degree** Graduation Candidate |
Notes regarding the program:
† These courses can be taken in the certificate program and then rolled into the cohort program starting every fall.
* These courses include a Saturday class from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
** Students may choose electives from another program but the credits will not transfer back if returning to the licensure track.
See the cohort calendar for specific dates of courses.
Students will be expected to complete 20-25 hours of homework each week.
Total Required Credits – 48
Ready to start your journey?
Whether you are looking for more information regarding a program, scheduling a visit, starting the application process, or just wanting to talk to someone about your dreams, our admissions department is always available to assist you and answer any question that you might have.
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