The Master of Arts in Counseling Ministry degree program is designed to prepare students to serve in nonclinical counseling settings such as churches and ministries to provide support for individuals, groups, couples, and families.
DTS’s unique counseling program integrates best-practices in psychology with deep biblical and theological training enabling you to address the entire person: body, mind, soul, and strength.
THE CURRICULUM
The two-year MA programs at DTS have a common core of Bible and theology coursework along with specific training in counseling skills that you can apply in your ministry context.
Biblical Exposition (22 hours)
BE5101 Bible Study Methods and Hermeneutics (3)
BE5102 Old Testament History I (3)
BE5103 Old Testament History II & Poetry (2)
BE5104 Old Testament Prophets (3)
BE5105 The Gospels (2)
BE5106 Acts & Pauline Epistles (3)
BE5107 Hebrews, General Epistles, and Revelation (3)
BE5109 Ruth, Psalms, Jonah, and Selected Epistles (3)
Systematic Theology (18 hours)
ST5101 Theological Method and Bibliology (3)
ST5102 Trinitarianism (3)
ST5103 Angelology, Anthropology, and Hamartiology (3)
ST5104 Soteriology (3)
ST5105 Sanctification and Ecclesiology (3)
ST5106 Eschatology (3)
Counseling Ministries Core (14 hours)
CM5101 Pastoral Counseling and Ethics (3)
CM5236 Cultural Competency in Counseling Ministries (3)
CM5256 Recovery Strategies in Counseling Ministries (3)
PM5101 Christian Life and Witness (3)
INTXXX MACO Ministry Formation Internship (2)
Spiritual Formation and Electives (12 hours)
SF5100 Spiritual Formation
Suggested Counseling Ministries Pathways
Marriage and Family (12)
CM5422 Marital Counseling (3)
CM5424 Marital Enrichment (3)
CM5505 Family Research and Assessment (3)
Elective (3)
Sexual Wholeness (12)
CM5605 Human Sexuality (3)
CM5610 Sexuality and Ethics (3)
CM5615 Basic Issues and Sex Therapy (3)
Elective (3 hours)
Relationship Coaching (12)
CM5455 Intro to Christian Mentoring and Coaching (3)
CM54XX Coaching Ethics (3)
CM54XX Relationship Coaching (3)
Elective (3)
Spiritual Direction (12)
PM5510 Spiritual Formation in Historical Perspective (3)
PM5515 Spiritual Disciplines (3)
PM5520 Spiritual Formation in Contemporary Culture (3)
Elective (3)
General Studies (12)
CMXXX Counseling Ministries Elective (3)
CMXXX Counseling Ministries Elective (3)
CMXXX Counseling Ministries Elective (3)
Elective (3)
Program Details
Program Goals
Students in the MACO program will:
- Evidence a general knowledge of Christian theology, including an ability to support their theological views
- Demonstrate a general knowledge of the Bible, including an understanding of the message and arguments of specific books of the Bible
- Display Christlikeness in their pursuit of knowledge and relationships within the seminary community
- Demonstrate effective counseling ministry skills in a chosen specialty track (assessed in track courses and internship)
- Analyze and apply ethical standards in counseling ministry to handle complex situations ethically and effectively in various ministry settings
- Develop culturally competent counseling strategies that address the specific needs of diverse groups
- Apply the principles the recovery process for addictions and compulsive behaviors
Course Requirements
Sixty-six credit hours of coursework are required as a minimum for graduation. Of those hours, 22 are in prescribed Bible Exposition courses, 18 hours are in prescribed Systematic Theology courses, 14 hours are in Counseling Ministry courses, and 12 hours are in elective courses. The MACO requires that four courses (i.e., four 3-hour courses for a total of 12 hours) be completed in real-time.
Financial Aid
Through our donors and Foundation, we are able to offer hundreds of scholarships to students every year.
Logos Bible Software
Every student at DTS receives a copy of Logos Bible Software customized with additional commentaries and resources, and DTS courses integrate Logos into assignments and learning.