Master of Arts in Counseling (MAC)

Program Goals

Students in the MAC program will:

• Understand and evaluate secular and Christian psychological theories and practices from a sound biblical and theological point of view in order to develop professional competence within a thoroughly biblical framework focused on ministry
  
• Develop deep levels of biblical and spiritual integrity in their own personal life, relationships, and ministry
  
• Engage in effective biblically based counseling in the context of a local church, private practice, or mental health institution
  
• Understand the role and processes of professional counseling, advocating for diverse populations across the lifespan for equality-based counseling services
  
• Demonstrate an understanding of strategies for facilitating client skill development for career, educational, and life-work planning and management
  
• Critically evaluate therapeutic factors of group work as they connect to culturally sustaining and developmentally responsive strategies for designing and facilitating group
• Apply culturally responsive assessment procedures and a research base toward counseling services for clients in a global society
• 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

‍

Professional Licensure

Meeting the MAC program course requirements enables graduates to apply for licensure as a Professional Counselor (LPC) with the appropriate state licensing board of many states. It is important to note that the seminary only grants the degree; a state board grants the license. Earning the MAC degree does not in itself guarantee licensure in a particular state. It is the student's responsibility to research state licensing board requirements for the state in which the student plans to obtain licensure. Each state board makes an independent decision based on its state regulations and its determination of whether the applicant has completed those requirements. Students desiring to pursue a license as a Professional Counselor (LPC) in a particular state may view the following list of states/territories about which DTS has made a determination concerning the MAC program’s qualifications for licensure. Contact information for state licensing boards is also provided to assist students interested in pursuing professional licensure. Minor program modifications, with the approval of the MAC department, may be made to satisfy some state licensing board requirements. All additional questions concerning the MAC program and qualifications for professional licensure should be directed to the Department of Counseling Ministries.

‍

CACREP

Dallas Theological Seminary’s MA in Counseling [Clinical] (MAC) is accredited by SACSCOC and ATS, and its course requirements enables a graduate to apply for licensure as a Professional Counselor (LPC) with the appropriate state licensing board of many states. In addition, DTS is currently preparing a self-study to seek CACREP accreditation. DTS cannot guarantee if or when it will receive CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs) accreditation, but the following information may be helpful to consider. Students who matriculate in Spring 2025 or later may be eligible to indicate that they completed a CACREP-accredited program. This is because CACREP has a policy that provides retroactive recognition for students who completed the program before accreditation was granted, dating- back 18 months. For example, if a student enrolls in the program Spring 2025 and graduates in Fall 2027, and if the counseling program receives CACREP accreditation in 2028, that graduate will be able to state that they completed a CACREP accredited progra