Complete your degree in a flexible online format with coursework you can manage alongside work, family, and ministry.
Graduate with 60 credits and one year of clinical internship experience and the ability to support individuals, couples, and families.
Meet educational requirements for licensure in many states and gain clarity on next steps in your specific jurisdiction.
Develop counseling skills rooted in evidence-informed practice while integrating spiritual perspective.
Access scholarships, tuition assistance, and flexible payment options designed for working adults.
Students who have attempted the licensure exam report a 100% pass rate to date.
Engage in deep listening and trust building
Develop practical counseling and assessment skills
Diagnose and treat mental health disorders using evidence-based approaches
Support individuals, couples, and families in diverse care settings
Learn to work ethically with diverse populations and complex situations
Prepare for licensure pathways and future professional supervision
The Master of Arts in Counseling program at Central isn’t just about passing the licensure exam—it’s about becoming a compassionate, reflective, and effective counselor. We understand that human beings are complex, and we train students to approach each client with empathy, integrity, and an integrated perspective.
Central’s Master of Arts in Counseling program stands out because it blends clinical excellence with faith-based reflection, preparing students to become licensed counselors who care for the whole person—mind, body, and soul.
Our program is grounded in diagnostic clarity, evidence based practices, and high standards for clinical instruction. You'll be equipped to confidently assess, diagnose, and treat clients.
We invite students to explore how their faith and spirituality impact their role as counselors and how those same beliefs can play a vital role in the clients’ healing journeys.
Why Now is the Time to Pursue a Career in Mental Health
Why a Master’s Degree in Counseling at Central Seminary is the Perfect Fit for You
The Role of Counseling Education
The Importance of Mental Health Support in the Church
Equipping Counselors for Holistic Care
Graduate with one year of clinical internship experience and the ability to support individuals, couples, and families in real care situations.
Whether you’re exploring your options or preparing to apply, we’re here to answer your questions.
| Session | Start Date | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2027 (January - April) | January 19, 2027 | January 5, 2027 |
| Summer 2027 (May - August) | May 17, 2027 | May 3, 2027 |
| Fall 2027 (August - November) | August 16, 2027 | August 6, 2027 |
Pursue counseling training without taking on unnecessary financial burden.
$425 per credit
$250 per term
$200 one-time fee
Financial support is available for many students, including scholarships and tuition assistance. Learn more.
Start your application at any time and move forward at a pace that works for you.
August, January and May
Applicants whose first language is not English will be asked to demonstrate English proficiency.
Build your counseling foundation through structured graduate coursework that integrates clinical training with spiritually-informed care.
| Credits | Course |
|---|---|
| Total Credits | 60 credit hours (including Practicum and Internship) |
| Clinical Experience | Practicum (3 credits) + Internship I, II, III (2 credits each) |
| Optional Add-On | Graduate Certificate in Chaplaincy (12 additional credits) |
| Foundations of Helping & Human Development | Clinical Assessment & Treatment | Specialized Clinical Practice | Research & Professional Integration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Orientation & Ethics (3 cr) | Abnormal Psychology (3 cr) | Marriage & Family Counseling (3 cr) | Statistics & Research Methods (3 cr) |
| The Helping Relationship (3 cr) | Psychological Tests & Measurement (3 cr) | Theory & Methods for Group Counseling (3 cr) | |
| Counseling Theories (3 cr) | Differential Diagnosis & Treatment Planning (3 cr) | Trauma & PTSD Treatment (3 cr) | |
| Life Span Development (3 cr) | Biological Basis of Behavior (3 cr) | Substance Use Disorders (3 cr) | |
| Career Development (3 cr) | Psychopharmacology (3 cr) | Childhood & Adolescent Disorders (3 cr) | |
| Multicultural Counseling (3 cr) |
| Course | Credits | What This Means |
|---|---|---|
| Practicum | 3 credits | Begin seeing clients in a supervised clinical setting while integrating foundational helping skills |
| Internship I | 2 credits | Develop clinical confidence through direct service and supervision |
| Internship II | 2 credits | Expand assessment, treatment planning, and intervention skills |
| Internship III | 2 credits | Demonstrate readiness for professional practice and clinical integration |
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| Introduction to Chaplaincy | 3 cr |
| Chaplaincy in Hospice & Elder Care | 3 cr |
| Caring Ministries | 3 cr |
| Christian Ethics | 3 cr |
Learn from faculty with experience across counseling, ministry, clinical care, and professional practice.
Director of the Master of Arts in Counseling & Professor of Counseling
Assistant Professor of Counseling
Assistant Professor in Counseling
Specialist Assistant Professor in Counseling
Supplemental Assistant Professor of Counseling
Central’s Master of Arts in Counseling program prepares students from diverse spiritual and social backgrounds for vocations as clinically skilled licensed counselors who value the integration of spirituality within the complex mental, emotional, physical, and relational dimensions of human health.
Students develop professional counseling skills while preparing to serve individuals and communities from varied religious traditions, backgrounds, and lived experiences. The program also encourages students to reflect on their own assumptions, convictions, and perspectives as part of their professional development as counselors.
Students in the MA in Counseling program are equipped to:
Graduates of the Master of Arts in Counseling program will be able to:
The Master of Arts in Counseling program maintains required public reporting related to student outcomes, program effectiveness, and accreditation standards.
Program Outcome Reports:
Official transcripts, a 2.3 undergraduate GPA, Counselor Disposition Survey, three character references (excluding family), and an autobiographical statement will be required for admission. Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited educational institution. Students participating in the English program for whom English is not their first language will be required to demonstrate their English proficiency.
Tuition: $425 per credit (26-27 tuition rates)
Registration: $250 per semester
Graduation Fee: $200
You will develop clinical skills by participating in a structured internship placement where you will interact with clients, peers, skilled mentors, and faculty, all of which are critical for developing your skills as a counselor. The goal of each component of the internship is to allow students to apply their coursework in professional settings with real patients. This experiential aspect of the MACO program is what will help you confidently progress from student to licensed professional counselor.
The Master of Arts in Counseling program is designed to allow you to sit for national and state licensure exams in the state of Kansas and other states. From there, students will have the qualifications to apply to many jobs within the field or to further their education. Additionally, the required internship program will help you to build professional connections outside of the classroom.
For joining classes online students will need a working computer or laptop with access to high-speed internet. Applications like Zoom will be needed for attending class, Google Docs or Microsoft Office will be needed to complete assignments, and Microsoft Outlook will be required for communication with peers and faculty.
Upon completion of the program, there are a variety of ways you can apply your counseling education in professional settings. You can work directly for a church, offering counseling services to members of the congregation who may be struggling with bereavement, marriage issues, addiction, or abuse. You can also choose to become a licensed practitioner in your state and open a private counseling practice or work for an established practice or organization. Competent counselors are needed to help youth, adult, and senior age populations in most communities, in faith-based and secular organizations.
Central’s program is not a biblical counseling program. Central’s program is built on clinical excellence and is designed to prepare students to sit for licensure exams. But what makes Central’s program so unique, is that because it is offered at a seminary, our curriculum is not just clinically rich, it also incorporates the opportunity for faith-based reflection and the integration of your theology into your coursework.
Our curriculum utilizes the bio-psycho-social-spiritual model in order to teach our students to provide holistic care to their future clients, acknowledging the connection between social, psychological, physical, and spiritual aspects of client care.
We desire to prepare students to become competent counseling practitioners who practice with integrity and empathy. Coursework focuses on helping students learn to apply holistic treatment methods after making a diagnosis.
The 60-hour Master of Arts in Counseling (MACO) degree is designed to lead to professional licensure as outlined by the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board of Kansas; other state and international boards have unique licensure requirements. Therefore, before enrolling in a licensure program at Central Seminary, students should consult the rules and regulations regarding Professional Counseling for the particular state or nation in which they intend to seek licensure after graduation. Enrollment in the MACO program does not guarantee a degree from Central or promise qualification for professional licensure. Students are responsible for meeting all academic and professional requirements for graduation. For further information regarding these academic and professional requirements, see the Central Student Handbook as well as the following pages of the MACO handbook. Students enrolled in the MACO program are responsible for knowing the material outlined in this handbook.
Further, if a student intends to practice in a state other than Kansas after graduation, the student should inform the program. The program will make a reasonable effort to determine if the program satisfies the educational requirements of that state. The student will be informed of these findings. Students who will seek licensure or credentialing outside the United States are responsible for researching the prerequisites for licensure in another country.
Upon completion of the program, there are a variety of ways you can apply your counseling education in professional settings. You can work directly for a church, offering counseling services to members of the congregation who may be struggling with bereavement, marriage issues, addiction, or abuse. You can also choose to become a licensed practitioner in your state and open a private counseling practice or work for an established practice or organization. Competent counselors are needed to help youth, adult, and senior age populations in most communities, in faith-based and secular organizations.
No, graduates from the counseling program are not required to obtain state licensure.
The pros of state licensure include but are not limited to: being able to bill a client’s insurance, having a credential that is recognized by other health professionals, and having a standard for continuing education that will keep you up-to-date on best practices. Some of the cons of licensure include but are not limited to: the input and potential limitations third-party payers (such as insurance) can place on practitioners such as the number of visits, paying for license renewal each year, can limit the application of spiritual practices within therapy depending on the setting.
In 2026, Central is in the process of applying for program accreditation for our Master of Arts in Counseling program. The accreditation we are pursuing is the same one held by many other institutions including major public and private colleges and universities. Our program was designed using the standards and expectations required by many accreditors.
As of early 2026, our program graduates have a 100% pass rate on their National Counseling Exam (NCE)!
Good counselors are good listeners. They are able to process information not only with their head but with their heart as well. Good counselors develop the wisdom needed to integrate their head and heart knowledge to analyze the information presented to them and give discerning help to their clients. Good counselors are committed to their own mental and emotional health and spiritual growth to focus on the care of the person they serve.
The good news is our field is only growing! As the acceptance of therapy grows in the broader culture, so does the need for good counselors.
