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 This program equips students to understand and integrate foundational counseling theories with their faith, while gaining practical counseling experience. In doing so, students become qualified to pursue licensure along with a career path that may involve the mental health community, private practice, the local church or international relief work.
CONTENT AREA CREDITS
Spiritual Formation 4
Biblical Studies 10
Theological Studies 8
Counseling Studies 50
Total 72
The Master of Arts in Marital and Family Therapy and Master of Divinity dual degree program (120 credits) or Master of Arts in Marital and Family Therapy and Master of Arts (Biblical and Theological Studies) (108 credits) offer means of combining professional counseling training with diverse ministry skill development. In completing a dual degree program, graduates increase their opportunities for specialization as a counselor.
Students may choose to expand their program to include the addiction studies certificate by completing coursework available at the San Jose campus. The expanded degree totals 81 credits.
We dedicate significant time to biblical training in order to integrate a Christian worldview with the field of counseling. As a result, students graduate with an awareness of their Christian worldview and the ability to articulate their beliefs as they interact with clients and other professionals in the field.
This program curriculum is designed by the state of California to prepare future counselors for licensure, while adding the distinctive elements of Christian worldview and theological perspective. We provide you with the necessary tools, knowledge and experience needed to grow as a therapist, counselor or mental health worker with strategic influence for the Kingdom.
The Sacramento campus offers midweek evening classes, as well as intensive weekend classes. We also offer a distance learning option, through which students can complete up to 18 credits of their Bible and theology training. To learn more about these delivery systems, visit this webpage.
Students will complete three or more semesters of practicum working as trainees before graduation. In doing so, the M.A. in Marital and Family Therapy program meets the state educational requirements for licensure by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
Capitalizing on their shared knowledge from the classroom and the real world, our professors are able to impart years of pastoral and clinical counseling to equip our graduates for life and ministry.
Applicants must have earned a four-year baccalaureate degree or its full educational equivalent from a college or university accredited by a United States association holding membership in one of the six regional accrediting associations, that is a member of the Association of Universities and Colleges in Canada, that is a member of the Association for Biblical Higher Education, or from an institution which maintains similar academic requirements and standards.
Admission requirements for this program include a cumulative grade point average of 3.0. Western Seminary recommends that an applicant’s undergraduate degree contain a minimum of 35 semester hours of the liberal arts and sciences.
Note: This number represents the total credit hours that can be earned by distance education, transfer and advanced standing.
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