ICAS-Accredited Degree Program
Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling
M.A. credential
Explore how Scripture, careful listening, and Christian compassion can guide conversations with people facing difficult seasons.
Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling: Your Grant Price
Applications are free. Eligible applicants receive their admission and Grant decision before any one-time program fee is requested.
Published tuition
$59,900.00
$499.00 after prior learning credit
$99
Master's Degree
2026 Life in Christ Grant is active
Ministry Experience, Evaluated Against Academic Standards.
Documented prior learning may be considered when it aligns with program outcomes; every credit decision follows academic review.
Program Overview
About this program
Master's study in Biblical Counseling is structured for advanced theological specialization, ministry wisdom, and Christian leadership. The ICAS-accredited Biblical Counseling program at Life Seminary is rooted in Scripture, attentive to the historic Christian tradition, and directed toward faithful service. Students prepare to understand the whole person, form wise helping relationships, respond to suffering, and lead biblically grounded counseling ministries in church and community settings.
Program Qualifying Examination
Complete question-bank and assessment details for this degree
This degree carries exactly one examination. Each sitting draws a fresh subset from the dedicated Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling pathway bank, covering the published degree plan through biblical, theological, research, and ministry judgment.
70
Audited questions in this pathway bank
30
Questions drawn for each sitting
60 minutes
Time available for the examination
24 hours
Until another unlimited sitting opens
Bank identity and coverage
- Published bank title
- Biblical Counseling - Master Program Qualifying Examination
- Credential
- Master of Arts (M.A.) in Biblical Counseling
- Question construction
- 14 pathway subject-bank sources contribute 5 questions each, producing the complete 70-question bank.
How completion is reported
- The examination contributes 40% and assessed ministry experience contributes 60% to one weighted result.
- The reported result is no lower than 80%, matching the 80% degree pass mark.
- A repeat sitting draws a different subset and is included without a retake fee or attempt limit.
- There is no separate per-course examination, capstone paper, or dissertation defense.
Program Objectives
What you will achieve
Integrate advanced theological study, spiritual maturity, and ministry wisdom for Christian leadership
Interpret Scripture responsibly within its literary, historical, canonical, and theological contexts
Articulate central Christian doctrines with biblical depth, historical awareness, and intellectual clarity
Integrate theological learning with spiritual formation, ethical wisdom, and ministry practice
Serve churches and communities with humility, discernment, cultural attentiveness, and Christian hope
Learning Outcomes
Skills and competencies you will develop
Synthesize advanced biblical and theological evidence for clear teaching, leadership, and ministry judgment
Construct evidence-based theological arguments using Scripture and appropriate scholarly sources
Evaluate ministry questions through biblical, theological, historical, and contextual analysis
Communicate Christian truth clearly to academic, ecclesial, and public audiences
Design faithful ministry responses that connect Christian conviction with lived practice
Career Opportunities
Where this degree can take you
Pastoral care minister
Church counseling director
Chaplaincy care worker
Family ministry leader
Major Subject Areas
The fourteen pathway subjects represented in the published degree plan and question bank
Foundational and Major-Core Subjects
Eight field-defining subjects aligned with the selected degree level and its expected competencies.
Advanced Biblical Interpretation
Graduate theological study emphasizing faithful interpretation, critical analysis, and ministry application. Grammatical, literary, historical, canonical, and theological approaches to reading Scripture faithfully.
Advanced Old Testament Theology
Graduate theological study emphasizing faithful interpretation, critical analysis, and ministry application. The narrative, covenantal, prophetic, wisdom, and theological contours of the Old Testament.
Advanced New Testament Theology
Graduate theological study emphasizing faithful interpretation, critical analysis, and ministry application. The Gospels, Acts, Epistles, and Revelation in their historical setting and theological witness to Christ.
Advanced Christian Doctrine
Graduate theological study emphasizing faithful interpretation, critical analysis, and ministry application. The Trinity, creation, humanity, sin, Christ, salvation, the church, and Christian hope in historic theology.
Advanced Theological Anthropology and Care
Graduate theological study emphasizing faithful interpretation, critical analysis, and ministry application. Focused theological study of theological anthropology and care through Scripture, historic Christian sources, critical reflection, and ministry application.
Advanced Helping Relationships
Graduate theological study emphasizing faithful interpretation, critical analysis, and ministry application. Focused theological study of helping relationships through Scripture, historic Christian sources, critical reflection, and ministry application.
Advanced Pastoral Counseling
Graduate theological study emphasizing faithful interpretation, critical analysis, and ministry application. Focused theological study of pastoral counseling through Scripture, historic Christian sources, critical reflection, and ministry application.
Advanced Grief, Trauma, and Hope
Graduate theological study emphasizing faithful interpretation, critical analysis, and ministry application. Focused theological study of grief, trauma, and hope through Scripture, historic Christian sources, critical reflection, and ministry application.
Specialization Subjects
Six advanced subjects extend the field into focused theological and ministry applications.
Advanced Marriage and Family Ministry
Graduate theological study emphasizing faithful interpretation, critical analysis, and ministry application. Focused theological study of marriage and family ministry through Scripture, historic Christian sources, critical reflection, and ministry application.
Advanced Crisis Care
Graduate theological study emphasizing faithful interpretation, critical analysis, and ministry application. Focused theological study of crisis care through Scripture, historic Christian sources, critical reflection, and ministry application.
Advanced Addiction and Recovery Ministry
Graduate theological study emphasizing faithful interpretation, critical analysis, and ministry application. Focused theological study of addiction and recovery ministry through Scripture, historic Christian sources, critical reflection, and ministry application.
Advanced Counseling Ethics and Referral
Graduate theological study emphasizing faithful interpretation, critical analysis, and ministry application. Focused theological study of counseling ethics and referral through Scripture, historic Christian sources, critical reflection, and ministry application.
Advanced Spiritual Formation and Christian Vocation
Graduate theological study emphasizing faithful interpretation, critical analysis, and ministry application. Practices of prayer, discernment, holiness, community, and vocational faithfulness in Christian life and leadership.
Advanced Integrative Theology and Ministry
Graduate theological study emphasizing faithful interpretation, critical analysis, and ministry application. A guided synthesis of biblical, theological, historical, and practical learning around a substantial ministry question.
Admission Requirements
What you need to apply
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited or recognized institution
- Official transcripts showing preparation appropriate to graduate theological study
- Statement of theological, academic, and ministry goals
- Current resume or curriculum vitae
- Two ministry, professional, or academic recommendations
Degree Completion Requirements
Requirements for the Master of Arts
Graduation Requirements
- Complete at least 36 graduate semester credits in the approved degree plan
- Pass the single Program Qualifying Examination for the degree
- Satisfy every graduate-core, specialization, elective, and comprehensive requirement group
- Have that examination weighed together with assessed ministry experience
- Earn all required credits through the verified course-credit ledger
Culminating Experience
Pass the Program Qualifying Examination, which integrates advanced theological study with ministry application and is assessed together with documented ministry experience.
Credit Distribution
| Requirement Area | Credits | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate Core | 21 | 7 courses. Required advanced theory, methods, and professional competencies of the discipline. |
| Graduate Specialization | 9 | 3 courses. Focused graduate study in an approved concentration or practice area. |
| Graduate Elective | 3 | 1 course. Any master-level major course from any school that is not already part of this degree plan. |
| Program Qualifying Examination | 3 | 1 course. The single program-wide graduate examination for the degree, assessed together with documented ministry service. |
| Total Degree Credits | 36 | All requirements must be completed within the approved degree plan. |
Program Details
Program Length
Self-Paced
Self-Paced Learning
Total Credits
36 credit hours
Up to 18 Transfer Credits
Published Degree Plan
12 courses
Across 4 required curriculum groups
Format
Flexible Study
Assessment Format
One Program Qualifying Examination with Assessed Ministry Experience
Selected Degree
Master
School
School of Theology and Ministry
Institutional Status
ICAS Accredited
Ready to Begin Your Accredited Biblical Counseling Degree?
Compare program outcomes with your documented prior learning, then review the admission and assessment requirements for this pathway.