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Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

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Counseling and Psychology Degrees at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Apex School of Theology appears in our ranking of the 20 Best Master’s in Pastoral Counseling Online Degree Programs.

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS) offers numerous degrees in the fields of counseling and psychology for those who are interested in combining their religion with their passion for helping and inspiring others. From undergraduate degrees to doctoral degrees, there is no shortage of programs for prospective students.

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Counseling Psychology allows students to take their desire to help others and discover a unique way to serve their community. Throughout the program, students will learn to connect the biblical worldview to current schools of thought via the practice of counseling. Students must complete 48 hours of general education core courses, 30 hours of biblical core courses, and 30 hours of counseling psychology major courses. Students round out their degree with 12 hours of electives based on their specific interests and career goals.

The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Counseling degree prepares women and men for specialized service in a number of ministry settings, including worship ministry, education, and counseling. Students who complete this program also meet the educational requirements for licensure in Missouri as a licensed professional counselor. Students will take courses in group counseling, the diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders as well as child and adolescent disorders, integration Christian theology and counseling, and psychological tests and measures.

The Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree is the standard first degree for students who are seeking a career in pastoral ministry. This program is ideal for future missionaries, associate pastors, evangelists, traditional pastors, and as a foundation for subsequent graduate work. Students must complete 72 hours of foundational coursework, a practicum, and 36 hours of concentration courses in areas such as multicultural counseling, career development and counseling, theory and methods of group counseling, marriage and family counseling, professional orientation and ethics, lifespan and development, counseling theories, and the theory, diagnosis, and treatment of abnormal psychology.

Featured Programs

The Master of Theological Studies (MTS) degree is a 45-hour program that provides a solid foundation of the theological studies designed to equip students for growing and effective ministries. The MTS degree provides training in the same foundational areas of ministry as the M.Div. program but takes less time to complete. Students who choose to pursue the MTS degree with an emphasis in Christian Counseling can expect to take concentration courses in helping relationships, the diagnosis and treatment of addiction disorders, marriage and family counseling, and counseling theories.

The Doctor of Counseling (D.Coun.) degree is an advanced professional degree that prepares students to practice professional counseling at the highest level of clinical competence. Although the program includes research and theory, the emphasis of the degree is on further developing one’s professional skills. Students will take courses in areas such as counselor supervision, advanced marriage and family therapy, cognitive-behavioral treatments, diagnosing and treating addiction disorders, psychotherapy and treatment, and the biological basis of behavior. Students must complete a dissertation in order to earn their doctoral degree.

About Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Established in 1957, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS) is one of six official seminaries of the Southern Baptist Convention. Located in Kansas City, Missouri, MBTS is also home to Spurgeon College, an undergraduate college formerly known as “Midwestern College” that offers various diploma options and programs for students pursuing a college degree. MBTS is nestled just a few minutes from downtown, and the campus features numerous apartment and dormitory buildings for residential students, the Sword & Trowel Bookstore, a modest fishing pond, picnic and playground areas, and more than 220 acres of woods.

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Accreditation Details

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS) maintains academic and professional accreditation with two accrediting associations: the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS). MBTS is accredited to offer several graduate degrees that are typically classified as Master of Arts (M.A.) and Master of Divinity (M.Div.). Accreditation at both the specialized and regional levels ensures that the institution has met, and will continue to meet, established standards of quality as they relate to the school’s degrees, programs, faculty, teaching outcomes, student experiences, and more. Accreditation also means that MBTS can accept and initiate the transfer of credits as well as request federal funding for its students in the form of financial aid.

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Application Requirements

The exact application requirements to pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree in counseling or psychology from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS) will depend on the degree chosen. However, in most cases, students are required to submit a completed application for the program of their choice, pay a nonrefundable application fee, and show evidence of prior education such as a high school diploma, bachelor’s degree, or master’s degree. MBTS may also request letters of recommendation from Church pastors, academic sources, or others who can attest to the applicant’s character as well as a current resume, statement of purpose, and graduate test scores.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition rates for the counseling and psychology programs offered by Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary will also depend on the exact program a student chooses to pursue. For instance, an on-campus undergraduate degree in counseling will cost $300 per hour for qualified Southern Baptist students or $465 per hour for all other students. The same degree offered in an online format will cost $350 per hour for qualified Southern Baptist students or $385 per hour for all other students. Graduate tuition rates also differ as Southern Baptists and Korean students will pay $270 per hour for classroom-based courses or $350 for online-based courses, while all other students will pay $465 for in-person classes or $385 for distance learning classes. The full Doctor of Counseling degree costs $11,000 for qualified Students or $18,000 for all other students. All students should be aware of additional fees that may not be included in the school’s listed tuition rates.

MBTS participates in the Direct Loan and Pell Grant programs through the U.S. Department of Education. Undergraduate students and those seeking a master’s degree and who meet eligibility requirements may be entitled to receive financial aid. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine eligibility. Other types of financial aid offered by Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary include subsidized and unsubsidized loans, institutional scholarships, missions scholarships, endowed scholarships, outside scholarships, and benefits for veterans and active military members, their dependents, and their spouses.