Liberty University Counseling and Psychology Degree Programs Available
Liberty University appears in our ranking of the 20 Best Master’s in Pastoral Counseling Online Degree Programs.
BS in Psychology – Christian Counseling
The Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Christian Counseling at Liberty University is designed for those who wish to provide support and guidance to individuals, groups or families who may need to overcome issues. The program is designed to help students integrate faith into their professional life. Liberty University students strive to incorporate Christ-like characteristics in order to use the power of faith and education to achieve transformation. The program is available completely online. Courses required include:
- Abnormal Psychology
- Behavioral Modification
- Christian Life & Biblical Worldview
- Developmental Psychology
- General Psychology
- Introduction to Christian Counseling
- Introduction to Probability & Statistics
- Introduction to Research
- Introduction to Theology Survey
- Issues of Christian Counseling
- Multicultural Counseling & Research Issues
- Psychological Psychology
- Psychology & Christianity
- Psychology Foundation of Learning
- Psychological Measurement
- Psychology of Personality
- Social Psychology
- Statistics in Psychology
- Survey of Old & New Testament
Students must also complete an internship.
Pastoral Counseling M.A.
Liberty University offers a Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling that is available in both a traditional and online format. The program is 36-credit hours and students may specialize in the following areas:
- Addictions & Recovery
- Community Chaplaincy
- Crisis Response & Trauma
- Discipleship & Church Ministry
- Leadership
- Life Coaching
- Marriage & Family
- Marriage & Family Studies
- Military Resilience
- Parent and Child/Adolescent
- Pastoral Counseling
- Theology
Some of the courses required, depending on the concentration, may include Spiritual Formation in Pastoral Counseling, Crisis Intervention in Pastoral Counseling, Marriage and Family Counseling or Theories and Techniques in Pastoral Counseling. All programs include a strong biblical connection with a focus on Christian beliefs.
About Liberty University
Liberty University was founded in 1971 by Reverend Jerry Falwell and was originally known as the Lynchburg Baptist College. At the time, Falwell was the pastor of the Thomas Road Baptist Church and served as the first president of the new college. During the founding years of the college, students and faculty developed a goal to influence the moral and ethical course of the country. This led the trustees to rename the school Liberty Baptist College in 1976 and change the school colors to red, white and blue. The school gained university status in 1984. Falwell held the office of president until his death in 2007 and was succeeded by his son, Jerry Falwell, Jr.
Today, traditional and online enrollment exceeds 100,000 with over 30,000 military students enrolled in programs. The Center of Academic Excellence at Liberty University has been recognized by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education. Lynchburg Business Magazine named Alexandru Barker, leader of the Center for Entrepreneurship, as a “Millennial on the Move.”
Featured Programs
Liberty University Accreditation Details
Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Accreditation indicates that the school agrees to voluntary review on a periodic basis to confirm that programs offered provide graduates with the skills they need to achieve success in their chosen field. The school also agrees to address any areas identified as needing improvement during those reviews. Programs throughout the school are also accredited by the following organizations:
- ABET
- Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
- Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
- American Bar Association
- American Osteopathic Association Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation
- Association of Christian Schools International
- Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Commission on Sport Management Education
- Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
- National Association of Schools of Music
- National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
Liberty University Admission Requirements
Students who wish to attend Liberty University must complete an application. An admission essay as well as official high school transcripts along with official SAT and ACT scores are also required. Students who have earned college credit after high school graduation must provide official college transcripts as well.
Undergraduate admissions are competitive and based on the student’s cumulative high school GPA, consistency and trends of grades as well as SAT or ACT scores and the essay that is submitted.
In order to enter the Pastoral Counseling graduate degree program, students must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university and provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. They must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher in order to be admitted to the program.
Liberty University Tuition and Financial Aid
Full-time on-campus tuition for undergraduate programs at Liberty University is $23,800 per year. Full-time graduate tuition varies depending on the program. Tuition for the Pastoral Counseling degree is $410 per credit hour with a $2,850 per semester cap. Online undergraduate tuition is $390 per credit hour for students attending full-time and $455 per credit hour for students attending part-time. Online Master of Arts degrees are $565 per credit hour for students attending full-time and $615 per credit hour for students attending part-time.
In order to qualify for any financial aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students may qualify for resident undergraduate or graduate scholarships as well as online scholarships. They may qualify for transfer or mission scholarships as well. Students may also qualify for grants, including Pell, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity, Federal TEACH, Liberty Supplemental, Liberty Scholars, Virginia Tuition Assistance, Virginia Two-Year College Transfer or Virginia Brown v. Board of Education grants.
Students may qualify for federal or private loans as well as federal PLUS loans. It is important to remember that loans must be repaid after graduation while scholarships and grants are considered gift aid that does not need to be repaid.
Liberty University offers traditional and online programs with a strong Christian focus that allow students to achieve their higher education goals while remaining true to their faith. The online programs provide a flexible way for adult learners to move into a new career or advance in a current career with an education that is based in biblical beliefs and promotes a strong Christian outlook for the subject matter covered.