Online Christian Counseling Schools

Christian counseling blends faith and psychology to help people navigate an ever-challenging world. Counselors use biblical principles to address clients’ challenges and fears while facilitating personal and spiritual growth.

Earning a master’s in Christian counseling can help you become a licensed professional counselor and earn an average annual salary of $57,240, according to Payscale data from November 2024. Learn about choosing the right online Christian counseling degree program for you, the courses you might take, and counseling career options.

A master’s or doctoral degree in Christian counseling online can qualify you to become a licensed professional counselor and help clients who are seeking biblically based counseling. A graduate degree and licensure can increase your earning potential and allow you to pursue more career opportunities, such as opening an independent Christian counseling practice.

Earning a master’s degree offers benefits that include:

When choosing an online Christian counseling degree program, pay attention to several key metrics to ensure the right fit. These include admission criteria, costs and financial aid, and factors that measure the program’s effectiveness, such as graduation rates and accreditation.

Here is a list of what to look for when researching Christian counseling programs:

Master’s programs in the field typically prepare students to obtain a state-issued license. Professionals working for faith-based organizations can also earn the degree to improve their counseling skills. Curricula typically emphasize ethical considerations, crisis intervention techniques, and topics related to family dynamics. Degree-seekers typically demonstrate mastery of concepts during an internship experience.

The sample curriculum below highlights five courses students commonly take while earning a master’s degree in Christian counseling. Course names and requirements vary by school, so students should contact an admissions or career counselor for details about their prospective program.

Christian counselors need a strong understanding of counseling history and best practices. This course introduces students to psychoanalytic, behavioral, and person-centered counseling. Learners evaluate each theory’s usefulness in Christian counseling settings. The class also covers important figures, such as Sigmund Freud and B.F. Skinner.

Although licensed counselors with a master’s degree cannot prescribe medication, they must know how various drugs affect individuals with psychological problems. Students in this class examine the behavioral and physiological effects of numerous medications. Learners also prepare to identify signs of drug abuse and intoxication.

Christian counselors often help patients who have suffered from abuse or trauma. Counselors apply specialized knowledge and strategies to help these clients. Degree-seekers in this course learn about various forms of domestic violence, such as spousal abuse, and prepare to identify signs of abuse in clients. Coursework also covers how child abuse impacts developing minds.

In this course, learners pursuing their Christian counseling degree online analyze biblical principles regarding spiritual fulfillment, temptation, and depression’s root causes. Students review relevant Bible passages and spiritual texts. Course requirements may include journal entries, tests, and a final paper.

Adolescents face unique psychological challenges, such as societal expectations and mental development during puberty. These challenges may cause friction within families. This course explores issues that adolescents commonly face and how positive family dynamics can encourage healthy mindsets. Learners typically complete tests and a research paper.