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MASTER OF ARTS

Counseling

How do you reach a person holistically? A holistic counselor considers the effects of multiple areas of a person’s life: biological, psychological, social, and spiritual. While most professional counseling considers the first three, Christian counseling places great importance on spirituality as integral in the healing process. Crown College’s Master of Arts in Counseling program emphasizes all aspects of the healing process and provides you the necessary foundation to practice as a professional counselor.

Crown’s professors will help you explore the beauty of the human mind from a Christian worldview while understanding the knowledge of counseling theories and techniques gained through scientific study. You will learn under excellent professors who share the faith and who are licensed professionals who currently work in counseling practice.

This Master’s online degree in Counseling satisfies the academic requirements for licensure as a professional counselor in the state of Minnesota, as well as many other states. This degree is offered primarily online, with a four-day residency at Crown College’s beautiful campus in May each year.

The Counselor Education Program (faculty and staff) are primarily responsible for preparing students in the program and assisting students to meet the educational objectives required for entry into the profession of counseling.

Mission Statement

The mission of the MAC is to develop professional counselors competent in clinical excellence, leadership, Christian integration, ethical decision-making, and evidence-based practices, and prepared to counsel in a diverse, multicultural, and global society; valuing people groups currently or historically persecuted, disempowered, mistreated, and/or overlooked.    

Program Goals and Objectives

  1. MAC will employ licensed, academically qualified faculty to provide a curriculum that is pedagogically rigorous, current, evidence-based, and professionally relevant. 
  2. MAC will engage students in the instruction, process, and practice of ethical decision-making. 
  3. MAC will enable students to understand and appropriately apply faith integration in counseling through the Christian worldview.  
  4. MAC will encourage professional identity and competent leadership in professional counseling through emphasizing  
    1. graduate level critical thinking and writing skills,
    2. social justice/advocacy, especially regarding diverse, multicultural, and global clients and people groups currently or historically persecuted, disempowered, mistreated, and/or overlooked.
    3. Professional development

This program will prepare students for the MN state LPCC licensure exam, and the coursework satisfies the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy’s requirements in each area of counselor development. Additionally, a structured, 700-hour internship experience, as required by MN LPCC licensure requirements (and many other states), is built into the program so students are prepared to begin practicing immediately after graduation.

Before enrolling in this program students should consult the rules and regulations regarding Professional Licensed Counseling for the state that they wish to practice in, to ensure that the program fulfills the requirements of their state.

 

Crown was recently ranked as one of the top online counseling programs by study.com.

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COUNSELING MAJOR

You've got a bright future ahead of you.

Limitless options. Extreme flexibility. Future-proofed career skills. Counseling majors have boundless opportunities.

22%

Job growth from 2018-2028

Source

60

Total credits

8

Week courses

Specialties offered

Clinical Mental Health Counseling + Addictions Counseling

CANVAS

Your virtual campus. Open all hours.

Anytime, anywhere, you can complete your coursework. Simply log into your classroom. Whether taking part in discussions with classmates or turning in your latest assignment, your virtual classroom doesn’t just run during office hours. Canvas is open 24-7.

 

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  • Find your course quickly by selecting the course from the Dashboard.

  • Find weekly overviews, assignments, updates, discussion boards, and quizzes in the Courses tab.

  • Dynamic discussions allow students to connect with fellow thinkers to grow together and go deeper.

  • The integrated Quizzes feature allows students to prove they have got the course material down.

  • See textbooks needed, course guidelines, and an overview of the module.

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HIGHLIGHT

On-Campus Summer Residency

In the summer of your first and second year, you’ll travel to our beautiful campus in Minnesota for a 4-day residency where you will work with experienced faculty to improve your counseling skills and your understanding of the diagnosis and assessment process by working in small groups. This is a great time for personal development and professional networking as students and professors come together on campus to encourage each other and grow.

Residency FAQ > 

Resources

  • Student Handbook
  • Assessment Reports (coming soon)
  • Critical Competencies and Key Performance Indicators
  • Internship is an exciting time for counseling students. It represents the opportunity to use the knowledge and skills they have developed through their coursework under the close watch of a qualified supervisor. Crown works with students to find a great placement for their internship as this is an important step into the profession of counseling. Our Internship Manual explains more here.
  • Crown College’s Master of Arts in Counseling program was designed to meet the educational requirements for professional licensure in the state of Minnesota. It meets the requirements in many other states as well. Please see (here) for information on the state you are interested in for licensure/practice
  • Syllabi (coming soon)

What Will I Study?

  • Theories and Practices of Counseling
  • Orientation to Counseling & Integration of Christian Worldview
  • Theories of Personality
  • Human Growth and Lifespan Development
  • Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling
  • Counseling Skills, Methods and Techniques Residency
  • Assessment, Testing and Measurement in Counseling
  • Addictions and Substance Abuse
  • Counseling Research and Evaluation
  • Multicultural Counseling
  • Group Process and Treatment
  • Career Counseling and Lifestyle Development
  • Marriage and Family Therapy
  • Psychopathology Residency
  • Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
  • Counseling Internships
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FLEXIBLE

Custom-built for your life.

We know you’re busy. Whether its family, work, or church, we created a program that fits with your priorities. Our online programs are flexible and designed for those working full-time, so you can do your coursework anywhere, anytime. Most coursework is due Thursday and Sunday by midnight, giving you the freedom to complete your coursework in your own schedule.

Courses begin throughout the year in January, March, May, July, August, and October. Most courses are 8 weeks. A few courses are 16 weeks long. Advisors assist students in determining a schedule based on their convenience and schedule.

Crown College’s Master of Arts in Counseling program was designed to meet the educational requirements for professional licensure in the state of Minnesota. It meets the requirements in many other states as well. Please see here for information on the state you are interested in for licensure/practice.

 

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission

You might also be interested in:

Ministry Leadership, M.A.

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Global Leadership, M.A.

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Pastoral Counseling, M.A.

Going deeper into the Christian mind

Learn More
Future Online + Grad Student

Just $610

per credit*

*$640 for MBA credits

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Program PDF

Minimum degree requirements 60 credit hours + two residencies

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Discover Online Life

What is it like to be an online student?

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Chat with an Admission Counselor

Need a little extra guidance? Talk to the professionals.

952-446-4300
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Contact James L. Zapf

Program Director

PhD + LPCC

zapfj@crown.edu

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Contact Troy Backhuus

Internship Coordinator

PhD + LIMHP

backhuus@crown.edu

FAQ

We offer a 60 credit hour, Regionally-accredited, Master’s level online Counseling degree, in addition to Pastoral Counseling and Alcohol and Drug Counseling Masters degrees.

The Master of Arts in Counseling degree leads to licensure in the State of Minnesota. It may or may not meet the specific licensing requirements in other states, which, therefore, may mean additional action is needed to fulfill an individual state’s licensing requirements. There may also be state restrictions related to fully online programs. Applicants and graduates should contact their state’s licensing board to determine the requirements needed in the state in which they are seeking licensure. Once graduated, most students will complete a state-determined number of supervised practice hours and an exam prior to gaining independent licensure.   

The program is designed to work with your schedule. Your advisor will help you determine a course sequence that works with your circumstances.  

Those students who choose to attend classes full time (approximately 9 credit hours per semester) can complete the program in three years. 

Crown does accept transfer credits from qualified schools for specific courses. Before enrolling, a transcript evaluation can be completed to determine the number of credits that will transfer.  

Practicum and Internship may be completed at a qualifying counseling site of the student’s choice. Students will receive approval of their Practicum and Internship sites by our Internship Coordinator who will check to determine whether the site and supervisor are qualified to provide the experience. Students choose their own site but Crown will assist as needed.