Designed for those seeking formal licensure, the MAC prepares students to work as licensed counselors, whether public or church-related settings, and also prepares them for further study. The three-year curriculum includes a theological and theoretical foundation followed by practical orientation through a counseling internship. Students are equipped with counseling skills and techniques based on a conceptual framework rooted in Scripture and informed by clinical study.
Application Options
Early Action:
- October 31 – Written application complete
- December 1 – Admissions interviews (1-2) complete
- December 15 – Responses mailed to applicants
Regular Action:
- January 31 – Written application complete
- March 1 – Admissions interviews (1-2) complete
- March 15 – Responses mailed to applicants
Distinctives of the MAC
Covenant Seminary trains counselors with a biblical approach that rigorously examines theories of human nature and counseling techniques in the context of biblical truth. Rather than either dehumanizing or deifying human beings, the Seminary’s counseling program seeks to train students to see every human being as a person made in the image of God, yet affected by the Fall—living both in dignity and depravity. With this Scriptural perspective as a foundation and framework, students are equipped to demonstrate God’s grace and to help hurting people grow and change. Covenant’s MAC:
- Is recognized by the Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors.
- Uniquely prepares students to serve as counselors in church-related contexts.
- Provides excellent preparation for students planning on advanced graduate study, state licensure, and work in other counseling agencies.
- Is based on a high level of faculty involvement in the training process, particularly during the internship year when students meet regularly with counseling faculty in weekly small group and one-on-one settings to assess their progress in learning counseling theory and technique.
Limited Enrollment and Online Options
- Enrollment in this program is limited to a specific number of student each year to ensure a high level of personal mentoring and provide quality internship sites and placement assistance.
- Because of the intensely personal nature of the MAC, opportunities for online study are limited. Only certain courses in biblical studies or systematic theology can be taken online; the rest of the program must be completed on campus.
Licensure
In Missouri. The MAC has been designed to meet the foundational educational requirements of the Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors for state licensure. To meet the remaining state licensure requirements, students must:
- Complete study in three areas not required in Covenant Seminary’s core curriculum—career counseling, educational/psychological measurements, and group techniques (all available at Covenant Seminary as elective credit).
- Complete additional hours of supervised, post-degree counseling under a licensed professional.
In Other States. Licensure requirements vary widely by state, including required graduate-level classes, internship hours during graduate school and post-degree requirements. If you plan to practice outside of Missouri, please check the state-specific information available on websites for each state’s licensing department or bureau. We can use this information to help you create a customized plan for MAC courses to be taken at Covenant or partner institutions in St. Louis.
Preparation for Study
Students with some undergraduate work in psychology, counseling, or social work will generally be better equipped to synthesize the psychological and biblical training Covenant provides, but previous work in these areas is not a necessity for pursuing the MAC. Because the biblical foundation is critical to Covenant Seminary’s counseling program, prospective students are strongly encouraged to increase their knowledge of Bible content.
See a list of our Course Offerings for 2017-2018.
See a full list of all our Course Descriptions.