The Master of Arts in Counseling (M.A.C.) offers both licensure (51-60 credits) and non-licensure (42-48 credits) tracks. The licensure tracks are designed to prepare Christian counselors to serve in the Church or community settings as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) and to prepare qualified graduates to practice with appropriate professional and legal recognition and in an informed ethical, legal and professional manner. They also prepare students to integrate biblical, theological and psychological insights into effective counseling ministry, stimulate the development of personal maturity, self-understanding and interpersonal sensitivity.

51-60 hour M.A.C. Degree Components and Requirements (Licensure)

The 51-60 hour M.A.C. offers two counseling concentrations: 1) Licensed Professional Counseling (LPC), 51 credit hours; and 2) the Licensed Professional Counseling Extended Family Studies Concentration (LPCFS), 60 credit hours.

It consists of three elements and requires a 3.0 grade point average for admission and continuance in the program:

• 3 credits of core foundational studies,
• 18 credits of required coursework in psychology and counseling, and
• 30-39 credits in an area of concentration.

Students are required to attend a minimum of 10 personal growth therapy sessions (at their own expense) with a departmentally approved therapist in the first or second year of their seminary education experience.

Core Course (3 credits)1
PCP 521		Theological and Missional Context for Helping Professionals or equivalent integration course(s)	3
Required Courses (18 credits)
PCP 544		Counseling Theories	3
PCP 550		Interpersonal Techniques in Helping Relationships	3
PCP 564		Applied Human Development	3
PCP 623		Ethical/Legal/Professional Issues	3
PCP 625		Research Methods for Helping Professionals	3
PCP 663		Psychopathology	3
Concentrations
Select One:
Professional Counseling [LPC] Concentration (30 credits)
PCP 628		Career Development Counseling	3
PCP 629		Counseling with Special Populations	3
PCP 632		Tests and Measurements*	3
PCP 637		Group Counseling	3
PCP 657		Marital and Family Therapy I: Theories and Foundations	3
Two of the following:			6
	PCP 531	Play Therapy and Childhood Intervention
	PCP 551	Addictive Behaviors and Family Systems
	PCP 565	Psychopharmacology
	PCP 622	Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
	PCP 624	Family Studies: Human Sexuality
	PCP 662	Child and Adolescent Psychopathology
Required:
	PCP 640	Counseling Practicum I*	3
	PCP 641	Counseling Practicum II*	3
	PCP 642	Counseling Practicum III*	3
Professional Counseling Extended Family Studies [LPCFS] Concentration (39 credits)
PCP 551		Addictive Behaviors and Family Systems	3
PCP 624		Family Studies: Human Sexuality	3
PCP 628		Career Development Counseling	3
PCP 629		Counseling Diverse Populations	3
PCP 632		Tests and Measurements*	3
PCP 637		Group Counseling	3
PCP 657		Marital and Family Therapy I: Theories and Foundations	3
One of the following MFT courses or its equivalent:			3
PCP 658		Marital and Family Therapy II: Assessment and Treatment Planning
PCP 659		Marital and Family Therapy III: Interventions, Strategies, and Techniques
Two of the following:			6
	PCP 531	Play Therapy and Childhood Intervention
	PCP 565	Psychopharmacology
	PCP 622	Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
	PCP 624	Family Studies: Human Sexuality
	PCP 662	Child and Adolescent Psychopathology
Required:
	PCP 640	Counseling Practicum I*	3
	PCP 641	Counseling Practicum II*	3
	PCP 652	Marital and Family Therapy Practicum I	3
* Course requires prerequisite. See course description.

42-48 hour M.A.C. Program in Community Mental Health Service (C.M.H.S.T.) Degree Components and Requirements (Non-Licensure)

The 42-48 hour M.A.C., Community Mental Health Service (C.M.H.S.T.) is a non-licensure track designed to prepare students for work in the church and/or public health agencies that do not require licensure or practicum. The C.M.H.S.T. requires a minimum grade point average of 3.0 for admission and continuance in the program. Students in the C.M.H.S.T. who desire to apply for a licensure track must have a 3.0 grade point average after completion of at least 30 hours at AGTS. If approved, continuation in a licensure track and enrollment in a clinical practicum is contingent upon the student’s ability to maintain a 3.0 gpa. Students from the C.M.H.S.T. who qualify to transfer to a licensure track will forfeit any advanced standing credit awarded when initially admitted to AGTS for undergraduate counseling and/or psychology studies.
Core Courses (3 credits)
PCP 521	Theological and Missional Context for Helping Professionals or equivalent integration course(s)	3
Required Courses (30 Credits)1
PCP 544	Counseling Theories	3
PCP 550	Interpersonal Techniques in Helping Relationships	3
PCP 551	Addictive Behaviors and Family Systems	3
PCP 564	Applied Human Development	3
PCP 623	Ethical/Legal/Professional Issues	3
PCP 625	Research Methods for Helping Professionals	3
PCP 628	Career Development Counseling	3
PCP 629	Counseling Diverse Populations	3
PCP 657	Marital and Family Therapy I: Theories and Foundations	3
PCP 663	Psychopathology	3
Electives (15 credits)		15
Five of the following
PCP 622	Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
PCP 624	Family Studies: Human Sexuality
PCP 632	Tests and Measurements*
PCP 658	Marital and Family Therapy II: Assessment and Treatment Planning
PCP 659	Marital and Family Therapy III: Interventions, Strategies and Techniques
PCP 662	Child and Adolescent Psychopathology
PCP 637	Group Counseling
*Course requires prerequisite. See course description. 1 Six hours of advanced standing in counseling and/or psychology may be requested if courses were taken at an accredited undergraduate institution.

Click here to view the Suggested Course Sequence.

Counseling Licensure

Students should note that in both the Professional Counseling (LPC) and Professional Counseling Extended Family Studies (LPCFS) concentrations, state licensure and professional recognition have additional requirements after completion of a graduate degree. These requirements include a specific number of hours of counseling under the clinical supervision of an approved supervisor and, in most states, the successful completion of a qualifying examination in the area of concentration.

Some states may require additional course work as well. Students are advised to determine the specific requirements in the state in which they plan to practice. In all cases, the prerogative of professional recognition rests with the membership committee of the professional association or state regulatory agency.

Students who want to pursue doctoral studies in the area of counseling may find this degree to be helpful preparation for those studies, but should discuss that possibility with the institution where they plan to do their doctoral studies.

Practicums

The specific practicums required for each concentration are delineated in each degree program. Since practicums are designed to allow for the application of the principles and procedures studied in other courses, a sufficient academic foundation must be demonstrated prior to entering the counseling practicums. Timing is crucial and students should begin planning their practicums early in the academic program. Approval for a practicum must be secured through an interview scheduled with the counseling practicum adviser. Students will subsequently pursue individually attained placement upon approval. Registration for a practicum must be completed by the pre-registration date for the semester in which the practicum is to be taken. Additionally, the student should be aware that practicum requirements for specific state licensure may exceed AGTS requirements. Students should verify specific state requirements prior to beginning practicum. Practicums will be graded satisfactory, marginal or unsatisfactory. A fee of $250 is assessed to students enrolled in counseling practicums.

Graduation Requirements

In addition to the general requirements for graduation, the student must pass a written comprehensive examination before the degree is awarded. Students who fail the comprehensive examination will be allowed to retake the exam following a three-week study period.

Policy for Retakes

Students failing the exam retake must audit or enroll in designated and approved courses, then retake and pass the exam. In the event of failure on the second retake, the student may not repeat the exam without an approved, rigorous remedial program.

Distance Learning

Due to state licensing requirements, counseling majors are advised not to take courses by distance learning or directed research. Some exceptions may be approved through the academic adviser for Bible or theology courses.

Updated: Thursday, May 30, 2013 2:21 PM