As of Fall 2026, this program is no longer accepting applicants.
The 36 credit hour Master Of Arts degree in Counseling For Ministry is designed to prepare students to become competent and effective pastoral caregivers in their present and future ministries.
Our contemporary social and cultural contexts reveal strong needs for ministry-based caregiving with competency from within religious traditions and their communities. The long and rich history of counseling within ministry gives witness to that commitment called "ministry of care", or in Jesuit terms, cura personalis.
The Master's in Counseling for Ministry degree program is suited to international students and others who do not require the 60 credit hour MA in Pastoral Counseling that is designed to meet the requirements for Illinois licensure as a clinical counselor.
The MA in Counseling for Ministry mirrors the competency requirements of the Pastoral Counseling program but without the additional licensure requirements, allowing students to serve the therapeutic needs of faith communities in the USA and around the world.
The Counseling for Ministry (MA) also offers an Accelerated Master's Pathway for Undergraduate students to complete their Graduate studies in a fifth year. Further details of the AMP, including the suggested sequence of courses, can be found under the Curriculum tab.
To learn more about the master's degree in counseling for ministry and studying in the USA, please visit our request for information form or attend an online information session.
The Institute of Pastoral Studies, Loyola University Chicago (IPS), is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools. The Board of Commissioners of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) granted full accreditation to IPS on June 10, 2019.
The Association of Theological Schools
10 Summit Park Drive
Pittsburgh PA 15275-1110
Telephone: 412-788-6505
The following IPS degree programs are approved by the Commission on Accrediting: Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Christian Spirituality (Professional MA), Master of Arts in Counseling for Ministry (Professional MA), Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling (Professional MA), and the Master of Arts in Social Justice (Professional MA) were also approved, as were our comprehensive online (distance education) programs.
Related Programs
Curriculum
The Master of Arts in Counseling for Ministry allows international students and those interested in Pastoral Counseling to receive a degree in counseling without the 60 credit hour licensure requirements. This 36 credit hour program continues to build student's understanding of religious culture, values and beliefs in a reflective and articulate form while equipping students to serve the therapeutic needs of their communities in a meaningful way.
The Counseling for Ministry (MA) also offers an Accelerated Master's Pathway for Undergraduate students to complete their Graduate studies in a fifth year. Further details of the AMP, including the suggested sequence of courses, can be found under the Curriculum tab.
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| IPS 400 | Introduction to Graduate and Professional Writing 1 | 0 |
| IPS 473 | Family Therapy and Personal Transformation | 3 |
| IPS 501 | Advanced Human Relation Skills | 3 |
| IPS 502 | Theology of the Developing Person | 3 |
| IPS 503 | Fundamentals of Pastoral Counseling | 3 |
| IPS 505 | Group Counseling Approaches | 3 |
| IPS 512 | Ethics, Pastoral Counseling, and Spirituality | 3 |
| IPS 555 | Human Person and Psychological Development | 3 |
| IPS 564 | Foundations of Pastoral Care | 3 |
| 9 |
| Spiritual Paths in World Religions | |
| Theologies of Suffering | |
| Introduction to Spirituality Praxis | |
| Pastoral Counseling in an Intercultural Context | |
| Addictions & Modes of Therapy | |
| Special Topics in Health Care Ethics | |
| IPS 578 | Contextual Education Preparation | 0 |
| IPS 579 | Contextual Education Introduction | 1.5 |
| IPS 580 | Contextual Education I | 1.5 |
| IPS 530 | Clinical Pastoral Care Registration | 0 |
| IPS 593 | Integration Project | 0 |
| Total Hours | 36 |
Suggested Sequence of Courses
Traditional Master's Program
Plan of Study Grid
| Year 1 |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| IPS 501 |
Advanced Human Relation Skills |
3 |
| IPS 473 |
Family Therapy and Personal Transformation |
3 |
| IPS 555 |
Human Person and Psychological Development |
3 |
| | Hours | 9 |
| Spring |
|---|
| IPS 502 |
Theology of the Developing Person |
3 |
| IPS 503 |
Fundamentals of Pastoral Counseling |
3 |
| IPS 512 |
Ethics, Pastoral Counseling, and Spirituality |
3 |
| IPS 578 |
Contextual Education Preparation |
0 |
| | Hours | 9 |
| Year 2 |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| IPS 505 |
Group Counseling Approaches |
3 |
| IPS 564 |
Foundations of Pastoral Care |
3 |
| IPS 579 |
Contextual Education Introduction |
1.5 |
| 1 |
3 |
| | Hours | 10.5 |
| Spring |
|---|
| IPS 580 |
Contextual Education I |
1.5 |
| IPS 593 |
Integration Project |
0 |
| 1 |
3 |
| 1 |
3 |
| | Hours | 7.5 |
| | Total Hours | 36 |
Accelerated Master's Pathway
Students can take up to 18 credit hours in the senior year with admission to the AMP. These credits are shared between the Bachelor's and Master's programs.
These are the appropriate classes for students in their first year of graduate study for the MA in Counseling for Ministry (MACM) at the Institute of Pastoral Studies (IPS). With the approval of their IPS academic advisor and undergraduate degree advisor, a student may select alternative classes from the MACM curriculum or other graduate-level classes that count as electives toward the MACM.
Plan of Study Grid
| Senior |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| IPS 501 |
Advanced Human Relation Skills |
3 |
| IPS 473 |
Family Therapy and Personal Transformation |
3 |
| IPS 555 |
Human Person and Psychological Development |
3 |
| | Hours | 9 |
| Spring |
|---|
| IPS 502 |
Theology of the Developing Person |
3 |
| IPS 503 |
Fundamentals of Pastoral Counseling |
3 |
| IPS 512 |
Ethics, Pastoral Counseling, and Spirituality |
3 |
| IPS 578 |
Contextual Education Preparation |
0 |
| | Hours | 9 |
| Master's |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| IPS 505 |
Group Counseling Approaches |
3 |
| IPS 564 |
Foundations of Pastoral Care |
3 |
| IPS 579 |
Contextual Education Introduction |
1.5 |
| 1 |
3 |
| | Hours | 10.5 |
| Spring |
|---|
| IPS 580 |
Contextual Education I |
1.5 |
| IPS 593 |
Integration Project |
0 |
| 1 |
3 |
| 1 |
3 |
| | Hours | 7.5 |
| | Total Hours | 36 |
Guidelines for Accelerated Master's Pathways
In Accelerated Master’s Pathways, students share limited, authorized credits between their Undergraduate and Graduate degrees to facilitate completion of both degrees in a shorter amount of time. Shared credits are Graduate level credit hours (400-level or higher) taken during the Undergraduate career and then applied both to the Undergraduate degree and towards Graduate program requirements.
Admission and Matriculation
Accelerated Master's Pathways are designed to enhance opportunities for advanced training for Loyola’s Undergraduates. Admission to these programs is competitive and will depend upon a positive review of credentials by the Graduate program. Accordingly, the admission requirements for these programs may be higher than those required if the Master’s degree were pursued entirely after the receipt of a Bachelor’s degree.
Students enrolled in an Accelerated Master's Pathway who choose not to continue to the Master’s degree program upon completion of the Bachelor’s degree will face no consequences.
Ideally, a student will apply for admission to an AMP program as they approach 90 credit hours in their Undergraduate career.
Students will not officially matriculate into the Master’s degree program and be labeled as a Graduate student by the university, with accompanying changes to tuition and Financial Aid (see below), until the Undergraduate degree has been awarded. Once admitted to the Graduate program, students must meet the academic standing requirements of their Graduate program as they complete the program curriculum.
Advising and Registration
Students in their final Undergraduate year will work with Advising in the home School of their Bachelor's program(s), as well as the Graduate Program Director of the Master’s program. Any 400-level or higher courses that the student plans to enroll in should be reviewed by both advisors to ensure that these courses will complete requirements for both degrees.
Registration in Graduate level courses during the Undergraduate year may require assistance from the Graduate Program Director and/or the student’s current academic advisor to enroll.
Shared Credits
Only courses taken at the 400-level or higher will count toward the Graduate program. At the Undergraduate level, students are restricted to enrolling in and sharing up to the number of Graduate level credits explicitly indicated in the catalog for their selected AMP program.
In general, Graduate level coursework should not be taken prior to admission into the Accelerated Master's Pathway. Exceptions may be granted for professional programs where curriculum for the Accelerated Master's Pathway is designed to begin earlier. On the recommendation of the program’s Graduate Program Director, students may take one of their Graduate level courses before they are admitted to the Accelerated Master’s Pathway if they have advanced abilities in their discipline and course offerings warrant such an exception.
Degree Requirements and Conferral
Undergraduate degree requirements are in no way impacted by admission to an Accelerated Master’s Pathway. Students should not, for example, attempt to negotiate themselves out of a writing intensive requirement on the basis of admission to a Graduate program.
The program’s Graduate Program Director will designate credit hours to be shared through the advising form and Master’s degree conferral review process. Graduate credit hours taken during the Undergraduate career will not be included in the Graduate GPA calculation.
If students wish to transfer credits from another university to Loyola University Chicago, the program’s Graduate Program Director will review the relevant syllabus or syllabi to determine whether it meets the criteria for a 400-level course or higher.
Programs with specialized accreditation requirements that allow programs to offer Graduate curriculum to Undergraduate students will conform to those specialized accreditation requirements.
Degrees are awarded sequentially. All details of Undergraduate commencement are handled in the ordinary way as for all students in the School/College/Institute. Once matriculated in the Graduate program, students abide by the graduation deadlines set forth by the Graduate program. Students in these programs must be continuously enrolled from Undergraduate to Graduate degree program unless given explicit permission by their program for a gap year or approved leave of absence. In offering the option of an Accelerated Master’s Pathway, the university is making possible the acceleration of a student’s Graduate degree completion. It should be understood that students may not request deferral of their matriculation into the Master’s degree program. If students would like to delay their Graduate studies after earning the Undergraduate degree, they may apply for admission to the traditional Master’s degree program. Any application of Graduate credit earned while in the Undergraduate program is subject to the policies of the Graduate degree granting school.
Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations
Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.
Learning Outcomes
By completing the Master of Arts in Counseling for Ministry, students will be able to demonstrate:
- The ability of pastoral caregivers to engage their social and cultural contextual environments in order to expand their pastoral competencies. (Cultural Context)
- The ability to interpret and assess pastoral caregiving in relation to the historical and contemporary pastoral commitments of faith communities. (Theology/Spirituality/Religious Heritage)
- The ability to offer competent and meaningful pastorally supportive services within largely faith-based contexts, based on personal, interpersonal, and spiritual maturity. (Maturity/Personal Formation)
- The ability to appropriately assess personal and relational life conditions that contribute to human distress and break down, with the skills needed to discern and effectively pastoral engage the identified dilemmas within the range of their defined competencies. (Skills/Ministerial Leadership)
