Pastoral counseling at IPS is understood as professional therapeutic ministry.  This ministry is pursued with a vision of the human person that includes insights from the human sciences as well as religious and spiritual dimensions of life.  Often, but not always, pastoral counseling takes place in a setting that reflects a spiritually-oriented environment.  The purpose of the M.A. in pastoral counseling is to prepare caregivers and counselors for this work.

This degree program prepares pastoral clinicians to provide therapeutic services in faith-based contexts. A multidisciplinary curriculum and peer learning groups are among the distinguishing characteristics of this degree.

Students in this program will find an understanding of pastoral counseling incorporating both the best of psychological theory and the riches of contemporary theology. They will find educational and spiritual approaches that combine both theory and practice. They will discover a vision of the counselor that reflects both individual and relational work, supportive and intensive therapies, psychological competence and theological congruence. And they will find a methodology that is consistently committed to the achievement of personal and professional integration.

In order to meet the current licensure requirements of the state of Illinois (LPC as a base for moving toward LCPC), and to respond to developing nationwide trends toward interstate licensure portability, while continuing to provide the integrative pastoral focus of Loyola’s MA Pastoral Counseling degree, the degree has moved to a three year, 60-hour design.

• LPC = Licensed Professional Counselor
• LCPC = Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor

The Master's in Pastoral Counseling program can also be completed half time over four or five years. The half time student's curriculum is determined with their advisor.

The Master's in Pastoral Counseling can be completed entirely online. Students seeking to complete the degree fully online and in three years (as a full-time student) must enroll and begin in a Fall semester.

A diverse number of internship sites are available from non-profits, governmental organizations, schools, counseling, mental health and faith-based sites. Students apply for these internships and are selected by the sites. Students may submit a site of their own choosing, but it must be approved by IPS.

International Students

International students who will study in person in Chicago must enroll and beginning in a Fall semester.

Additional Information

To learn more about the master's degree in pastoral counseling, please visit our request for information form or attend an online information session.

To learn more about state and international authorization of programs, please refer to our State and International Authorization page. To learn more about the accreditation of Loyola University Chicago and its schools, as well as information about professional licensure, visit our Accreditation page.

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.

Curriculum

Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling

In order to meet the current licensure requirements of the state of Illinois (LPC as a base for moving toward LCPC), and to respond to developing nationwide trends toward interstate licensure portability, while continuing to provide the integrative pastoral focus of Loyola’s MA Pastoral Counseling degree, the degree has moved to a three year, 60 hour design.

Half-time students will tailor their course selection with their advisor.

• LPC = Licensed Professional Counselor
• LCPC = Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
IPS 472	Pastoral Counseling in an Intercultural Context	3
IPS 473	Family Therapy and Personal Transformation	3
IPS 474	Addictions & Modes of Therapy	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 507	Pastoral, Psychodynamic Assessment and Intervention	3
IPS 509	Psychopathology	3
IPS 511	Internship Supervision I	3
IPS 512	Ethics, Pastoral Counseling, and Spirituality	3
IPS 513	Internship Supervision II	3
IPS 515	Research Methods	3
IPS 517	Models of Pastoral Counseling	3
IPS 518	Career Counseling for the Pastoral Counselor	3
IPS 520	Testing, Measurement & Assessment	3
IPS 555	Human Person and Psychological Development	3
Electives 1		9
Total Hours		60

¹

At least three (3) credit hours must in a course in the Theology Department.

Suggested Sequence of Courses

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Hours
IPS 501	Advanced Human Relation Skills	3
IPS 517	Models of Pastoral Counseling	3
IPS 473	Family Therapy and Personal Transformation	3
	Hours	9
Spring
IPS 555	Human Person and Psychological Development	3
IPS 503	Fundamentals of Pastoral Counseling	3
IPS 502	Theology of the Developing Person	3
	Hours	9
Second Year
Summer
IPS 474	Addictions & Modes of Therapy 1	3
	Hours	3
Fall
IPS 515	Research Methods 1	3
IPS 505	Group Counseling Approaches	3
IPS 509	Psychopathology	3
	Hours	9
Spring
IPS 520	Testing, Measurement & Assessment 1	3
IPS 518	Career Counseling for the Pastoral Counselor 1	3
Elective		3
	Hours	9
Third Year
Summer
Elective		3
	Hours	3
Fall
IPS 511	Internship Supervision I	3
IPS 472	Pastoral Counseling in an Intercultural Context	3
IPS 507	Pastoral, Psychodynamic Assessment and Intervention	3
	Hours	9
Spring
IPS 513	Internship Supervision II	3
IPS 512	Ethics, Pastoral Counseling, and Spirituality	3
Elective		3
	Hours	9
	Total Hours	60

¹

Required for licensure

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 supercede school policies.

Learning Outcomes

Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling

By completing the Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling, students will be able to demonstrate:

• The ability to pastorally and clinically engage human psychological, relational, and contextual distress in therapeutic ways. (Cultural Context)
• The ability to interpret, engage, and expand psycho-spiritual meaning making in relation to the pastoral legacy of faith communities. (Theology /Spirituality/Religious Heritage)
• The ability to offer competent therapeutic services in secular and/or faith-based contexts based on personal, interpersonal, and spiritual maturity. (Maturity/Personal Formation)
• The ability to appropriately assess and diagnose 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. (Skills/Ministerial Leadership)