Serving Others Through Mental Health: A Guide to Master’s Degrees in Counseling and Psychology
Choosing the right master’s degree can feel overwhelming, and even more so when there are multiple options for one career field. Pursuing the field of mental health is a great path for those who wish to help others become their best selves! DBU sees the value in this field and offers four different master’s degrees to get you on the path to serving others in this way. The question remains, which degree is right for you?
Each of the degrees offered by DBU have a unique degree plan and career outcomes. Hopefully, this article will help you determine which degree is best for what you want to do with your future!
Master's Degrees offered by DBU in Counseling/Psychology
Best for Ministry: Master of Arts in Christian Counseling
If you are seeking to work in a ministry instead of clinical practice, this is the degree for you. At only 36 hours, this degree can be completed very quickly, and since it does not lead to licensure, you are ready to go as soon as you graduate! This degree would prepare you best for counseling in churches, parachurch ministries and agencies, and ministry organizations. If you love studying theology and have a heart to counsel other believers through trials in their lives, the MA in Christian Counseling will prepare you well to do that.
Dual Degree Options
The M.A. in Christian Counseling is housed under the Graduate School of Ministry (GSOM), and there are opportunities to pursue a dual degree. Dual Degrees allow you to pursue 2 master’s degrees at the same time. They are composed of a required shared curriculum (24 hours) and two sets of individual curriculums for each degree (18 hours each). So, for 60 hours of study (instead of 72 or more), you can earn 2 master’s degrees! This approach is advantageous for those who want to expand their career field opportunities or broaden their search to more than one field.
- M.A. in Christian Counseling / M.A. in Christian Ministry: great for broader ministry leadership opportunities
- M.A. in Christian Counseling / M.A. in Global Leadership: great for an international/ministry leadership focus
- M.A. in Christian Counseling / M.A. in Theological Studies: great to go deeper in theology
- M.A. in Christian Counseling / M.A. in Worship Studies: great to integrate worship leadership
Whether you pursue a dual degree or not, the M.A. in Christian Counseling is a great degree to pursue. If this sounds like a good fit for you, consider looking through the degree plan or getting connected with the program director today!
Best for School Counseling: Master of Education in School Counseling
The M.Ed. in School Counseling is specifically designed for those who wish to enter the field of School Counseling in Texas. It is a 48-hour non-thesis degree that leads to the Texas School Counselor Certificate. If you have a passion to help young students in the school systems, this degree is perfect for you!
The M.Ed. in School Counseling is housed under DBU's College of Education, which is known for producing top-tier graduates recognized for their Servant Leadership approach to serving their students well. If you are confident you want to work in schools and serve in the education sector, get connected with the program director today!
Best for a Profession in Mental Health: M.A. in Psychology or M.A. in Professional Counseling
If you hope to make a profession out of psychology or counseling, there are 2 degrees to consider. The M.A. in Psychology will prepare you for licensure as a Licensed Psychological Associate (LPA) and/or Licensed School Psychologist (LSP), while the M.A. in Professional Counseling will prepare you for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with the option to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), or dual licensure. Read more about the specific degrees below and consider reading the degree plans and program pages for each to help you make your decision. It comes down to a preference or even more so, a calling.
Master of Arts in Psychology
The Master of Arts in Psychology (MAP) is a Christ-centered, 60–66-hour program meticulously designed to prepare graduates for licensure to practice mental health services in the state of Texas. Additionally, it opens the door for occupations within the mental health field that do not require a license.
The MAP prepares you for your professional future with foundational education in all psychological sub-fields. These sub-fields include:
- Neuropsychology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Health Psychology
- Industrial/Organizational Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Counseling Psychology
The M.A. in Psychology offers two license preparation focuses that offer distinct career flexibility: the Licensed Psychological Associate (LPA) or the Licensed School Psychologist (LSP).
- Licensed Psychological Associate (LPA): Students who pursue the Licensed Psychological Associate track will complete the 60-hour degree plan, including a year of internship under the supervision of a Licensed Psychologist. The LPA license is a master's-level mental health professional license issued by the State Licensing Board of Texas (BHEC) that allows practitioners to provide services such assessments leading to treatment plans, clinical interventions, counseling with individuals or groups, psychotherapy, behavior interventions for individuals with cognitive impairment, and prosocial plans for individuals on the autism spectrum. LPA practitioners also have the opportunity to function in a private practice after completion of 3,000 hours under the supervision of a Licensed Psychologist.
- Licensed School Psychologist (LSP): Students who pursue the School Psychology track will complete the 66-hour degree plan, including one semester of Practicum and two semesters of Internship within a school district under the supervision of a Licensed School Psychologist, and 6 hours of Special Education coursework. The School Psychology license is required by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (TSBEP) to provide school psychological services in Texas public schools. A School Psychologist may work within or alongside school districts providing mental health, behavior, and academic support services to students such as counseling, behavior intervention plans, evaluations for special education eligibility, and more.
The MAP program maintains a class environment in which professors invest individually in a mentoring relationship that facilitates learning. Because you are more than just your career, the MAP program committed to both excellence in academics and exceptional investment in each student’s mental, emotional, and spiritual development.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has identified mental health professionals as one of the twenty top occupations with the highest percentage of projected growth between the years of 2024 and 2034. In a short five years of this program’s existence, the MAP has over fifty graduates, each continuing their chosen career paths with great success. MAP alumni are pursuing further education within doctoral programs, teaching college courses, working as licensed professionals in both public and private clinical, counseling, and educational agencies, and are even employed in the business and law enforcement fields.
Master of Arts in Professional Counseling
The goal of the M.A. in Professional Counseling (MAPC) is to train and equip students to provide biblical, professional, clinical, and transformational counseling services for their clients. If your heart calling is to become equipped to build therapeutic relationships with your future clients to facilitate life-change, even life-saving change, then the MAPC is for you.
The M.A. in Professional Counseling is accredited by CACREP and prepares students to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with the option to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), or dually licensed in the State of Texas. Graduates also receive National Certified Counselor (NCC) certification at the time of graduation, each making you highly marketable.
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC): The LPC license from a CACREP accredited program is a master's or doctoral-level mental health professional license issued by the State Licensing Board of Texas (BHEC) that allows our graduates to independently provide counseling, and treatment for mental, emotional, behavioral disorders including testing and assessment counseling services for individuals and families in a multitude of settings.
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT): The LMFT license is for our graduates who not only desire to practice as LPCs but also have a strong calling to further specialize in and work with marriages, families, teens and children. This license is also issued by the State Licensing Board of Texas (BHEC) that authorizes our graduates to independently diagnose and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, specifically focusing on relational issues, family dynamics, and providing counseling services for families, adolescents, and children in a multitude of settings.
- National Certified Counselor (NCC): The NCC certification is a premier national credential verifying that counselors have met high standards in education, training, experience, and ethical practice. It validates counselor proficiency to employers and the public indicating readiness for licensure and the world of professional mental health.
Upon graduation, MAPC students are highly marketable in a top-tier growth field of 14 percent or higher. Career opportunities include:
- teaching and directing in both fields of psychology and counseling
- starting a private practice
- serving in existing counseling practices, clinics, and hospitals
- counseling in public and private schools
- working in university counseling centers
- counseling in church counseling centers
- working in businesses through EAP programs
- serving in VA centers and non-profits
- opportunities as rehabilitation counselors, substance abuse and addiction counselors
- working as Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT)
The possibilities are endless both in the U.S. and overseas since mental health is now a global issue. Read more about the M.A. in Professional Counseling >> Get connected today to start your path to becoming a professional counselor.
DBU Counseling & Psychology Master's Degrees Comparison
If you need a more visual guide to make your decision, see the table below to help you compare the counseling and psychology master's degrees offered by DBU and decide which might fit your goals:
| M.A. in Christian Counseling: Ministry-Focused Counseling | |
|---|---|
| Hours: | 36 |
| Licensure: | None (non-clinical) |
| Best for: | Ministry and church settings |
| Careers: | Church counseling, parachurch organizations, ministry roles |
| Key Feature: | Fast-track degree with strong theological foundation |
| Bonus: | Dual degree options available (60 hours total for two degrees) |
| M.Ed. in School Counseling: School-Based Counseling | |
|---|---|
| Hours: | 48 |
| Licensure: | Texas School Counselor Certificate |
| Best for: | Working in K–12 schools |
| Careers: | School counselor |
| Key Feature: | Direct pathway to school certification in Texas |
| Bonus: | Practicum and internship built into school settings |
| M.A. in Psychology: Flexible Psychology Path | |
|---|---|
| Hours: | 60–66 |
| Licensure: | LPA or LSP (School Psychology track) |
| Best for: | Variety of Psychological occupations |
| Careers: | Psychological associate, school psychologist, research, teaching, and more |
| Key Feature: | Broad training across multiple psychology fields |
| Bonus: | Very flexible career outcomes |
| M.A. in Professional Counseling: Clinical Counseling & Therapy | |
|---|---|
| Hours: | 60 |
| Licensure: | LPC (option for LMFT) + NCC credential |
| Best for: | Becoming a licensed therapist |
| Careers: | Clinical counselor, private practice, marriage & family therapy |
| Key Feature: | CACREP-accredited with strong clinical training |
| Bonus: | Highly marketable, in-demand career field |
Final Thoughts
No matter which degree you pick, know that DBU is here to help you every step of the way! DBU is known for its class environments in which professors invest individually in a mentoring relationship that facilitates learning. You are more than just your career, and DBU is committed to excellence in academics and exceptional investment in each student’s mental, emotional, and spiritual development as you pursue your degree with us.
Request More Information Today >>
If you need some time to decide, know that you can still get in touch with us and we can help you through the decision process, if you like. If you feel ready to get started, reach out to the program director and start the application process today!
