Master of Arts in Professional Counseling
The Master of Arts in Professional Counseling (MAPC) program is a premier, 60-hour CACREP accredited program designed to prepare you to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the State of Texas. The MAPC program also offers the required coursework and field experience for you to become dually licensed as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate (LMFT-A). Additionally, our program will prepare you for advanced study at the doctoral level in fields such as psychology, counselor education, and related disciplines. Wherever God leads, the MAPC will equip you both biblically and professionally to serve the hurting globally.
DBU's faculty and staff members guide students in developing a professional counseling identity and effective counseling dispositions founded on a Christian worldview and guided by the profession. Students are provided appropriate coursework and clinical opportunities to expand the skills and disciplines necessary to excel in the counseling field. Courses are offered in a flexible format consisting of in-person, hybrid, and asynchronous delivery options. Afternoon and evening course offerings are available.
More than an Education
Our flexible MAPC program offers a unique balance of face-to-face, hybrid courses, and online courses that not only meet and exceed State requirements for licensure in Texas but also fulfill national standards for our CACREP Accreditation. Our program goes above and beyond academic excellence with a focus on building a sense of community and belonging among our students both inside and outside of the classroom. Distinguished, highly credentialed, and accomplished professors will walk alongside you and invest in you as teachers, mentors, consultants, and fellow practitioners. You will make life-long friendships with your fellow MAPC students. These relationships will prove to be invaluable as you take your required courses and participate in 700 hours of supervised, clinical, practicum and internship counseling experience at the heart of our program. Our MAPC Social Organization meetings designed to provide ongoing support and encouragement with opportunities for fellowship and additional training, professional growth, and development.
Marked by Service
At DBU, we believe every career to be ministry unto God for the benefit of His people. As students grow in their professional counseling identity, they are mentored by dedicated faculty who embody DBU’s mission to develop Christ-centered servant leaders. Rooted in a Christian worldview, this journey equips students to respond to their calling with compassion, integrity, and purpose—impacting lives and communities through the transformative ministry of professional counseling.
Meet the M.A. in Professional Counseling Program Director
“Biblical... Clinical... Transformational... Global”
"There has never been a time in history when the cry from the hurting in our world has been more desperate. Our 60-hour, Christ centered, CACREP Accredited program provides a holistic, integrative approach that is Biblical, clinical, and transformational not just for you but also for the clients you will serve. You are prepared for licensure in Texas and ready to serve the hurting in our world (Luke 10:27; Acts 1:8)."
- Dr. Steven Hunter, Program Director
(214) 333-6830 | steveh@dbu.edu
MAPC Full Time Faculty
Dr. Hunter serves as the Program Director and Full-Time Faculty Member for the MAPC program. He graduated from Texas A and M University in College Station with an undergraduate degree in psychology and minor in business administration, then graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX with an M.Div. He also received an M.S. in Counseling with a minor in Psychology and Ed.D. in Counseling and minor in Psychology from West Texas A and M in Commerce, TX and a D.Min. in Pastoral Ministries from Mid-America Baptist Seminary in Germantown, TN. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Supervisor (LPC-S) and a National Certified Counselor (NCC) with training in Trauma and Trauma Intervention, i.e., Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Rapid Resolution Therapy (RRT).
Prior to coming to DBU, He served as Professor of Psychology and Counseling, the Hope for the Heart Chair of Biblical Counseling and Program Director for both the Psychology and Counseling Programs at Criswell College for 20 years. Before that, he served as a Pastor in Northeast Texas and a Missionary to the former Soviet Union with the International Mission Board in Central and Eastern Europe. There, he was responsible for the Medical Care and Pastoral Care and Counseling for missionaries serving in 26 countries including the Russia Federation.
He has been married for 34 years and has seven kids (28 down to 17, 5 girls and 2 boys). For fun, he loves being with his family, singing karaoke, going to comedy clubs, and having deep meaningful conversations until the early hours of the morning.
Dr. Desiree’ L. Stephens is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S) in Texas, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Colorado, a Telehealth Licensed Mental Health Counselor (TLHL LMHC) in Florida, a National Certified Counselor (NCC), and a Certified Child-Centered Play Therapist (Certified-CCPT). She serves as Assistant Professor in the Master of Arts in Professional Counseling program at Dallas Baptist University.
Dr. Stephens earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision and M.S. in Counseling from Texas A&M University-Commerce. She loves teaching courses such as Play Therapy, Introduction to Counseling, Counseling Culturally Diverse Populations, Internship, and Practicum. With a heart for experiential learning, she creates hands-on, relational learning environments that help students grow in self-awareness, cultural humility, and clinical skill.
Dr. Stephens is the founder and clinical director of The Desired Journey, a private group practice dedicated to supporting individuals and families on their paths to healing and growth. She co-founded the practice with her father and now carries on that legacy in his honor. Grounded in family, she draws strength and purpose from both her personal and professional life. Feeling a deep calling to serve at DBU, she is honored to walk alongside students as they grow into Christ-centered, compassionate counselors.
Dr. Kristi Tew holds a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Science in Educational Psychology, both from Baylor University. She earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education, with a minor in Psychology, from the University of North Texas. During her doctoral studies, she had the privilege of learning under Dr. Garry Landreth at the International Center for Play Therapy and specialized in working with children and adolescents.
A Licensed Professional Counselor for over 30 years, Dr. Tew is also an LPC Supervisor. Her professional experience includes private practice, school counseling in both public and private settings, and higher education. She has served as an adjunct professor at Dallas Baptist University since 2011 and now teaches full-time in the Master of Arts in Professional Counseling program.
Dr. Tew has been married to her husband, Todd, for 32 years. They have three adult daughters, whom she considers her greatest joy and legacy. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and crafts. Passionate about mentoring future counselors, Dr. Tew finds great fulfillment in building relationships with her students—both in the classroom and beyond—as they embark on their journey into the counseling profession.
Dr. Zandra L. Rutledge is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S), educator, and speaker committed to preparing the next generation of Christ-centered counselors. She serves as an Assistant Professor in the Master of Professional Counseling program at Dallas Baptist University.
Dr. Rutledge earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision, a Master of Arts in Professional Counseling, and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. With over a decade of counseling experience, she has worked with individuals, couples, and families across clinical, hospital, and community settings.
She is the founder of YourLife Counseling & Consulting Associates, where she provides clinical care, supervision for emerging counselors, and seminars focused on identity, mental health, emotional wellness, relationships, and marriage. Her work reflects a deep commitment to biblical values, cultural humility, and whole-person care.
Dr. Rutledge enjoys traveling and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Michael, are the proud parents of two married adult children and grandparents to two grandchildren. Her life and calling are grounded in her favorite scripture: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.” — Jeremiah 29:11
Program Details
Our M.A. in Professional Counseling program provides options to customize your master's degree with dual degrees to help you pursue a career that is personally and professionally rewarding.
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Additional M.A. in Professional Counseling Program Information
- COUN 5310 - Introduction to Professional Counseling
- COUN 5311 - Ethics in Professional Counseling
- COUN 5312 - Counseling Theories and Techniques
- COUN 5313 - Goup Counseling Methods
- COUN 5314 - Lifespan Human Development
- COUN 5315 - Psychological Testing
- COUN 5316 - Research Methods
- COUN 5317 - Counseling Culturally Diverse Clients
- COUN 5318 - Basic Counseling Skills
- COUN 6000 - Comprehensive Counseling Review
- COUN 6101 - Counseling Internship Continuation
- COUN 6310 - Career Counseling and Lifestyle Development
- COUN 6311 - Addictive and Compulsive Disorders
- COUN 6312 - Psychopathology I
- COUN 6313 - Psychopathology II
- COUN 6314 - Marriage and Family Counseling
- COUN 6315 - Theological Perspectives in Christian Counseling
- COUN 6316 - Advanced Counseling Methods and Crisis Intervention
- COUN 6317 - Counseling Practicum
- COUN 6318 - Counseling Internship I
- COUN 6319 - Counseling Internship II
- COUN 6324 - A Christian Approach to Human Sexuality
*The DBU Catalog is the authoritative source for up-to-date degree plans and course offerings, and all requirements and details found in course syllabi in the Blackboard Course Shell for each section are the authoritative source for specific section information.
The Practicum/Internship experience consists of three courses, COUN 6317 Counseling Practicum (S-L), COUN 6318 Counseling Internship I (S-L), and COUN 6319 Counseling Internship II (S-L), completed sequentially. The Practicum/Internship is the culmination of the M.A. in Professional Counseling degree program and is intended to provide practical experience for students as they make plans to enter the counseling profession. The 3 (three) courses include supervised delivery of direct counseling services in an approved agency or institution. Students are evaluated on a wide range of personal and professional criteria which includes analysis of video-recorded counseling sessions and seminar discussions of counseling theories, methods, and techniques.
(S-L) = Course(s) with field-based service-learning component.
Students should enroll in the 3 (three) Practicum/Internship courses sequentially. In order to progress through the 3 (three) courses, a grade of “B” or higher must be earned. In the event of any grade below at “B,” the course will have to be repeated until at least a “B” is earned. The student is responsible for any remedial work that may be suggested by the faculty in order to successfully complete the Practicum/Internship course.
In order to proceed to Practicum/Internship, students must meet the following criteria:
- Student must have completed the 8 required personal counseling sessions.
- Student must have completed the 12 hours of undergraduate prerequisite courses.
- Student must have a current GPA of 3.0 or above.
- Student must secure a practicum site before enrolling in Practicum.
- Student must have completed the 10 candidacy courses, and most MAPC courses, student must have completed at least Psychopathology I. Please be mindful that students are usually more prepared and capable for working with clients if they have completed more than the minimum of coursework.
- Students must apply for candidacy and be approved to enroll in Practicum, including passing the Candidacy Exam with a score of at least 75.
- Students must purchase liability insurance through TCA or ACA.
View DBU Graduate School’s admission requirements.
Admission to one graduate program does not guarantee admission to another. Applicants who show potential for graduate study but do not meet the criteria for Full Admission may be admitted for up to 12 hours under provisional status. Students admitted under Provisional Admission will be granted Full Admission upon successful completion of 12 credit hours and fulfillment of the conditions of their admission as determined by the Master’s Degrees Admission Committee.
Full Admission Requirements | International Admissions | Transfer Admissions
Helpful Resources
Graduate Alumni Testimonials
Elodia Garcia
"I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Dallas Baptist University MAPC program. The guidance and instruction I received from each professor have been invaluable in preparing me for my counseling journey. The program directors' and professors' support and encouragement have been a constant source of inspiration. I am now ready to start my counseling career, thanks to the rich education and guidance offered in DBU's Master of Arts in Professional Counseling program."
Arri Evans
"I am beyond grateful to be a part of the Master of Professional Counseling Program. I have felt equipped intellectually and encouraged spiritually not just to become a Licensed Counselor but to grow deeper in my faith as well. The material has challenged me to grow professionally and wholeheartedly in every area of my life. The faculty have become lifelong mentors. Each class is a warm and safe setting to grow. I have met some incredible friends who will be strong counselors in the future. I have had the opportunity to study in several departments at DBU, this is by far one of the best!"
Frequently Asked Questions
- Introduction to Psychology or General Psychology (PSYC 1301 or equivalent)
- Statistics (PSYC 2301, MATH 2301, POLS 2301, and SOCI 2301 or equivalent)
