Class Type
100% Online, 6-week Courses
Transfer Credits
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Next Start Date
May 18, 2026
Accreditation
Mission University is accredited by HLC and ABHE
Credit Hours
ACBC Certified Biblical Counseling Center
Mission University is an approved Biblical Counseling Center by the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC).
IABC Certified Biblical Counseling Center
Mission University is a certified training center by the International Association of Biblical Counseling (IABC).
Program Mission
The mission of the Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling is to prepare students who will counsel as a primary responsibility of ministry in the local church, chaplaincy, college campus, high school, grade school, counseling ministry, or other Christian ministries.
This degree is also intended for students who will counsel as a supporting responsibility of ministry in the local church, the home, or secular environment. Students who successfully complete the 45-hour degree program also complete all the requirements necessary to apply for certification with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC).
Why Choose Mission U?
At Mission University, we have been training effective Christian leaders since 1950. Mission U alumni are impacting the world all over the globe, and we strive for excellence in all that we do. Here are some of the benefits of pursuing your degree with us:
- Mission University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and nationally accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE). You can rest assured that you’re earning your degree from an institution that has met rigorous accreditation standards and will be well-respected among churches, ministries, and nonprofit organizations.
- Our faculty have years of practical, real-life experience in ministry pastoring churches, running ministries, doing intercultural work abroad, and more. They are excited to share what they’ve learned with you.
- Each of your courses is taught from an evangelical Christian perspective – so whether it’s a leadership, communication, science, or history course – biblical principles and weekly devotions will be incorporated into your studies.
Degree Plan
| Course Code # | Course Name | Hours | |
| CNC | 525 | Theology & Secular Counseling | 3 |
| CNC | 540 | Counseling in the Church | 3 |
| BIB | 540 | Hermeneutics | 3 |
| CNC | 535 | Dynamics of Biblical Change | 3 |
| CNC | 550 | Methods of Biblical Change | 3 |
| CNC | 547 | The Biblical Counselor | 3 |
| CNC | 534 | Counseling Theology | 3 |
| CNC | 543 | Marriage Counseling | 3 |
| CNC | 545 | Family Counseling | 3 |
| CNC | 555 | Community and Public Counseling | 3 |
| XXX | XXX | Elective * | 3 |
| CNC | 600 | Problems & Procedures | 3 |
| CNC | 623 | Counseling Observation & Exams ** | 3 |
| CNC | 630 | Practicum in Biblical Counseling 1 *** | 3 |
| CNC | 635 | Practicum in Biblical Counseling 2 *** | 3 |
* Elective courses may be one of the following:
- CNC 520 – Counseling James
- CNC 521 – Counseling Job
- CNC 522 – Counseling Ephesians
- CNC 523 – Counseling Ecclesiastes
- CNC 524 – Counseling Song of Solomon
** The CNC 623 – Counseling Observation & Exams course is a 12-week course rather than the typical 6-week course.
*** The Practicum courses are only required for those seeking certification by the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC).
Department Head
Dr. Kevin Carson
Department Head, Biblical Counseling
Kevin Carson is the Pastor of the Sonrise Baptist Church in Ozark, Missouri. In addition to his pastoral ministry, he serves as the department head of biblical counseling at the Mission University and Theological Seminary in Springfield, Missouri. He also serves as a counselor at Sonrise Biblical Counseling Ministry, is ACBC Certified, IABC Certified, a council member of the Biblical Counseling Coalition, author, and is a frequent speaker at conferences, retreats and seminars. He and his wife, Kelly, have four children and one grandchild.
Watch as Dr. Carson describes the Biblical Counseling department.
Website & Blog: www.kevincarson.com
Student Spotlight
Martha Peace, MABC, BSN
Author of "The Excellent Wife" and certified Biblical Counselor
"Almost two years ago, when I began my journey to complete my Master of Arts degree in Biblical Counseling, I was very unsure if I could do it, especially at my age. However, I thought I would try it because they had a totally online MABC degree. I found out that I could not only do it, but I learned a lot that I did not know, in spite of my years of experience as a biblical counselor. I loved every course that I took, and Dr. Carson was an exceptional professor. His lectures were compelling and clear. The assignments were well thought out, and the interaction with the other students was surprisingly robust in spite of being online. I would highly recommend the Baptist Bible Theological Seminary in Springfield, Missouri to you, whether you attend class in person or online. Their classes were thoroughly biblical and God-honoring, and you will not be sorry that you enrolled."
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Completed Mission University application
- Official high school transcript showing the graduation date, or GED certificate.
- Official transcript from all previous colleges or universities attended (if applicable).
- Completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA waiver form.
- Completed Mission University financial check-in documents.
Professional Licensure Disclosure
Department Head Contact: Dr. Kevin Carson, kcarson@mission.edu
The Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling (MABC) degree program meets current Association for Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC) and International Association of Biblical Counselors (IABC) certification standards and prepares students for certification through those agencies. Biblical counseling certification, by both ACBC and IABC, verifies that the certified counselor has been trained to counsel and faithfully minister the Word of God in the counseling room.
However, certification with ACBC and IABC does not meet state licensure requirements and does not lead to professional licensure or certification in any state. Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Mental Health Counselors, or those holding equitable licenses for counseling services must submit to the authority of the state which produces growing ethical and moral restrictions placed upon state licensure practitioners, specifically forbidding religious expression with regard to counseling conversations. Therefore, as fundamentally theological in nature, the biblical counseling certification provided by Mission University & Theological Seminary seeks to verify the counselor’s character, mastery of biblically sound content, and counseling competency. The context for biblical counseling primarily is the local church, Christian school, daycare, children’s home, group home, or military and hospital chaplaincy.
The MABC degree is not intended to prepare graduates for professional licensure in any state.
Mission University & Theological Seminary has determined that the Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling (MABC) 39 or 45-hour degree options, if successfully completed, DOES NOT MEET the education requirements for professional licensure and certification in the following states and US Territories:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Guam
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- US Virgin Islands
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming