Pillar College
Academic Programs
Counseling Master of Arts Degree

Counseling Master of Arts Degree

Master of Arts Degree

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MAC Sections
✦ New Partnership Announcement

Get Board Certified Before You Graduate

Pillar's MAC program has received approval from the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) — meaning advanced students can now apply for National Certified Counselor (NCC) certification while still enrolled. This is a rare, meaningful advantage in your counseling career.

  • ✓
    Take the NCC licensing exam as an advanced student — before graduation
  • ✓
    Receive national certification upon submitting your final transcript
  • ✓
    Enter state licensure (LAC/LPC) already holding your NCC credential
  • ✓
    Spanish-language students may take the exam in Spanish
  • ✓
    Free access to professional journals, CE hours, and scholarship opportunities
  • ✓
    Significantly discounted application and membership fees

Cost Comparison

Pillar NBCC Route
Exam + Application + 1-Year Membership
$335
Includes exam (1 attempt), application fee, and 1-year membership dues. Additional cost to retake.
Standard State Route
$525+
$275 application + $250 certification + separate membership fees
Save $190 or more — plus gain your NCC first
Your Path to Licensure

A Faster, Smarter Credential Journey

Most programs make you wait until after graduation to begin the credentialing process. Pillar's NBCC approval changes that entirely.

01

Enroll in the MAC Program

Begin your 60-credit, cohort-based graduate journey in counseling from a Christian worldview.

02

Qualify as an Advanced Student

Meet NBCC eligibility requirements while still enrolled in the program.

03
New

Take the NCC Exam

Sit for your national board certification exam before graduation — available in English or Spanish.

04

Graduate Already Certified

Submit your final transcript, receive NCC certification, then pursue LAC/LPC state licensure.

About the Program

Comprehensive Training from a Christian Worldview

The MA in Counseling Program is a 60-credit, cohort-based graduate program providing comprehensive academic and experiential education in counseling, with a specialty in marriage, couple, and family counseling.

Students develop clinical expertise, cultural proficiency, and the personal dispositions needed to serve clients and families from diverse backgrounds — all grounded in a Christian perspective on human flourishing and mental wellness.

The program meets the requirements of the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) and prepares graduates for New Jersey licensure as a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).

Career Outcomes
Graduates are prepared for careers in:
Marriage, Couple & Family Counseling
Clinical Mental Health Agencies
Psychiatric Hospital Units & Case Management
Private Practice
Churches & Parachurch Ministries
Educational Institutions & College Counseling
Doctoral Studies in Counseling
Curriculum

60 Credits. Designed for Practice.

A rigorous, structured curriculum covering core counseling competencies, marriage and family specialization, addiction counseling, and 700 hours of supervised clinical experience.

COUN 520Counseling Theory and Practice
COUN 530Research and Program Evaluation
COUN 540Ethical and Legal Implications in Counseling
COUN 550Counseling Skills
COUN 560Social and Cultural Counseling Foundations
COUN 570Human Growth and Development
COUN 580Orientation to Professional Counseling
COUN 590Group Process and Practice
COUN 595Group Leadership and Practice
COUN 610Psychological Testing and Assessment
COUN 650Career Development
100
Practicum
Hours
300
Internship I
Hours
300
Internship II
Hours
700
Total Clinical
Hours

Deepen your understanding of human behavior and enhance your career

Impact the World and the Lives of others with A Master’s Degree in Counseling. Complete in as little as 5 Semesters.

The MA in Counseling Program (MAC Program) is designed to provide students with a 60-credit cohort-based, comprehensive academic and experiential education. Training is provided in the field of counseling and the specialty area of marriage, couple and family counseling from a Christian worldview. Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the counseling profession, counselors’ personal dispositions, clinical expertise and cultural proficiency for preparation to provide mental and emotional wellness services to clients/families from culturally diverse backgrounds. The MA in Counseling Program meets the requirements of the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) and the New Jersey Licensure as a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) and Licensed Professor Counselor (LPC).

MAC Licensure and Graduation Requirements

*Core Curriculum Courses

  • COUN 520: Counseling Theory and Practice
  • COUN 530: Research and Program Evaluation
  • COUN 540: Ethical and Legal Implications in Counseling
  • COUN 550: Counseling Skills
  • COUN 560: Social and Cultural Counseling Foundations
  • COUN 570: Human Growth and Development
  • COUN 580: Orientation to Professional Counseling
  • COUN 590: Group Process and Practice
  • COUN 595: Group Leadership and Practice
  • COUN 610: Psychological Testing and Assessment
  • COUN 650: Career Development

*Marriage, Couple & Family Courses

  • COUN 620: Marriage and Family Counseling I
  • COUN 625: Marriage and Family Counseling II
  • COUN 630: Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  • COUN 660: Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Planning

*Addiction Counseling Courses

  • COUN 545: Introduction to Addiction and Recovery
  • COUN 645: Pharmacology and Physiology of Drugs and Alcohol

*Professional Practice Courses

  • COUN 670: Professional Development Practicum (100 hours)
  • COUN 680: Professional Internship I (300 hours)
  • COUN 690: Professional Internship II (300 hours)
  • Total: 60 Credits

The MA in Counseling Program is designed to prepare counseling graduates for success in careers in:

  • Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling
  • Clinical Mental Health Agencies (public and private settings)
  • Psychiatric Hospital Units/Treatment and Case Management
  • Private Practice
  • Churches and Parachurch Ministries, Church Counseling Ministries and Services
  • Pursue a Doctoral degree in Counseling
  • Educational Institutions – including academic advising, college counseling services, student affairs/campus life and career counseling centers

Meet the Program Director

Sabrina Durand, PhD
sdurand@pillar.edu
Director for the Master of Arts in Counseling Program
academics Programs:
General StudiesIntercultural Communication Programa BLENDElementary EducationCounseling Master of Arts DegreeOrganizational LeadershipSocial Sector ManagementLiderazgo MinisterialMinistry LeadershipPsychology & CounselingBiblical StudiesBusiness Administration