PROGRAM OVERVIEW
MA in Counseling (maco)
The Master of Arts in Counseling (MACO) is a CACREP-accredited 60-counseling-credit-hour degree program designed to prepare you for various careers in professional counseling and to help you integrate your Christian faith throughout the program.
The integrated academic and clinical training is naturally embedded in a seminary because our context will allow you to acquire the necessary biblical and theological foundations to effectively provide whole-person care, to both people whose values and practices are framed in the Christian faith and those whose faith and practices are different from your own.
Request Information
Learn more about our MACO program:
Accreditation
The MACO program at our Hamilton, MA campus is both nationally and regionally accredited:
Program Distinctives
- 60 counseling credits
- Couple your clinical skills with training in pastoral ministry through the optional MACO/MDiv dual enrollment opportunity.
- Prepare for licensure in Massachusetts or elsewhere through our CACREP-accredited program.
- Engage with experienced faculty passionate about coupling counseling and theology to provide holistic care.
- Take what you learn in the classroom and serve the local community through internship opportunities.
- Reap the riches of learning in community at our residential campus nestled on the charming North Shore of Massachusetts.
-
Study at any of the 10 theological institutions in the Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium (BTI) and access their libraries.
Hamilton Campus
Typical Students
MA in Counseling students are a diverse group who display essential qualities of wisdom, maturity and skills necessary for excellence in the field of counseling. Most have an undergraduate background in psychology or sociology, or significant life experience in the field. Whether you’re starting your first endeavor out of college or moving into a second career, the MA in Counseling degree will provide excellent preparation for Christian and/or secular employment opportunities.
Potential Counseling Careers
Agencies
Private Practice
Schools
Hospitals
Churches
Group Homes
Chemical dependency/
substance abuse settings
Pregnancy Centers
Behavioral health care organizations
Para-church ministry
Missions
Courses
81 Credit Hours
Course List
Biblical Studies: 3 Courses / 9 Credit Hours
- Exploring the Old Testament (OT500)
- Exploring the New Testament (NT500)
- Interpreting the Bible (NT/OT517)
Christian Thought: 4 Courses / 12 Credit Hours
- Theology Survey I (TH501)
- Theology Survey II (TH502)
- Survey of Church History (CH500)
- Ethics Course (Any ET/SE)
Integrative Counseling: 15 Courses / 45 Credit Hours
- Introduction to Counseling (CO500)
- Clinical Skills (CO507)
- Lifespan Development: Implications for Counseling (CO/SF610)
- Research Methods & Design (CO699)
- Psychopathology (CO710)
- Group Process (CO/PC711)
- Multicultural Diversity in Counseling (CO/WM712)
- Assessment in Counseling (CO735)
- Career Counseling & Lifestyle Development (CO740)
- Professional Standards & Ethics (CO790)
- Integrative Seminary CO801
- Counseling Elective (Choose from below)
- Counseling Elective (Choose from below)
- Counseling Elective (Choose from below)
- Counseling Elective (Choose from below)
Counseling Electives
- Human Sexuality (CO602)
- Theories of Personality (CO611)
- Family Systems Theory (CO614)
- Cognitive Therapy (CO616)
- Counseling for Crisis & Trauma (CO635)
- Ministering to Women in Pain (CO/MC642)
- Suicide Prevention for Professional Caregivers (CO/PC671)
- Counseling in Addictive Behaviors (CO709)
- Family Counseling/Therapy (CO714)
- Couples Counseling (CO716)
- Counseling in Abuse and Domestic Violence (CO717)
- Counseling Children (CO720)
- Counseling the Adolescent (CO/PC/YM725)
Practicum/Internships/Professional Seminars Requirements: 15 Credit Hours
- Clinical Practicum (CO863) Credits: 3
- Professional Practicum Seminar (CO871) Credits: 3
- Clinical Internship I (CO865A) Credits: 3
- Clinical Internship II (CO865B) Credits: 3
- Professional Internship Seminar l (CO873A) Credits: 1.5
- Professional Internship Seminar ll (CO873B) Credits: 1.5
This list is provided for you convenience. It seeks to be accurate and up-to-date but does not replace your graduation check sheet as the authoritative statement of degree requirements per your admission. That check sheet provides a fuller list of alternative courses and potential exceptions.
MACO Faculty
Dr. Jeffrey Arthurs
Robinson Chair of Preaching & Communication
Dr. Eun Ah Cho
Dean of the Gordon-Conwell Institute, Professor of Intercultural Studies
Dr. Dave Currie
Professor of Pastoral Theology, Dean of the Doctor of Ministry Program, Vice President of Cohort-Based Education
Dr. Brad Howell
Dean of Teaching and Learning, Executive Director of Southeast Region
Dr. Scott W. Sunquist
President and Professor of Missiology
Dr. Virginia Ward
Dean of the Boston Campus, Executive Director of Northeast Region, Assistant Professor of Youth and Leadership
Dr. Gerry Wheaton
Dean of the Southeast Region, Associate Professor of New Testament
Dr. Mateus de Campos
Dean of the Hamilton Campus, Assistant Professor of New Testament
Dr. Carol Kaminski
Professor of Old Testament
Dr. Sean McDonough
Professor of New Testament
Dr. Seong Hyun Park
Assistant Professor of Old Testament; Associate Dean of Cohort-Based Education Core Curriculum & Research
Dr. Donna Petter
Associate Professor of Old Testament, Director of the Hebrew Language Program
Dr. Thomas Petter
Associate Professor of Old Testament
Dr. Eckhard J. Schnabel
Mary French Rockefeller Distinguished Professor of New Testament
Dr. Gwenfair Walters Adams
Professor of Church History
Dr. John Jefferson Davis
Professor of Systematic Theology and Christian Ethics
Dr. Gordon Isaac
Berkshire Professor of Church History and Advent Christian Studies
Dr. Todd Johnson
Eva B. and Paul E. Toms Distinguished Professor of Mission and Global Christianity
Dr. Adonis Vidu
Professor of Theology
Dr. Kevin Xiyi Yao
Associate Professor of World Christianity and Asian Studies
Dr. Kenneth Barnes
Mockler-Phillips Professor of Workplace Theology and Business Ethics
Mr. Daniel Montañez
Adjunct Instructor, Latino & Global Ministries Program
Dr. Angie H. Kim
Assistant Professor of Counseling
Dr. Matthew D. Kim
George F. Bennett Professor of Preaching and Practical Theology, Director of the Haddon W. Robinson Center for Preaching, Director of Mentored Ministry
Dr. Karen Mason
Professor of Counseling and Psychology, Director of the Hamilton Counseling Department
Dr. Jim Singleton, Jr.
Associate Professor of Pastoral Leadership and Evangelism
Ms. Quonekuia Day
Instructor in Old Testament
Dr. E. Carolina Benitez
Assistant Professor of Counseling
Dr. Christopher A. Cook
Assistant Professor of Counseling
Dr. Rodney Cooper
Senior Professor of Ministry
Dr. Pam Davis
Associate Professor of Counseling, Director of the Counseling Department at Charlotte
Dr. Donald Fairbairn
Robert E. Cooley Professor of Early Christianity, Director of the Cooley Center
Dr. Rollin Grams
Professor of Biblical Theology and Ethics
Dr. Vickey Maclin
Associate Professor of Counseling
Dr. Robert Mayer
Senior Professor of Church History
Dr. Catherine McDowell
Associate Professor of Old Testament
Mr. Dean Borgman
Emeritus Professor of Youth Ministry
Dr. Dennis Hollinger
Colman M. Mockler Distinguished Professor of Christian Ethics
Dr. Gordon Hugenberger
Senior Professor of Old Testament
Dr. Edward Keazirian
Senior Professor of Greek and New Testament, Director of the Greek Language Program
Dr. Peter Kuzmic
Senior Distinguished Professor of World Missions and European Studies
Dr. Richard Lints
Senior Distinguished Professor of Theology
Dr. Jeffrey J. Niehaus
Senior Professor of Old Testament
Dr. Pablo Polischuk
Senior Professor of Pastoral Counseling & Psychology
Dr. Garth Rosell
Senior Research Professor of Church History
Dr. Aída Besançon Spencer
Senior Professor of New Testament
Dr. Douglas Stuart
Senior Professor of Old Testament
Dr. Eldin Villafane
Distinguished Professor of Christian Social Ethics, Emeritus
Dr. David Wells
Senior Distinguished Research Professor of Theology
Dr. Tim Laniak
Senior Professor of Biblical Studies
Dr. Patricia Batten
Ranked Adjunct Professor of Preaching, Associate Director of the Haddon W. Robinson Center for Preaching, Chapel Advisor
Dr. Katherine Horvath
Adjunct Professor of Practical Theology
Dr. Gina A. Zurlo
Adjunct Faculty of World Christianity and Mission, Co-Director of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity
Dr. Christine Palmer
Adjunct Professor of Old Testament
Dr. David Palmer
Adjunct Professor of New Testament
Dr. Justin M. Young
Adjunct Professor of Old Testament, Director of Academic & Information Services—Jacksonville
Dr. Annette Wright
Adjunct Professor
Dr. Andrew J. Martin
Adjunct Professor of Theology
Dr. Carlot D. Celestin
Adjunct Professor of Counseling
Dr. Daniel Reyes
Adjunct Professor of Counseling
Dr. David A. Escobar Arcay
Adjunct Professor of Theology and Christian Thought
Dr. Erin Crider
Adjunct Professor of Biblical Studies
Dr. J. Anthony Lloyd
Adjunct Professor
Dr. Jason Hood
Adjunct Professor of New Testament
Dr. Jeff Bass
Adjunct Professor
Dr. Jim Critchlow
Assistant Professor of Biblical Languages
Dr. Jimmy Long
Adjunct Professor of Practical Theology
Dr. Justin S. Holcomb
Adjunct Professor of Christian Thought
Dr. Laura Miguélez Quay
Adjunct Professor of Christian Thought and Greek
Dr. Mark A. Jennings
Adjunct Professor of New Testament
Dr. Phillip R. Thorne
Co-Mentor (DMIN)
Dr. Ronald J. Bouthillette
Adjunct Professor of Practical Theology
Dr. Stephen Witmer
Adjunct Professor of New Testament
Dr. Thomas Price
Adjunct Professor of Christian Thought
Dr. Viacheslav V. Lytvynenko
Adjunct Professor of Theology and Christian Thought
Dr. Duffy Robbins
Co-Mentor (DMIN)
Dr. Eliezer Victor Ramos
Adjunct Professor of Practical Theology
Dr. Jana Holiday
Adjunct Professor of Practical Theology
Dr. Jason McConnell
Co-Mentor (DMIN)
Dr. Lindsay McMillan
Co-Mentor (DMIN)
Dr. Wes Vander Lugt
Adjunct Professor of Practical Theology
Dr. Luiz Sayao
Adjunct Professor of Biblical Studies
Dr. Mary Ho
Co-Mentor (DMIN)
Dr. Michael Moses
Adjunct Professor of Practical Theology
Dr. Claude Alexander
Adjunct Professor of Practical Theology
Dr. Nick Gatzke
Co-Mentor (DMIN)
Dr. Timothy Beougher
Co-Mentor for Outreach & Discipleship Track (DMIN)
Dr. T.K. Chuang
Co-Mentor (DMIN) / Adjunct Professor of Practical Theology (LGM)
Dr. Tom Herrick
Co-Mentor (DMIN)
Dr. Wilmer Estrada Carrasquillo
Adjunct Professor of Practical Theology
Dr. Awilda Gonzalez-Babb
Adjunct Professor of Biblical Studies
Dr. Jenny John
Visiting Professor of Counseling
Dr. Autumn Ridenour
Mockler Associate Professor of Christian Ethics
Dr. William Spencer
Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Theology and the Arts
MACO STAFF
Shiri Messina, MA
Program Administrator of MACO Program
[email protected]
978–646–4187
Office Hours
Monday – Friday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
(Fridays during the semester: 10:00 am – 6:15 pm)
Alumni Experiences
Requirements
Vocational Requirements
Applicants must have (and articulate) a vocational goal requiring the specialized preparation available in the Master of Arts in Counseling program.
Academic Requirements
Required Degree: Must have completed an undergraduate or prior graduate degree program
Minimum Cumulative GPA: 3.0
It is recommended the applicant have at least 9 semester hours in psychology and/or related disciplines. Life experience will be evaluated on an individual basis and considered as a modification of this academic background requirement.
English Language Requirements (International Students)
Gordon-Conwell requires a TOEFL score of 90 or better (IBT). We also accept IELTS scores of 6.5 or higher, or a Duolingo score of 110. Students who have completed an undergraduate degree through an English-language university may request a TOEFL waiver.
Application Requirements
A Completed Online Application Includes:
- Application Form
- Two Uploaded Essays
- A 1-2 page personal statement addressing questions about your vocational goals, church involvement, encouragement from others, reasons for applying to Gordon-Conwell, and an assessment of your own strengths and weaknesses
- A 1-2 page autobiographical statement
- Three Recommendations
- Official Transcripts
- The seminary requires a bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by a recognized accrediting agency.
- Official transcripts must be sent directly to Gordon-Conwell, or hand-delivered in a sealed envelope. Copies and opened transcripts are not considered official.
- Transcripts may be sent by any means your college(s) uses for transmitting official transcripts; official electronic transcripts are accepted.
- Gordon-Conwell is a partner school of Parchment. If your college uses this service for transmitting electronic transcripts, search for and have the transcripts sent to “Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.”
- We do need transcripts from all colleges/universities attended, even if the classes were transferred to another school and are reflected on their transcripts.
Faculty Interview
After meeting general admissions requirements, candidates will interview with two of the Counseling faculty as an assessment of their academic and personal readiness to participate in the program.
Once the file is complete, it is sent to the MACO department. The decision process includes reviewing all completed applications as well as a face-to-face (or video) interview with the applicant and two MACO faculty.
You Can Afford Seminary!
Scholarships and financial assistance are available.