MA in Counseling (MACO)

Full-Time: 3 Years | Part-Time 4-7 Years

Hamilton Campus (Residential/Commuter) or Primarily Online

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

MA in Counseling (MACO) Clinical Mental Health Counseling

The Master of Arts in Counseling (MACO) is a Clinical Mental Health CACREP-accredited degree program designed to prepare you to fulfill your calling to help others in various careers in professional counseling. Your Christian faith is integrated throughout the program.

The joint 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.

Note: Due to accreditation requirements, North Carolina and Florida residents cannot enroll in the primarily online MACO program. They may study residentially in Hamilton, MA or consider the Master of Arts in Christian Counseling (MACC).

Learn more about our MACO program:

Accreditation

The MACO program at our Hamilton, MA campus is both nationally and regionally accredited:

Program Distinctives

Mission & Objectives

INTEGRATING THEOLOGY & COUNSELING

Dual Degree: MACO/MDIV

Program Evaluation Data

Pursuing Licensure

2025 MACO Student Handbook »

Practicum/Internship Manual »

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 Clinical Mental Health Counseling 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.

Compare MACO and MACC

Hamilton Campus

Hamilton Wilson Chapel Prayer for the Nations

Hamilton Chowdafest Students on the grass

Hamilton Alumni Hall Stanley Hauerwas event

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

Alumni Experiences

Gilson Da Silva

“I have been graced with several different opportunities since receiving my degree from the MACO and MDiv programs, much beyond what I had anticipated. I’m currently working as a Chaplain and Grieving Counselor for a Hospice company, serving patients from a variety of backgrounds and cultures, opening doors for me to see them in their homes, surrounded by their families and friends. I also work as a Mental Health Therapist in a Counseling Center, providing individual therapy for children, adolescents and adults, many of whom are non-English speaking, who otherwise would have faced challenges communicating with their counselors. These opportunities only came to fruition because of the education I received through the programs at Gordon-Conwell, allowing me to continue to affirm my calling to help those in need.”

— Rev. Gilson Borges da Silva (MDiv & MACO ’16)
MHTherapist at First Orlando Counseling Center
Chaplain at VITAS Healthcare

Julia Bondi

“In college, I felt dualistic passions for mental health counseling and theology. At the time, I saw these passions as competing and did not begin to imagine their integration until a trusted pastor recommended Gordon-Conwell.”

— Julia Bondi (MATS & MACO ’26)

Alijah Dudart

“My calling into ministry began during my undergraduate studies and led me to pursue a more holistic approach to caring for individuals that was not only spiritually but also mentally and emotionally informed…. Gordon-Conwell was one of the only seminaries I found that had a robust integrative focus on the intersectionality of the Church and mental health.”

— Alijah Dudart (MDiv & MACO ’26)

Lisa Martin

“I decided to pursue my master’s degree in counseling at Gordon-Conwell because of the seminary’s reputation for excellence and the fact that I could live in Christian community here while completing my studies. The work of integrating my faith with the practice of counseling is difficult to do alone and being surrounded by other people, wrestling through this same process from a diversity of backgrounds, has been a deeply formative part of my training. It is such a sacred privilege to sit with people in the counseling room, to hear their stories, and to partner with Christ in the work of healing that he is doing in the lives of people through counseling.”

— Lisa Martin (MACO ’26)

Courses

72 Credit Hours

Course List

CACREP Core Courses: 13 Courses / 30 Credit Hours

Lifespan Development: Implications for Counseling (CO610)
Research Methods & Design (CO699)
Psychopathology (CO710)
Group Process (CO711)
Multicultural Diversity in Counseling (CO/WM712)
Career Counseling and Lifestyle Development (CO740)
Professional Standards and Ethics (CO790)

Residency & Lab Courses

Introduction to Counseling (CO500A)
Introduction to Counseling Residency & Lab (CO500B) Credits: 0
Clinical Counseling Skills (CO507A)
Clinical Counseling Skills Residency & Lab (CO507B) Credits: 0
Assessment in Counseling (CO735A)
Assessment in Counseling Residency & Lab (CO735B) Credits: 0

Integrative Counseling: 7 Courses / 21 Credit Hours

Church History Survey for Counseling and Spiritual Formation (CH/CO/SF504)
Theology for Counselors (CO/TH600)
Integrative Seminar (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)
Augustine’s Theography & Heart Therapy: Confessions, Community & Health (CO/SF/TH635)
Leadership Trauma: Healing and Recovery (CL/CO637)
Ministering to Women in Pain (CO/MC/SF642)
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 (CO/PC717)
Child and Adolescent Counseling (CO724)
Physiology, Complexity, and Human Behavior (CO728)
Augustine, Restlessness, and Belonging in the Digital Age (ET/TH/CO693)
Aging, Death, and End-of-Life Medical Ethics (ET/CO689)

Practicum/Internships/Professional Seminars Requirements: 9 Credit Hours

Clinical Practicum (CO863) Credits: 3
Professional Practicum Seminar (CO872) Credits: 0
Clinical Internship I (CO865A) Credits: 3
Professional Internship Seminar l (CO876) Credits: 0
Clinical Internship II (CO865B) Credits: 3
Professional Internship Seminar ll (CO876) Credits: 0

General Core Requirements: 12 Credit Hours

Exploring the Old Testament (OT500)
Exploring the New Testament (NT501)
Interpreting the Bible (NT/OT517)
Theology Survey I or TH 502 Theology Survey II (TH501)

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.

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

Gordon-Conwell requires a TOEFL score of 92 or better (IBT) for International Students. We also accept IELTS scores of 7.0 or higher, or a Duolingo score of 115. Students who have completed an undergraduate degree through an English-language university may request a TOEFL waiver.

Application Requirements

Visit our application page to learn more about the requirements and process.

Faculty Interview

After meeting general admissions requirements, candidates will interview with members 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about the Master of Arts in Counseling (MACO) at Gordon-Conwell.

What is the difference between the MACC and the MACO programs?

The main difference between the MACO (MA) and MACC (NC) programs is when classes are offered. MACO courses meet on weekdays during the day, while MACC courses meet Friday evenings and Saturdays. Both programs include in-person requirements, are CACREP accredited, and lead to LMHC licensure. The MACO is designed for Massachusetts standards; the MACC aligns with North Carolina standards. The MACC also uses a cohort model with flexible pacing options (2.5, 3, 4, or 5 years), while the MACO is not cohort-based. See our counseling degree comparison sheet to explore specific details about each program.

What does the application process look like for MACO?

The MACO application has three steps:

1. Submit the online application form.
2. Upload your materials. After you submit the form, Admissions will email instructions for uploading your two essays, résumé, and transcripts. Admissions will also contact your references at this stage.
3. Complete the faculty interview. Once all materials are received, we’ll schedule your interview and notify you of the date and time.

How does the dual-degree application process work for MACO/MDIV?

You only need to submit one application, and we recommend choosing the MACO application. It requires one pastoral, personal, and professional reference, plus a résumé. You’ll also complete a MACO faculty interview later in the process. On the application, you’ll see a question about interest in the dual MACO/MDiv. Our website has full details if you’d like to explore that option.

When are the classes offered? Can I complete the program fully online?

MACO courses meet once a week in a three-hour block, Monday–Friday, mostly between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Evening and weekend classes are uncommon. While most of the program can be taken online, it isn’t– fully online—students must complete three in-person residencies on the Hamilton campus spread– throughout the program.

Do I need prior sociology or psychology credits to apply?

You don’t need prior coursework in sociology or psychology to apply to the MACO program—just a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

How does Gordon-Conwell's multidenominational identity shape the classroom?

Gordon-Conwell professors and students come from a variety of Christian traditions, including Baptist, Presbyterian, Wesleyan, Pentecostal, Anglican, and more. Yet we’re united around the authority of Scripture, as outlined in our Statement of Faith. In the classroom, you’ll encounter a range of theological perspectives, all explored with openness while staying rooted in the essential truths of the Christian faith. It’s an environment where you’ll be challenged to examine and deepen your own convictions, not change them—and to grow in community with believers from traditions different from your own. Learn more about this in a video by our academic dean and alumnus, Dr. Gerry Wheaton (MAOT & MANT ’03).