Dual Degree: MACO/MDiv
MA in Counseling (MACO) & Master of Divinity (MDiv)
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Our comprehensive dual MDiv/MACO program provides you with rigorous theological training, deep spiritual formation, and practical ministry skills to proclaim the gospel with true servant leadership and effectively provide whole-person care.
For the purposes of shared credit, the Registration Office refers to the MDiv as your first degree and the MACO as your second degree
ACCREDITATION
The programs at our Hamilton, MA campus are both nationally and regionally accredited:
Courses
46 courses (135 total credits including integrative studies)
MDiv Course List - First Degree
Biblical Languages: 4 Courses / 12 Credit Hours
- Hebrew I (OL501)
- Hebrew II (OL502)
- Greek I (GL501)
- Greek II (GL502)
Biblical Studies: 8 Courses / 24 Credit Hours
Old Testament
- Exploring the Old Testament (OT500) 1
- Interpreting the Old Testament (OT511)
- Old Testament Exegesis (OT 600 level)
- Old Testament Exegesis (OT 700 level)
New Testament
- Exploring the New Testament (NT500) 1
- Interpreting the New Testament (NT502)
- New Testament Exegesis: Narrative (NT 611–619)
- New Testament Exegesis: Epistles (NT 620–649)
Christian Thought: 8 Courses / 24 Credit Hours
- The Church to the Reformation (CH501)
- The Church from the Reformation (CH502)
- Theology Survey I (TH501)
- Theology Survey II (TH502)
- Theology Elective (TH any)
- Ethics Course (ET any)
- Understanding Culture (IS/WM520)
- World Missions Course (WM601 or TH/WM602)
Practical Theology: 7 Courses / 21 Credit Hours
- Spiritual Formation course (MC/SF501 or CH/SF591)
- Pastoral Counseling course (PC511 or MC/PC513)
- Preaching: Principles & Practices (PR601)
- Pastoral Communication Course (PR602, PR717, or MC520)
- Pastoral Skills Course (Any CL or EV Course)
- Practical Theology (Any CL, CO, EM, EV, MC, PC, PR, or YM Course)
- Capstone Course: Pastoral Ministry (MC701) or Readiness for Ministry (MC850)
Field Education/Practicum: 3 Credit Hours
- Mentored Ministry Rotation 1
- Mentored Ministry Rotation 2
- Mentored Ministry Rotation 3
General Electives: 2 Courses / 6 Credit Hours
- General Elective
- General Elective
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.
1. Students who pass the Old Testament or New Testament competency exams may waive the course(s) OT500 or NT501 OR replace these with an open elective. (Bible competency exams must be taken prior to a student’s first course).
2. The following course prefixes are associated with Gordon-Conwell’s three teaching divisions
Biblical Studies includes: GL, NT, OL, OT.
Christian Thought includes: AP, CH, CT, ET, TH, WM
Practical Theology includes: CL, CO, EM, EV, MC, MM, PC, PR, or YM
MACO Course List - Second Degree
Biblical Studies: 3 Courses / 9 Credit Hours
- Exploring the Old Testament (OT500) – shared from MDiv
- Exploring the New Testament (NT500) – shared from MDiv
- Interpreting the Bible (NT/OT517) – shared from MDiv
Christian Thought: 4 Courses / 12 Credit Hours
- Theology Survey I (TH501) – shared from MDiv
- Theology Survey II (TH502) – shared from MDiv
- Survey of Church History (CH500) – shared from MDiv
- Ethics Course (Any ET/SE) – shared from MDiv
Integrative Counseling: 15 Courses / 45 Credit Hours
- Introduction to Counseling (CO500) – shared from MDiv
- Clinical Skills (CO507) – shared from MDiv
- Lifespan Development: Implications for Counseling (CO/SF610) – shared from MDiv
- Research Methods & Design (CO699) – shared from MDiv
- 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 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)
- 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)
- Child and Adolescent Counseling (CO724)
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
- Professional Internship Seminar l (CO873) Credits: 1.5
- Clinical Internship II (CO865B) Credits: 3
- Professional Internship Seminar ll (CO873) 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.
Alumni Experiences
I began my journey at Gordon-Conwell as an MDiv student with my trajectory set towards pastoral ministry. After taking a counseling class as an elective, I saw just how beneficial a few more counseling classes would be as a future preacher and pastoral caregiver. I also saw it as an opportunity for self-improvement and greater self-knowledge. It was John Calvin who wrote that all true knowledge is either knowledge about God or knowledge about self. By my second year in seminary I found a way of maximizing my credits in order to complete both an MDiv and a MACO degree within four years, which I did successfully. I found this path to be very enriching and would recommend it to future pastors. I am an assistant pastor . . . and am licensed as both a mental health counselor and a marriage and family therapist. Finally, I am enrolled in a PhD program in Counselor education and supervision at Regent University.
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, MACO/MDiv (’17)
The University of Edinburgh, M.Th.R. (’18)
Assistant Pastor at North Point EPC
Emergency Services Clinician at Beth Israel Lahey Health Behavioral Services, Emergency Services Division
—Kyle Lincoln, LMFT, LMHC
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You Can Afford Seminary!
Scholarships and financial assistance are available.