Counseling and Psychology Degrees Offered at Liberty University
Liberty University appears in our ranking of the Top 25 Master’s Degrees in Marriage and Family Therapy Online.
Liberty University offers a variety of online and on-campus degrees in the areas of psychology and counseling. Because Liberty University is a Christian institution, all psychology and counseling courses are taught from a Christian worldview with the goal of students approaching research, counseling, and therapy from a Biblical understanding of humankind.
The Associate of Arts in Psychology degree is a 60 credit hour two-year program offered 100% online. This degree is designed to be a stepping stone to further study in the field, although it can also be a foundation for further studies in business, human services, theology or education. In addition, students can pursue an Associate of Arts in Psychology—Christian Counseling, which is also a 60 credit hour two-year program offered completely online. This program does not lead to licensure as a professional counselor but can allow graduates to counsel in a church or pastoral setting.
For those wishing to pursue a four-year degree, Liberty offers several options. The Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology is an on-campus program that incorporates courses from several disciplines, including biology, chemistry, and psychology. This path is typically chosen by those seeking entrance into medical or graduate school and is the basis for careers in neuroscience research.
The Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree is available both online and on-campus. Students in this program can choose from one of 11 specializations, including addictions and recovery, counseling, criminal psychology, military resilience, sport psychology, life coaching, and industrial/organizational psychology.
Students can also pursue one of several graduate degrees at Liberty University. The M.A. in Addiction Counseling, M.A. in Applied Psychology with concentrations in developmental psychology or industrial/organizational psychology, the M.Ed in Education with a specialization in School Counseling, and the M.A. in professional counseling are offered 100% online. The M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and the M.S. in Psychology with a specialization in developmental psychology and industrial/organizational psychology are on-campus only programs. Finally, the M.A. in Human Services Counseling with specialization in addictions and recovery, business, Christian ministry, criminal justice, and over a dozen other areas is available both online and on-campus.
Liberty University also offers terminal degree options, with an Ed.D in Community Care and Counseling, with specialization in marriage and family counseling, pastoral care and counseling, and traumatology, and a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision. Both of these degrees can be pursued entirely online.
Liberty University’s psychology department offers several unique opportunities for students, including study abroad opportunities, internships, and networking clubs. In 2018, the psychology department offered a study abroad course in Ecuador to learn the best ways to minister to victims of human trafficking and in 2019, psychology students have the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica, Spain, Portugal, South Korea, Greece, and Denmark to study issues that include human trafficking, substance use disorders, immigrant and refugee populations, and collectivist cultures.
About Liberty University
Liberty University was founded in 1971 following a call from Pastor Jerry Falwell, Sr. to his congregation a Thomas Road Baptist Church to establish a Christian college. Liberty was soon founded under the name Lynchburg Baptist College and renamed Liberty Baptist College in 1976. In 2007, Pastor Falwell’s son, Jerry Falwell Jr. was named chancellor and president after the death of his father. Today, it remains one of the nation’s prominent Christian universities and is also the largest university in the state of Virginia. The campus sprawls over 7,000 acres with over 380 buildings and permanent structures. The annual total enrollment of over 100,000 students includes more than 30,000 military students and close to 1,000 international students enrolled either online or on campus. The students are taught by over 2,500 faculty, with a student/faculty ratio of 24:1 for undergraduates and 8:1 for graduate students.
Liberty currently offers over 600 programs of study at the associate, bachelor’s, and graduate levels and is considered a liberal arts institution. Students can pursue degrees in American Sign Language, education, religion, law, aviation, business, counseling, life sciences, and the arts. The campus includes three specialized professional schools: Liberty University School of Law, Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Liberty University School of Divinity. It is also home to the Jerry Falwell Library and the Liberty Mountain Gun Club, a lodge and shooting range.
Liberty University Accreditation Details
Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Liberty also has several program-specific accreditations, including:
-Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP): Ph.D. in Education and Supervision, M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.Ed in School Counseling, and M.A. in Marriage and Family Counseling.
Liberty University is also certified by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and is a member of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV), and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
Liberty University Application Requirements
Students seeking admissions to either the on-campus or online program first should complete an online application with transcripts or GED scores, as well as SAT or ACT scores and an essay. The average high school GPA for enrolled freshman is between 3.15–3.83 and the average test scores are 1020–1220 (SAT) and 20–27 (ACT).
For admissions to the graduate programs in psychology or counseling, students should also send unofficial college transcripts. Students with an undergraduate GPA of between 3.0–3.24 must submit either GRE or MAT scores. Two letters of recommendation and a personal statement are also required.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Liberty University undergraduate students can expect to pay approximately $34,500 per year, including tuition, fees, and housing. Some programs and housing options have additional costs as well. Masters-level programs are $545 per credit hour. Online tuition is $390 per credit hour for undergraduate students and $565 per credit hour for graduate students. Online doctorate programs are approximately $600 per credit hour.
Liberty’s website states that approximately 88% of students receive some form of financial aid in the way of scholarships, grants, work-study programs, and student loans. The school has several merit scholarships available to the general student body, as well as department-specific scholarships and scholarships for veterans and those who attended schools affected by segregation.
To learn more about Liberty University’s psychology and counseling offerings, please visit the university’s website.