The Professional Counseling Program leading to the Master of Arts in Counseling (MA) with concentrations in Marriage & Family or Mental Health Counseling is designed to provide individuals who possess a knowledge base in the Bible the opportunity to pursue an integrated program of study, specifically in the professional fields of marriage and family counseling or mental health counseling.
The concentrations in marriage and family counseling and mental health counseling provide individuals with theological distinctiveness, contemporary scholarship and professional counseling skills to serve within the local church, para-church organizations, counseling centers, personnel offices, hospitals, prisons, retirement centers, and a variety of human service settings. Each concentration emphasizes that every person is worth understanding and through a competent counselor, can achieve a marked difference in his/her life.
While the MA degree is 48 credits, , students have the option of taking 12 credits in addition to the 48 credit degree (60 credits total) to meet the Pennsylvania requirements to sit for the PA licensing exam.
Master of Arts in Addiction Counseling
Degree: Master of Arts in Addiction Counseling
Major Mission: The Addictions Counseling degree program will provide training that will give entry level qualifications for opportunities in professional mental health and addictions counseling and state licensure. For this degree, graduates will be prepared to sit for the Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor Exam (AADCE). Passing this exam will count for both the Professional Counselor License AND the AADC license, thus providing graduates with wide-ranging professional options.
Major Outcomes - Students will:
- Evaluate theory and use formal measurements to accurately assess the client’s context, learning, development, personality, motivation, and character.
- Develop clinical skill necessary to conduct individual therapy for those with serious mental health conditions (including various addictions).
- Integrate specific knowledge and skill necessary to counsel effectively those with various diagnoses, vocational need, and diverse cultural backgrounds.
- Conduct critical thinking skills to evaluate theory and practice from a biblical perspective.
- Synthesize information and knowledge by means of supervised counseling experiences.
- Acquire sufficient knowledge of scientific research and literature to be prepared to investigate specific areas of need in professional mental health counseling.
- Apply ethical principles to prospective clinical situations that reflect an open and collaborative approach to resolve ethical dilemmas.
- Prepare students for clinical addictions practice and successful completion of Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor Exam (AADCE).
- Develop a deeper understanding of how both substance and process addictions impact families and learn professional therapeutic service delivery with this population.
- Develop skills toward navigating a process of reconciliation for spouses and families.
Curricular Structure: The Addictions Counseling concentration program consists of 48 credits. The curriculum is designed as follows:
| Professional Core |
12 Credits |
| 2nd Tier Professional Courses |
18 Credits |
| 3rd Tier Advanced Course |
12 Credits |
| Professional Practice Courses |
9 Credits |
| Elective Options |
9 Credits |
| Program Total |
60 Credits |
Electives may be taken at other times: fall semester, winter term, spring semester, or summer.
Location Offered
Lancaster, PA
Pre-program Candidacy Requirements - Biblical and Theological Foundational Courses
Students must complete all the Biblical and Theological Foundation courses before the practicum. Some exemptions are possible. Students without the 30 credits of Bible/Theology but who have taken 9 credits of Old Testament, New Testament, or Theology courses are exempt from taking the respective Biblical and Theological Foundation Courses. Likewise, a 3 credit course in Hermeneutics will exempt students from BTC 561. At the time of admission, an evaluation will be done of the students’ transcripts, and students will be informed of which courses they are exempt from taking.
The following four Biblical and Theological Foundation Courses are each 1 credit courses and are included with each semester’s roster of courses.
| BTC 521 | Biblical Narrative - Old Testament | 1 |
| BTC 531 | Biblical Narrative - New Testament | 1 |
| BTC 561 | Biblical Interpretation | 1 |
| BTC 571 | Introduction to Christian Theology | 1 |
Counseling Prerequisites Required before any Classes
Six undergraduate credits of counseling are required before any graduate work can commence.
Noncredit program requirements
- Therapist evaluation of MMPI-2 and 16PF-taken immediately after preliminary acceptance phase AND evaluated by counseling department faculty before registering for your 5th course (including transfer credits)
- PA criminal background check and child abuse clearance submitted before registering for your 5th course
- Candidacy: must be granted before registering for your 5th course (including transfer credits), see Handbook for details (requires current child abuse clearance & criminal background check)
Professional Core (12 Credits)
| CPS 501 | Orientation to Counseling and Psychology | 3 |
| CPS 508 | Counseling Skills in Helping Relationships | 3 |
| CPS 530 | Professional Ethics in Counseling & Psychology Casework | 3 |
| CPS 541 | Group Counseling Leadership Skills | 3 |
The 12 credits of the Professional Core must be taken in order to be granted candidacy.
2nd Tier Professional Courses (18 Credits)
| CPS 505 | Research Design & Stats for Counselors | 3 |
| CPS 510 | Human Growth and Development across the Lifespan | 3 |
| CPS 520 | Applied Counseling & Psychological Methodologies | 3 |
| CPS 525 | Counseling & Psychological Assessment Techniques I | 3 |
| CPS 531 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| CPS 583 | Cross-Cultural Counseling | 3 |
CPS 505: For Students without a previous statistics course; they will need to take a pre-statistics assessment on eCampus to assess their level of pre-statistics understanding. This assessment will be taken on a Counseling & Social Work Department computer. If the student scores a 70% or higher, they would be eligible to register for CPS 505 Research and Program Evaluation. Or PSC 504 Statistical Methods for School Counselors. Should they score lower than 70%, the student would be required to take MAT 216 Statistics for the Social Sciences prior to taking CPS 505 or PSC 504. Students who have already taken a statistics course in their undergraduate experience in which they received a final grade of at least 70% are free to register for CPS 505 or PSC 504.
The 15 credits of the 2nd Tier Professional courses can only be taken after being granted Candidacy.
3rd Tier Advanced Courses (12 Credits)
| CPS 514 | Psychopharmacology | 3 |
| CPS 572 | Addictions Counseling | 3 |
| CPS 573 | Advanced Addictions Treatment Methods | 3 |
| CPS 588 | Career and Vocational Counseling | 3 |
Professional Practice Courses (9 Credits)
| CPS 601 | Professional CNS Practicum | 3 |
| CPS 602 | Professional CNS Internship | 3 |
| CPS 603 | Professional CNS Field Service | 3 |
Elective Options (9 Credits)
| CPS 546 | Theories of Personality | 3 |
| CPS 517 | Biopsychology | 3 |
| CPS 575 | Counseling Children and Adolescents | 3 |
| CPS 577 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| CPS 551 | Counseling Assessment II | 3 |
| CPS 545 | Counseling the Older Adult | 3 |
| CPS 860 | Advanced Applied Research Practicum | 3 |
| CPS 553 | Counseling & Psychotherapy for the Individual | 3 |
| CPS 540 | Marriage Counseling & Psychotherapy | 3 |
| CPS 550 | Family Counseling | 3 |
| CPS 552 | Marriage and Family Issues | 3 |
Electives can be taken only after completing 2nd Tier Professional Courses and being granted candidacy.
Master of Arts in Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling
Degree: Master of Arts in Marriage, Couple & Family Counseling
The purpose of the Marriage, Couple, & Family Counseling Program is to provide training that will give entry-level qualifications for marriage, couple, and family counseling opportunities, state licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor, and professional certification. The objectives for the program are:
- To equip the student with theoretical orientation that is necessary for addressing human relationships, gender, sexuality, and communication in the context of marriage and family therapy.
- To provide educational training to enhance the prospective counselor’s clinical skill necessary for marriage and family therapy.
- To create within the student the ability to conduct critical thinking skills to evaluate theory and practice from a biblical perspective.
- To provide an emphasis on application of information and knowledge by means of supervised counseling experiences.
- To develop the student’s knowledge of the foundational elements in counseling theory and research to prepare students for further study.
Curricular Structure
The Marriage & Family Counseling concentration program consists of 48 credits. The curriculum is designed as follows:
| Professional Core |
12 Credits |
| 2nd Tier Professional Courses |
18 Credits |
| 3rd Tier Advanced Courses |
18 Credits |
| Professional Practice Courses |
9 Credits |
| Elective Options |
3 Credits |
| Program Total |
60 Credits |
Location Offered
Lancaster, PA
Pre-program Candidacy Requirements - Biblical and Theological Foundational Courses
Students must complete all the Biblical and Theological Foundation courses beore the practicum. Some exemptions are possible. Students without the 30 credits of Bible/Theology but who have taken 9 credits of Old Testament, New Testament, or Theology courses are exempt from taking the respective Biblical and Theological Foundation Courses. Likewise, a 3 credit course in Hermeneutics will exempt students from BTC 561. At the time of admission, an evaluation will be done of the students’ transcripts, and students will be informed of which courses they are exempt from taking.
The following four Biblical and Theological Foundation Courses are each 1 credit courses and are included with each semester’s roster of courses.
| BTC 521 | Biblical Narrative - Old Testament | 1 |
| BTC 531 | Biblical Narrative - New Testament | 1 |
| BTC 561 | Biblical Interpretation | 1 |
| BTC 571 | Introduction to Christian Theology | 1 |
Counseling Prerequisites Required before any Classes
Six undergraduate credits of counseling are required before any graduate work can commence.
Noncredit program requirements
- Therapist evaluation of MMPI-2 and 16PF-taken immediately after preliminary acceptance phase AND evaluated by counseling department faculty before registering for your 5th course (including transfer credits)
- PA criminal background check and child abuse clearance submitted before registering for your 5th course
- Candidacy: must be granted before registering for your 5th course (including transfer credits), see Handbook for details (requires current child abuse clearance & criminal background check)
Professional Core (12 Credits)
| CPS 501 | Orientation to Counseling and Psychology | 3 |
| CPS 508 | Counseling Skills in Helping Relationships | 3 |
| CPS 530 | Professional Ethics in Counseling & Psychology Casework | 3 |
| CPS 541 | Group Counseling Leadership Skills | 3 |
The 12 credits of the Professional Core must be taken in order to be granted candidacy.
2nd Tier Professional Courses (15 Credits)
| CPS 505 | Research Design & Stats for Counselors | 3 |
| CPS 510 | Human Growth and Development across the Lifespan | 3 |
| CPS 520 | Applied Counseling & Psychological Methodologies | 3 |
| CPS 525 | Counseling & Psychological Assessment Techniques I | 3 |
| CPS 531 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| CPS 583 | Cross-Cultural Counseling | 3 |
CPS 505: For Students without a previous statistics course; they will need to take a pre-statistics assessment on eCampus to assess their level of pre-statistics understanding. This assessment will be taken on a Counseling & Social Work Department computer. If the student scores a 70% or higher, they would be eligible to register for CPS 505 Research and Program Evaluation. Or PSC 504 Statistical Methods for School Counselors. Should they score lower than 70%, the student would be required to take MAT 216 Statistics for the Social Sciences prior to taking CPS 505 or PSC 504. Students who have already taken a statistics course in their undergraduate experience in which they received a final grade of at least 70% are free to register for CPS 505 or PSC 504.
The 15 credits of the 2nd Tier Professional courses can only be taken after being granted Candidacy.
3rd Tier Advanced Course (18 Credits)
| CPS 540 | Marriage Counseling & Psychotherapy | 3 |
| CPS 550 | Family Counseling | 3 |
| CPS 552 | Marriage and Family Issues | 3 |
| CPS 572 | Addictions Counseling | 3 |
| CPS 575 | Counseling Children and Adolescents | 3 |
| CPS 588 | Career and Vocational Counseling | 3 |
Professional Practice Courses (9 Credits)
| CPS 601 | Professional CNS Practicum | 3 |
| CPS 602 | Professional CNS Internship | 3 |
| CPS 603 | Professional CNS Field Service | 3 |
Concentration courses can be taken only after being granted Candidacy and completing the 2nd Tier Professional Courses. Constitutes three concentration courses, practicum, and internship.
Elective Options (6 Credits)
| CPS 514 | Psychopharmacology | 3 |
| CPS 517 | Biopsychology | 3 |
| CPS 546 | Theories of Personality | 3 |
| CPS 551 | Counseling Assessment II | 3 |
| CPS 553 | Counseling & Psychotherapy for the Individual | 3 |
| CPS 577 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| CPS 573 | Advanced Addictions Treatment Methods | 3 |
| CPS 545 | Counseling the Older Adult | 3 |
| CPS 860 | Advanced Applied Research Practicum | 3 |
Electives can be taken only after completing 2nd Tier Professional Courses and being granted candidacy.
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Degree: Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
The purpose of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program is to provide training that will give entry-level qualifications for mental health counseling opportunities, state licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor, and professional certification. The objectives for the program are:
- To equip the student with theoretical orientation that is necessary for assessment of the client’s learning, motivation, and character.
- To provide educational training to enhance the prospective counselor’s clinical skill necessary for individual therapy.
- To create within the student the ability to conduct critical thinking skills to evaluate theory and practice from a biblical perspective.
- To provide an emphasis on application of information and knowledge by means of supervised counseling experiences.
- To develop the student’s knowledge of the foundational elements in counseling theory and research to prepare students for further study.
Curricular Structure
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program consists of 48 credits. The curriculum is designed as follows:
| Professional Core Courses |
12 Credits |
| 2nd Tier Professional Courses |
18 Credits |
| 3rd Tier Professional Courses |
18 Credits |
| Professional Practice Courses |
9 Credits |
| Elective Options |
3 Credits |
| Program Total |
60 Credits |
Location Offered
Lancaster, PA
Pre-program Candidacy Requirements - Biblical and Theological Foundational Courses
Students must complete all the Biblical and Theological Foundation courses beore the practicum. Some exemptions are possible. Students without the 30 credits of Bible/Theology but who have taken 9 credits of Old Testament, New Testament, or Theology courses are exempt from taking the respective Biblical and Theological Foundation Courses. Likewise, a 3 credit course in Hermeneutics will exempt students from BTC 561. At the time of admission, an evaluation will be done of the students’ transcripts, and students will be informed of which courses they are exempt from taking.
The following four Biblical and Theological Foundation Courses are each 1 credit courses and are included with each semester’s roster of courses.
| BTC 521 | Biblical Narrative - Old Testament | 1 |
| BTC 531 | Biblical Narrative - New Testament | 1 |
| BTC 561 | Biblical Interpretation | 1 |
| BTC 571 | Introduction to Christian Theology | 1 |
Counseling Prerequisites Required before any Classes
Six undergraduate credits of counseling are required before any graduate work can commence.
Noncredit program requirements
- Orientation Seminar (0 credits)
- Therapist evaluation of MMPI-2 and 16PF-taken immediately after preliminary acceptance phase AND evaluated by counseling department faculty before registering for your 5th course (including transfer credits)
- Candidacy: must be granted before registering for your 5th course (including transfer credits), see Handbook for details (requires current child abuse clearance & criminal background check)
Professional Core (12 Credits)
The 12 credits of the Professional Core must be taken first as part of Preliminary Acceptance Phase (PAP).
| CPS 501 | Orientation to Counseling and Psychology | 3 |
| CPS 508 | Counseling Skills in Helping Relationships | 3 |
| CPS 530 | Professional Ethics in Counseling & Psychology Casework | 3 |
| CPS 541 | Group Counseling Leadership Skills | 3 |
2nd Tier Professional Courses (18 Credits)
The 15 credits of the 2nd Tier Professional courses can only be taken after being granted Candidacy.
| CPS 505 | Research Design & Stats for Counselors | 3 |
| CPS 510 | Human Growth and Development across the Lifespan | 3 |
| CPS 520 | Applied Counseling & Psychological Methodologies | 3 |
| CPS 525 | Counseling & Psychological Assessment Techniques I | 3 |
| CPS 531 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| CPS 583 | Cross-Cultural Counseling | 3 |
CPS 505: For Students without a previous statistics course; they will need to take a pre-statistics assessment on eCampus to assess their level of pre-statistics understanding. This assessment will be taken on a Counseling & Social Work Department computer. If the student scores a 70% or higher, they would be eligible to register for CPS 505 Research and Program Evaluation. Or PSC 504 Statistical Methods for School Counselors. Should they score lower than 70%, the student would be required to take MAT 216 Statistics for the Social Sciences prior to taking CPS 505 or PSC 504. Students who have already taken a statistics course in their undergraduate experience in which they received a final grade of at least 70% are free to register for CPS 505 or PSC 504.
3rd Tier Professional Courses (18 Credits)
Mental Health Counseling Concentration courses can be taken only after being granted Candidacy and completing 2ndTier Professonal Courses.
| CPS 546 | Theories of Personality | 3 |
| CPS 551 | Counseling Assessment II | 3 |
| CPS 553 | Counseling & Psychotherapy for the Individual | 3 |
| CPS 572 | Addictions Counseling | 3 |
| CPS 575 | Counseling Children and Adolescents | 3 |
| CPS 588 | Career and Vocational Counseling | 3 |
Professional Practice Courses (9 Credits)
Licensure courses can be taken only after completing the 2nd Tier Professional Courses.
| CPS 601 | Professional CNS Practicum | 3 |
| CPS 602 | Professional CNS Internship | 3 |
| CPS 603 | Professional CNS Field Service | 3 |
Elective Options (3 Credits)
Three credits of Elective Options can be taken only after completing 2nd Tier of Professional Courses.
Judson C. Buckwalter, MA
Freeman M. Chakara, PsyD
Ryan M. Kuehner, PhD
Gary L. Troxell, EdD
Justin D. Charles, PsyD
Jessica A. Dixon, MS
P. Daniel Keefer, MA
In Pennsylvania the academic requirement to be a Licensed Professional Counselor is 60 credits. The licensure test is administered by the National Board of Certified Counselors. Students desiring this option may take the additional 12 credits prior to graduation or after they graduate. Students wanting to take the additional 12 credits, prior to graduation must declare their intention with the Director of the School Counseling program, Thomas Starr, Director of the School Counseling Program - 717.569.7071 ext. 5580 | EMAIL: tstarr@lbc.edu during their Counseling Internship course.
Each student is assigned a Student Experience Specialist who will help them through the admissions process, orientation, scheduling, registration, graduation, and other academic matters relating to the student’s progress through their program. Furthermore, a Faculty Advisor will be assigned to each student for assistance with Field-Based Experience and to provide a guide through the program. Final responsibility for the fulfillment of all program and graduation requirements rests with the student; therefore students are encouraged to be proactive in relating to their Student Experience Specialist and Faculty Advisor during academic studies.
The following requirements must be successfully completed in order to receive the Master of Arts degree: