Calvin Theological Seminary will add a Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program to its academic offerings, with courses beginning in the fall of 2023.
The 60-credit program, approved by the board of trustees in February, will include coursework in religious and theological foundations, clinical counseling, and clinical practice.
“This master’s degree is unique in its potential for customization,” said program director Danjuma Gibson, Ph.D., an experienced scholar, theologian, and psychotherapist. “From foundational coursework to clinical placement, this curriculum is designed to help students meet their goals and fulfill their callings with excellence.”
“Calvin Theological Seminary is pleased to begin our search for the inaugural class of the Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling program,” said President Jul Medenblik. “Here students can expect to discover the depths of God’s love for his people and to grow in sharing compassion with fellow humans through best practices in counseling.”
Students from around the world are invited to participate through flexible learning formats: residential, fully remote, or hybrid.
The new master’s program will help meet the demand for licensed mental health counselors, which is currently robust in the United States and Canada. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment for mental health therapists and counselors, as well as addiction and behavioral counselors, will far outpace the employment average in all other labor categories by 2031.
“This is a situation where the clear and growing needs of the church and society meet the central feature of our mission to equip biblically faithful and contextually effective ministry leaders with the skills needed to provide counseling and mental health services to this hurting world that God still so loves," Medenblik said.
About the Author
Annie serves as the Director of Communications at Calvin Seminary.
