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A guest being greeted: Regent offers an online human services degree program with multiple concentration options.

M.A. in Human Services

Pursue Your Passion Through Regent’s Human Services Degree

You’re wired to do good and to bring out the good in and for others. To move forward with confidence in your calling, pursue Regent’s SACSCOC-accredited online Master of Arts in Human Services. This non-licensure degree equips you with practical helping skills in Christian counseling, addictions counseling, and other specialized areas such as biblical counseling, student affairs, mediation, criminal justice, and more. Courses are taught with a combination of real-time interaction with professors, small-group projects, podcast lectures, and asynchronous chat room discussions.

Online
30
May 6, 2024

Grow in Christian Counseling & Coaching

Explore the mind-body-spirit connection and practice individual and group work.

Empower Your Career Through a Human Services Degree

Gain foundational skills in behavioral sciences while specializing in a concentrated area.

Gain Foundational Helping Skills

Learn to identify and assist individuals struggling with common life-adjustment issues or seeking personal development.

Align Yourself with Excellence

Experience Regent. Ranked among top national universities by U.S. News & World Report, 2022, Regent combines both excellence and integrity.

Courses are taught from a Christian perspective by faculty members in Virginia Beach and beyond.

Please complete the Request Information form on this page to learn more about this program.

On completing the M.A. in Human Services degree, you can:

  • Acquire knowledge in human growth and development, group work, research, and professional ethics.
  • Address legal, ethical, and liability issues while discussing specific treatment issues.
  • Develop practice and evaluation skills and techniques.

Career Opportunities

  • Human/Social Services Professional
  • Foster/Elder Care Coordinator
  • Medical/Health Services Manager
  • Nonprofit Administrator
  • Pastoral Counselor
  • Life Coach
11%
Projected growth in social and human services employment from 2020-2030

The M.A. in Human Services – Addictions Counseling degree program will train you to apply faith-based interventions in ministry or professional recovery contexts to food, drug, sexual, and other addictions.

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The M.A. in Human Services – Biblical Counseling will prepare you for work in the church, community, mission, biblical counseling center, and beyond. Gain foundational skills in behavioral sciences with an emphasis on biblical application.

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The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Human Services – Christian Counseling degree program will give you counseling strategies and techniques from a Christian perspective. Gain solutions-focused people skills to address specific, real-world problems in your profession.

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The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Human Services – Conflict & Mediation Ministry is offered in partnership with Regent School of Law. This conflict resolution degree will equip you to bring people together using mediation skills in nonprofessional ministry contexts.

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The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Human Services – Criminal Justice & Ministry, offered in partnership with Regent School of Law, will prepare you to bring lasting rehabilitation to the incarcerated and others within the legal system. The program focuses on juvenile and criminal law, international trafficking, and immigration rules and procedures.

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The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Human Services – Grief Counseling will prepare you to care for those who have encountered loss. Explore how to minister in contexts of death, community trauma and disaster.

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The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Human Services – Human Services Counseling prepares you to effectively serve your community. You'll develop skills for better care of others and for career growth through this human services degree program.

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The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Human Services – Human Services for Student Affairs will prepare you to help students thrive in their academic and personal development, whether you prefer administration or hands-on assistance roles.

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The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Human Services – Life Coaching will prepare you to work with others in personal and motivational contexts. This program focuses on Christian coaching with supervised field experience including an advanced coaching practicum.

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The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Human Services – Marriage & Family Ministry will prepare you to address the needs of couples (married and unmarried) in a ministry context, as well as traditional and nontraditional families. Be equipped to reinvigorate marriages and families.

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The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Human Services – Trauma & Crisis Counseling will prepare you to respond to natural and human disasters, as well as personal trauma. Learn to support first responders and to counsel others to freedom.

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A review of human services fields and career identities. The impact of worldviews on the relationship between human service workers and those they serve is examined. Attention is given to ethical, spiritual, and other considerations for those seeking to be effective change agents for the good of others.
Consists of carefully selected topics/findings drawn from the behavioral sciences that can provide a valuable knowledge base for those working in the human services fields. It will draw from the psychological research on the biological, cognitive, social, and emotional bases of behavior, theories of counseling, motivation research, and other behavioral science fields.
Provides an overview of professional ethics for human services fields. A brief survey of the professional codes in the mental health fields and other relevant guidance in applied ethics pertinent to human services work and roles. Cross-listed with PAC 505.
A survey and experiential application of interviewing, reflective listening and helping skills. Techniques and practices derived from professional counseling and other human service fields will be covered with an emphasis on demonstrations, modeling, practice and evaluation. Cross-listed with PAC 524.
Provides an introduction to the importance of cultural awareness and the presence/influence of cultural and individual diversity. Also, students gain an overview of social theories and social justice. Attention is given to support the development of multicultural skills with a broad range of focus and application across varied settings. Cross-listed with PAC 570.
Combines applied experience with the integration of Christianity in human service work. Students must obtain experience in line with counseling ministries and the Field Experience Guidelines. This course extends over the full semester to ensure adequate time for students to gain training and experience. Cross-listed with PAC 596 and MHPS 696. Pass/No Pass.

2023-24 Semester Check-In Deadlines

All students are expected to check-in for the semester two weeks before the session start date. Students should apply, be accepted, enroll in their first courses, and confirm a plan to pay for their courses prior to this date.

SessionSemester Check-InSession Start Date
Session AFriday, August 11Monday, August 21
Session BFriday, October 13Monday, October 23
Session CThursday, January 4Monday, January 8
Session DFriday, March 1Monday, March 11
Session EFriday, April 26Monday, May 6
Session FFriday, June 7Monday, June 17

Admissions Requirements

Step 1: Apply to Regent University

Submit your application using the Regent University Online Application.

Note: If you are unable to complete our application due to a disability, please contact our Admissions Office at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu and an admissions representative will provide reasonable accommodations to assist you in completing the application.

Step 2: Submit Your Unofficial Transcripts

Submit your unofficial transcripts to regent.edu/items.

Upon submitting your application, you will receive an email requesting authorization for Regent University to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institution. International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES, AACRAO or NAFSA approved agency.

Step 3: Submit Your Government-Issued ID

To ensure academic integrity, Regent University requires a copy of a government-issued ID. Please submit a scanned copy or photograph of it to regent.edu/items.


Please feel free to contact the Office of Admissions at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu should you have any further questions about the application process.

Note: All items submitted as part of the application process become the property of Regent University and cannot be returned.

Part-Time Students

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts in Human Services (MA)$6156$3,690
Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling (MA)$6156$3,690
Master of Science in Psychology (MS)$6956$4,170
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MA)$7306$4,380
Master of Arts in School Counseling (MA)$7306$4,380
Master of Arts in Marriage, Couple & Family Counseling (MA)$7306$4,380
Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling & Psychological Studies (PhD)$6953$2,085
Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education & Supervision (PhD)Full time enrollment is required.
Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (PsyD)Full time enrollment is required.

Full-Time Students

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts in Human Services (MA)$6159$5,535
Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling (MA)$6159$5,535
Master of Science in Psychology (MS)$6959$6,255
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MA)$7309$6,570
Master of Arts in School Counseling (MA)$7309$6,570
Master of Arts in Marriage, Couple & Family Counseling (MA)$7309$6,570
Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling & Psychological Studies (PhD)$6956$4,170
Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education & Supervision (PhD)$9006$5,400
Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (PsyD)$90012$10,800

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)$850 (Fall & Spring)
$700 (Summer)
University Services Fee (Online Students)$700

Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

PART-TIME STUDENTS

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts in Human Services (MA)$6156$3,690
Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling (MA)$6156$3,690
Master of Science in Psychology (MS)$6956$4,170
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MA)$7306$4,380
Master of Arts in School Counseling (MA)$7306$4,380
Master of Arts in Marriage, Couple & Family Counseling (MA)$7306$4,380
Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling & Psychological Studies (PhD)$6953$2,085
Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education & Supervision (PhD)Full time enrollment is required.
Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (PsyD)Full time enrollment is required.

Full-Time Students

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts in Human Services (MA)$6159$5,535
Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling (MA)$6159$5,535
Master of Science in Psychology (MS)$6959$6,255
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MA)$7309$6,570
Master of Arts in School Counseling (MA)$7309$6,570
Master of Arts in Marriage, Couple & Family Counseling (MA)$7309$6,570
Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling & Psychological Studies (PhD)$6956$4,170
Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education & Supervision (PhD)$9006$5,400
Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (PsyD)$90012$10,800

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)$800 (Fall & Spring)
$650 (Summer)
University Services Fee (Online Students)$650

Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

*Rates are subject to change at any time.

“I choose Regent for its professional thoughtful and approach to education, but what shaped me was the mentoring faculty and my cohort experience.”

Chris Hull, Ph.D. in Counselor Education & Supervision, 2009 Head of Graduate Counseling, John Brown University; Board of Directors Chair, CACREP

“Regent was a pivotal point in my professional career. I have been forever changed by my experience!”

Richard Mason, Ph.D. , 2007 Counselor Education & Supervision

“I wanted a rigorous doctoral program that could travel with me wherever I was in the country. I found this and more at Regent.”

Heather Paessler-Chesterton, Ph.D., 2009 Counselor Education and Supervision

“People, especially kids, need more than clichés. My training at Regent gave me a meaningful way to express my empathy - which is passion and compassion combined - and they could feel the authenticity of it.”

Cedric Rucker, M.A. in Counseling, 2008 Community Counseling

“Learn all that you can while you're a student at Regent. Take everything the professors say and learn from their wisdom and expertise, because soon you will be the leader in your field.”

Kelly James, Ph.D. in Counselor Education & Supervision, 2011 Licensed Professional Counselor, Professor, Author & Radio Host