M.A. in Marriage, Couple & Family Counseling

Application Deadlines

Spring: November 1
Cohorts are online only.

Fall: June 1
Cohorts are both online and on-campus.

Important Note: If admitted to an online program, you will be required to attend and successfully complete two on-campus, one-week residencies during the course of the program. These residencies are held in January and August.

Prerequisites

Master's applicants must:

• Hold a B.A. or B.S. from a regionally accredited college or university. Desirable degrees include those in counseling, psychology or related human behavioral fields. Other degree fields will also be considered.
• Have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA for all undergraduate coursework.

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: Complete an Admissions Questionnaire

Please complete a brief admissions questionnaire based on your professional goals and interests. This should only take a few minutes to complete but please answer the questions completely and thoughtfully. This enables you to demonstrate your interest in the field of counseling. Once completed, it will be sent directly to an admissions counselor who will be in touch with you right away to help complete the rest of your application.

Step 4: Submit Your Resume

Submit a professional resume or curriculum vitae that highlights your professional experiences, any research or academic projects you have completed, and includes three references with contact information. References should be able to address questions related to character, as well as your interpersonal and relational skills. The resume should also include thorough job descriptions of each position held. Please upload your document to regent.edu/items.

Step 5: 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.

Step 6: Faculty Interview

Interviews for all licensure programs are by invitation only after review of the completed application. These required interviews are conducted online, and you must have both a webcam and microphone to participate. Your admissions counselor will provide information regarding interview days/times for you to register once your file is complete.

Applicants invited to the virtual interview should keep in mind that an interview does not assure admission. The School of Psychology & Counseling reserves the right to determine in its sole discretion whether a candidate is suitable for admission to the licensure program.

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.

*Rates are subject to change at any time.

The mission of the Counseling Department is to provide training in professional counseling, leadership, advocacy, and research with the integration of biblical principles consistent with professional standards of practice.

Goal A: Quality Curriculum

To deliver the high-quality education required by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

Goal B: Faith Integration

To provide leadership in the integration of sound and ethical clinical practice, skills and techniques within the context of Biblically based values.

Goal C: Competent Students: (Disaggregated by Program)

To graduate students who demonstrate proficient knowledge and skill in working with individuals and groups from a multicultural and pluralistic society in mental health service delivery modalities.

Goal D: Professional Dispositions

To graduate students who demonstrate professional dispositions consistent with the counseling profession.

Upcoming Residency Dates

Spring 2025:

• Residency A (On Campus) – Monday, January 6, 2025 - Friday, January 10, 2025. Residency A is scheduled for online students starting the M.A. Counseling Programs in Spring 2025.
• Residency B (On Campus) – Monday, January 6, 2025 - Friday, January 10, 2025. Residency B is for online students who started the M.A. Counseling Programs in the Spring of 2024.

Fall 2025:  

• Residency A (On Campus) – Sunday, August 10, 2025 -Friday, August 15, 2025. Residency A is scheduled for online students starting the MA Counseling Program in Fall 2025.           
• Residency B (On Campus) - Sunday, August 10, 2025 -Friday, August 15, 2025. Residency B is scheduled for online students starting the MA Counseling Program in Fall 2024.

Spring 2026: 

• Residency A (On Campus) - Monday, January 5, 2026 - Friday, January 9, 2026. Residency A is scheduled for online students starting the MA Counseling Program in Spring 2026.  
• Residency B (On Campus) - Monday, January 5, 2026 - Friday, January 9, 2026. Residency B is scheduled for online students starting the MA Counseling Program in Spring 2025.  

Note: Pertinent residency and travel and lodging information will be emailed to students from the SPC Counseling Department after the Spring/Summer 2025 registration begins on Monday, September 30, 2024. Any questions regarding residency should be directed to Academic Services Manager, Linda Harrell at lindha5@regent.edu.

Online students in our master's counseling programs are required to participate in two week-long residencies from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (Eastern Time). Residency A provides networking and mentoring opportunities for students and facilitates discussion with faculty concerning relevant issues, course matriculation, licensure issues, and state/national exams. During Residency B, students will gain more intensive instruction in their specialty programs (Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Marriage, Couple & Family Counseling, and School Counseling.

During residency, students will begin a course that will be completed during the remainder of the fall semester. First-year students will receive an orientation to Regent and participate in sessions on graduate level writing and online learning technology. The School of Psychology & Counseling usually provides lunch and two breaks daily when courses are in session.

Students should consider the following residency costs: transportation, lodging, meals and textbooks purchased prior to residency. We discourage students from bringing their families during residency as the coursework is intensive and requires a considerable amount of study and preparation time, leaving no time for extracurricular activities.

Waiving of residency requirements will not be considered.

1. Am I required to attend full time or may I go at my own pace?

Students may select from one of two progressions that allows them to take classes at a pace that works best for their own personal and professional schedules.

2. How many hours do you recommend a master’s student work per week?

Due to the number of hours you will be spending in and out of class studying, we suggest you work no more than 20 hours per week. There are a number of part-time graduate assistant positions available every semester at the university that allow for flexible schedules.

3. I didn’t major in psychology at the undergraduate level, what do I need to do to make up for this?

We do not require applicants to have majored in psychology at the undergraduate level. We do feel, however, that it is beneficial for applicants to have at least nine credit hours of psychology-related coursework. If you did not major or at least minor in psychology at the undergraduate level, you may want to consider taking additional undergraduate courses. Again, this is not a prerequisite for admission. Recommended courses include: Intro to Psychology, Research Methods/ Statistics, Personality Theory, Human Development, Abnormal Psychology, Psychological Test & Measurements, Social Psychology and Physiological Psychology.

4. How many applicants do you have each year and how many applicants are admitted?

Each year we admit and enroll about 60 students into the online Clinical Mental Health Counseling program and 20 in the Human Services Counseling program. Last year we received over 300 applications.

5. What is the average age of the students?

The average age of the entering class of master’s student in the online Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is 34. The average age of the entering class of the master’s students in the Human Services Counseling program is 40.

6. What is the path for licensure for graduates from your program?

Licensure is different in each state. However, the general standard for licensure is completion of a 60 credit hour M.A. in Counseling with a major in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, School Counseling or Marriage, Couple & Family Counseling. Two years of supervision (post-degree) and a state licensure exam is what most states require to become licensed as a professional counselor or its equivalent. School Counseling licensure or certification is determined by the Board of Education in most states. (Usually an M.A. in Counseling in School Counseling is sufficient.) Students should examine the requirements for licensure in the state or states they would like to practice in the future.

To review syllabi for specific courses offered within the Counseling Department please email the Academic Services Manager, Linda Harrell (lindha5@regent.edu).

• B.S. in Professional Studies – Psychology
• M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• M.A. in Human Services
• M.A. in Human Services – Addictions Counseling
• M.A. in Human Services – Christian Counseling
• M.A. in Human Services – Conflict & Mediation Ministry
• M.A. in Human Services – Human Services Counseling
• M.A. in Human Services – Marriage & Family Ministry
• M.A. in School Counseling
• M.S. in Psychology
• M.S. in Psychology – Addictions
• M.S. in Psychology – Marriage & Family
• Ph.D. in Counseling & Psychological Studies – Marriage & Family Ministry
• Ph.D. in Counselor Education & Supervision