The Master of Arts in Pastoral Care and Counseling (MAPCC) Clinical Track equips you to integrate theology with psychological theories to address human suffering and facilitate the healing and flourishing of persons and communities. Graduates of our MAPCC go on to work in a variety of settings, such as private practices, social service agencies, hospitals, and college counseling centers, while others move directly into doctoral programs.
Garrett provides all the necessary clinical courses for licensure in Illinois and partners with several other institutions for internships and practicums to provide the necessary clinical hours needed for licensure. Partners include (but are not limited to):
The Center for Religion and Psychotherapy of Chicago (CRPC) is a not-for-profit organization in Chicago offering psychotherapy and pastoral counseling for adults and adolescents, individuals and couples, since 1965. The program assumes that religious experience can be (and often is) a vital aspect of human development and that the study of religious experience is crucial in the process of becoming a well-developed clinician.
To learn more: crpchicago.com
Since 1894, Kids Above All’s mission has impacted more than 150,000 children and families in Cook, DuPage, Kane, and Lake counties through early childhood learning programs, safe, supportive housing services, and trauma-informed counseling. Kids Above All places the safety, well-being and education of kids and families above everything else, so they can build better lives. They believe that all children deserve the same opportunity to achieve their full potential.
To learn more: kidsaboveall.org
Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital is the largest non-profit health system in the U.S. and the world’s largest Catholic health system. They are committed to delivering person-centered care to all. Ascension Their hospital is located in Hoffman Estates with eight different outpatient partial hospitalization programs for patients with mental health or substance use disorders. They train 20 master’s level students throughout those partial programs. Each student trains for three days a week in one program from August until May/June depending on their school’s graduation date.
To learn more: AMITAhealth.org/BehavTrainingOpps
Millennium Counseling Center’s mission is to help people find a way out of the bondage of self-hate, shame, and pain often caused by addiction, mental illness, and trauma. We believe that with hard work and dedication, people can reclaim the hope that these diseases insidiously strip away.
To learn more: millenniumhope.com
The MAPCC Clinical track is a 60-credit hour program.
Foundational Courses (18-credit hours)
Clinical Pastoral Education (Optional 3-credit hours)
Concentration Courses (42-credit hours)
The MAPCC Clinical Track fulfills the educational requirements for licensure (Licensed Professional Counselor or LPC) with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Completion of the degree does not, however, guarantee fulfillment of educational requirements for licensure outside of Illinois. Students seeking licensure outside the state of Illinois should inform themselves about the curricular requirements for licensing in that state.
The MAPCC Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care track is best suited for students interested in various forms of chaplaincy or spiritual care work outside of a professional counseling setting.
Garrett offers courses in a variety of course modalities to meet a variety of scheduling needs. Course options include in-person, online, hybrid, hyflex, and more. Note that Illinois licensure requires at least one-third of courses to be taken in-person.
I am delighted to join a world class faculty in a school that in many ways is synonymous with the academic discipline of Pastoral Care worldwide. I look forward to collaborating in the formation of would be pastors and academics for the needs of a multicultural church and society. I bring a decidedly intercultural voice and a teaching style that helps students question their answers to arrive at even deeper questions, and a collaborative style that ensures students learn to share their intellectual gifts and thus live of a life of service.
Rev. Dr. Esther E. Acolatse
Professor of Pastoral Theology and World Christianity
My vocation as a teacher, pastoral theologian and librarian is deeply rooted in the commitment to serve and lead others as we together try to understand the complexities of the world and engage in the caring and community building activities of the Divine.
Dr. Jaeyeon Lucy Chung
Director, Styberg Library
Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology
As a teacher, scholar, and clinician, it is my intention to create an atmosphere of hospitality and curiosity and to encourage religious imagination in spaces of teaching and learning.
Dr. Rolf Nolasco
Rueben P. Job Professor of Spiritual Formation and Pastoral Theology
As persons of faith, a psychology based on the assumption of the central need and motivation for relational connectedness to another resonates with the biblical accounts of the partnership of Adam and Eve, the covenant of Yahweh with the people of Israel, the New Testament accounts of a redeeming relationship with the Christ, the commandment to love self and neighbor, and the necessity of the church to function as a body.
Dr. Lallene Rector
Professor of Psychology of Religion and Pastoral Psychotherapy
Not only am I thrilled to be working alongside such a distinguished faculty, I am also excited to teach and connect with the bold and adventurous students of the Garrett community. I hope to continue my work as an ally and advocate for greater representation of minority and underserved communities to access pastoral and spiritual care.
Rev. Dr. AHyun Lee
Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology, Care, and Psychotherapy
Graduates of this program will be able to:
Garrett-Evangelical accepts applications from students with a minimum GPA of 2.5 in a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or from an AETH-certified Bible institute. Because our primary language of instruction is English, applicants be able to show English proficiency, as evidenced by a previous degree in English or completion of either the Duolingo or Test of English as a Foreign Language test.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. International student applications are due by March 1st.
