The Master of Arts in Community Care program at Indiana Wesleyan University is designed to prepare compassionate people helpers—those not pursuing state licensure—to provide meaningful, faith-informed support in a wide variety of community and ministry settings. Rooted in a Christ-centered academic experience, this counseling-related degree equips you to respond to non-clinical mental health and wellness concerns with education, collaboration, and a commitment to ethical referral when needs extend beyond their scope of competence.
Issues such as crisis pregnancies, adjustment to normal life transitions, personal loss and grief, parenting skill enhancement, and improvement of personal wellness are common non-clinical concerns that lead people to seek the care of lay counselors, peer supports, and indigenous people helpers. The M.A. in Community Care provides you with the knowledge, discernment, and interpersonal skills to serve faithfully and responsibly in such roles.
Why Pursue My Master’s in Community Care Online at IWU?
Indiana Wesleyan University’s 36-credit-hour master’s degree in community care is a non-licensure track that prepares you to provide human-related services in the community. Through a curriculum that integrates sound psychological theory, interpersonal skill development, and faith-based principles, we are committed to training individuals like you whose compassionate service is informed by a holistic understanding of the human person, ethical integrity, and sensitivity to diverse populations of individuals, couples, and families.
Our Christian faculty teach from the same biblical worldview valued on our campus, helping you grow both professionally and spiritually as you learn to offer support with clarity and conviction. Whether you serve in ministry, community outreach, or faith-based agencies, you will be equipped to recognize when to collaborate with or refer to licensed behavioral health professionals in a manner consistent with ethical practice and care.
What Will I Learn in a Master’s in Counseling in Community Care Program?
Upon completion of the master’s degree in community care, you’ll be prepared to be a source of care, compassion, and support to persons and families facing life transitions, relational challenges, or personal difficulties. The program emphasizes practical application through a range of learning experiences that help students grow in interpersonal competence, cultural humility, and spiritual integration.
You’ll also gain essential insight into how personal faith and biblical values can be harmonized with effective support strategies—equipping you to serve confidently and responsibly in your unique vocational context. Just as important, you’ll learn how to recognize your professional boundaries and refer individuals to licensed counselors or mental health professionals when issues fall outside your scope of practice.
Your Master of Arts in Graduate Counseling may be closer than you think! Learn more about the Graduate Counseling programs at Indiana Wesleyan, and the incredible faculty team dedicated to making helping you take the next steps in your counseling career!
What Makes IWU Different?
IWU has provided education for more than 100 years.
Christ-centered support, resources, and services to online students, staff and faculty.
Discover online student resources to help along your journey.
Dr. Robert Atchison
Associate Professor; Chair, Division of Graduate Counseling
Professor Atchison is a graduate of the Indiana Wesleyan University Graduate Counseling program. He began his track as a youth minister but transitioned into the world of counseling as part of his Calling.
Financial aid is available in the form of grants, loans, scholarships, veterans’ benefits, and employer reimbursement.
These courses contain the program-specific knowledge. Upon completion, you will be able to:
These courses contain the program-specific knowledge. Upon completion, you should have the tools to conquer your new career with confidence. For a full list of courses required to complete your degree, please visit the course catalog. Click on a course below to view the description.
CNS-501,CNS-502,CNS-503,CNS-504,CNS-506,CNS-507,CNS-509,CNS-511,CNS-524,CNS-541
NOTE: The graduate admissions committee retains the right to waive an admission requirement for special circumstances. Successful graduate coursework may be substituted for the GRE.
SPECIAL NOTE:
The basic requirements of our 36-credit hour program include:
Transfer of Credit
Credit may be allowed for courses equivalent in content, credit hours, and course title. Only course work that is completed at a college or university that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education and (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) with a minimum of “C” or higher is acceptable for transfer credit. A maximum of 9 credit hours of equivalent coursework earned within the last 7 years at another institution or within another IWU division may be transferred in by students new to the Division of Counseling in order to meet program requirements. Students who are transferring from another MA degree program within the Division of Counseling are eligible to transfer all courses with a “C” or higher that were both previously approved and are held in common between the two-degree programs.
Indiana Wesleyan University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), www.hlcommission.org, 312-263-0456. Other accreditations and associations of Indiana Wesleyan University are available at www.indwes.edu/about/iwu-profile/accreditation.
