For students interested in understanding human behavior and helping others, psychology and counseling degrees are a natural choice. In the United States, psychology remains one of the top ten most popular undergraduate majors. Additionally, many careers in the field require a master’s degree for employment. Throughout the years, Cairn has offered both a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in counseling to address this reality.
In aligning with part of its mission to produce well-educated students, Cairn continually analyzes student trends and needs—both among prospective and current students. As a result, the University identified the benefits of expanding its Department of Counseling options.
Within the last year, in addition to the on-site MS and MA in Counseling programs as well as the Psychology BA and AA programs, Cairn has implemented the following degrees:
- Online MS in Counseling
- Online MA in Counseling
- Dual-level BA in Psychology and MA in Counseling
- Dual-level BA in Psychology and MS in Counseling
- Dual-level BA in Youth and Family Ministry and MA in Counseling
One goal of these programs is to offer flexible learning formats that provide a strong, biblically based education to students who thrive in online environments. These programs, while different in modality, don’t sacrifice the key features like invested faculty and a strong community that make them outstanding as in-person programs.
The addition of the dual-level programs allows students to streamline their transition from a bachelor’s to a master’s degree. The unique timeframe of the dual-level model allows students to complete both degrees in less time and less money than two traditional, separate degrees.
As a result of these new programs, Cairn University has welcomed several additions to the Department of Counseling, including Director of Online Counseling, Dr. Lynelle Buchanan and department Chair, Dr. Matthew Reese. Their excitement and expertise have already benefited the school significantly.
With these new programs and faculty leadership, Cairn is committed to preparing students for impactful careers in counseling. To learn more about all our Department of Counseling programs, visit cairn.edu/counseling.
