Mission Statement for the Winebrenner Theological Seminary MACC Program:
The Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling Program equips individuals, utilizing Christian principles and evidence-based modalities, to become mental health counselors.
Please note: Our application for the Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling is currently closed. Applications for the Fall 2027 cohort will open later this year. See below for key dates and process information.
If you’d like to receive updates about future application cycles and admissions information—or schedule a meeting with our Director of New Student Engagement—you can do so here
Application Window: September 2026 – December 31, 2026. Submit your completed application during this period to be considered for admission.
Group Interview Period: March 2027. Applicants will participate in a group interview. All transcripts and references must be submitted before attending the interview.
You are a Christian with deep compassion for people. You wish to serve your community as a professionally trained, licensed counselor.
Our Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling program is for you. The program prepares you to be an effective clinical mental health counselor who integrates Christian values and worldview into your service to clients. Inquire today.
The program is designed to equip men and women to work in multiple settings (i.e. private practice, community mental health agencies, hospitals, government, and business settings) where they can help bring spiritual, emotional, and psychological wellness into people’s lives. The objectives of the MACC program are to deliver a high quality education required by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs (CACREP), and to prepare students to meet the requirements of the State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, & Marriage and Family Therapist Board (CSW&MFTB) to become licensed as professional Clinical Mental Health Counselors.
〉 Licensed Professional Counselor
〉 Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)
〉 Higher Education Counselor
〉 Drug & Alcohol Counselor
〉 Addictions Counselor
〉 Director of Human Services Agency
〉 Geriatric Counselor
Winebrenner Theological Seminary is accredited by CACREP through March 31, 2026. This accreditation status recognizes the educational quality of the program and allows graduates to apply for licensure in the State of Ohio. Winebrenner’s status can be confirmed at https://www.cacrep.org/program/auto-draft-150/
Winebrenner Theological Seminary is also fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and the Commission on Accrediting of The Association of Theological Schools (ATS) in the United States and Canada.
Upon completion of the MACC degree, you will meet the requirements to take the licensure exam. Students may enroll in a licensure program if they will be physically residing in a state or territory where the program meets the educational requirements for licensure while attending Winebrenner Theological Seminary. Students residing in a state or territory where the program does not meet the educational requirements for licensure may contact the Program Director iiames@winebrenner.edu, to explore available options. Inquire today.
Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling
950 North Main Street
Findlay, OH 45840
Dr. Mary Iiames
iiames@winebrenner.edu
The MACC program is comprised of 64 credit hours of traditional counseling courses including 6 credit hours of general theology courses.
General Theological Education Requirements (6 credit hours):
Christian Thought
Applied Theological Concepts for Clinical Counseling (IS 6950)
Biblical Studies (Choose one)
New Testament Foundations
Old Testament Foundations
A Survey of the History of Christianity
The Ministerial Person
(Another Biblical Studies course may be taken upon approval of the Chief Academic Officer.)
MACC Requirements (64 credit hours):
Foundations for Seminary Studies (required in the first trimester of study)
Introduction to Clinical Mental Health [C]
Counseling Theories
Helping Skills
Human Growth and Development
Group Counseling
Career Counseling
Multicultural Counseling
Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling
Diagnosis of Mental and Emotional Disorders [C]
Research and Evaluation
Psychopathology [C]
Treatment of Mental and Emotional Disorders [C]
Personality Assessment [C]
Crisis and Trauma-Informed Care and Counseling
Counseling Children and Adolescents
Family Counseling and Relations
Counseling the Dying and Grieving
Addictions and Counseling
Practicum in Clinical Mental Health Counseling [C]
Internship I in Clinical Mental Health Counseling [C]
Internship II in Clinical Mental Health Counseling [C]
An additional elective is also offered: Human Sexuality and Clinical Counseling
[C] = Clinical Courses
CC 5050 Counseling Theories
CC 5000 Intro to Clinical Mental Health [C]
CC 5121 Helping Skills
CC 5150 Human Growth and Development
CC 5200 Group Counseling
CC 5250 Career Counseling
CC 5300 Multicultural Counseling
CC 5400 Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling
CC 5450 Diagnosis of Mental and Emotional Disorders [C]
CC 6000 Research and Evaluation
CC 6050 Psychopathology [C]
CC 6100 Treatment of Mental and Emotional Disorders [C]
CC 6150 Personality Assessment [C]
CC 6200 Counseling Children and Adolescents
CC 6300 Human Sexuality and Clinical Counseling
CC 6500 Family Counseling and Relations
CC 6530 Crisis and Trauma-Informed Care and Counseling
CC 6550 Counseling the Dying and Grieving
CC 6600 Addictions and Counseling
CC 7000 Practicum in Clinical Mental Health Counseling [C]
CC 7050 Internship in Clinical Mental Health Counseling I [C]
CC 7100 Internship in Clinical Mental Health Counseling II [C]
IS 5100 Foundations for Seminary Studies
IS 6950 Applied Theological Concepts for Clinical Counseling
When God called Angie Swonger into Winebrenner’s Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling (MACC) program, she was not at all the “traditional, straight-out-of-university” graduate student. Having already taught in the public school system for over 20 years, Angie was serving in her local church as an ordained pastor (Church of God, Anderson).
It was 2015 when her senior pastor approached her about the new counseling program Winebrenner had launched. His affirmation of Angie’s gifts combined with God’s inner promptings moved Angie to investigate what Winebrenner was offering.
Once she was confident that Winebrenner’s MACC program was for her, Angie prayed… Read Angie’s full story…