Several of our ministry degree programs as well as our counseling program require students to engage in a mentored field ministry or internship experience as part of the program requirements. For this reason, we would encourage you start thinking about this early on in your studies at Western Seminary.

For those who will be looking for a mentored field ministry opportunity, it is important to keep this in mind as you select a local church to attend. If you are hoping to work at a church while completing your education, feel free to check out our placement website. If you would like to know which churches have historically worked with Western to fulfill this requirement, feel free to contact Terry Burns at tburns@westernseminary.edu.

Each student in our Master of Arts in Counseling program must complete a minimum of 5 semesters of internship. Our program does not recommend waiting for the internship until your last year. Rather, by beginning in either your second or third semester of the program, you’ll have the opportunity to develop your skills while still being involved in the classroom experience. Students will have the opportunity to capitalize on positive relationships built between Western and a variety of local counseling sites. These sites include independent counseling offices, community mental health, drug addiction recovery centers, and many more. Students also have the flexibility to seek out their own internship site, should they wish to pursue something specific that is not represented in our current relationships. Once you have entered the program, the Administrative Assistant for the Counseling Department will provide you with more information about securing an internship site.