OVERVIEW

The one year Diploma program provides you with a foundation of biblical, theological and ministry studies for your spiritual growth and ministry development. The Diploma allows you to tailor your studies to meet your learning and ministry needs. You may choose a concentration in Pastoral Ministry, Theology, Biblical Studies and Counseling. Pursue if you want to enhance your biblical and theological understanding in a setting that will engage your intellect and deepen your faith.

CONCENTRATION:   Counseling

DURATION:   1 Year

NUMBER OF COURSES:  10

CHRISTIAN COUNSELING PROGRAM

The Christian Counseling program will equip students with the knowledge, values and necessary competencies for lay and church counseling ministry. This program has been tailored to train students in the Christian Counseling general focus to best prepare each student for the community that they intend to serve. The Diploma in Christian Counseling prepares students for employment in secular and Christian social service agencies, private practices, chaplaincy settings or in congregational church environments. Our faculty equips students with the academic and applied knowledge they need on how to counsel clients on issues including interpersonal conflicts, couple and family therapy, depression, abuse, at-risk youth, marriage, and grief. Students will be given the opportunity to put the knowledge they gain into practice through completion of a guided supervised ministry (internship). After completion of the program, graduates will be qualified for employment opportunities or apply for further studies in Christian Counseling. Official transcripts and the Diploma in Christian Counseling will be awarded to students who successfully complete the 30 credit hours course program.

REQUIRED COURSES:

Core Courses and Description

COUN101    Introduction to Professional Counseling         (3 credit hours)

This course introduces students to the wide field of counseling with a biblical basis for counseling, integration of psychology and theology, counseling needs, methods and theories.

ADDC102    Introduction to Addiction Counseling                (3 credit hours)

This course provides an overview of concepts and skills related to counseling individuals who are addicted. Students are introduced to different theoretical approaches to addiction counseling.

PSYC103    Introduction to Psychology                                    (3 credit hours)

This course offers a clear and lively introduction to the science of psychology and assumes no prior knowledge of the subject. This course presents an overview of various branches of psychology such as Abnormal Psych., Biological Psych., Critical thinking, Developmental Psych., Educational Psych.,(Learning), Memory, Cognition & Language, Motivated Behaviours, Social Psych., Personality, etc.

PHIL104    Introduction to Christian Worldview                       (3 credit hours)

The first part of this course introduces students to alternative worldview such as deism, existentialism, naturalism, atheism, etc. The second part focuses on the nature and implications of the Christian Worldview in contrast to alternatives. Students will learn what it means to think about the nature of reality, knowledge, freedom ys determinism, human nature, good vs evil, human responsibility, science, the existence of God, intelligent design and logic from a Christian perspective.

COUN105   Biblical Counseling                                                          (3 credit hours)

A study of the biblical model of Counseling and how it relates and differs from some of the more common forms of secular models and theories of helping individuals. The primary goals of this course are to encourage biblical thinking and explore biblical principles for promoting lasting change in people.

COUN106    Marriage and Family Therapy                                      (3 credit hours)

The course presents an overview of the history, major theoretical and therapeutic models of marriage and family therapy. Some of these include psychodynamic, structural, strategic, communications, experiential and post-modern. Throughout the course, students are encouraged to evaluate their effectiveness and relevance against a biblical understanding of marriage and family.

COUN107      Foundations of Pastoral Care and Counseling         (3 credit hours)

This is an introductory course in the field of pastoral care and counseling. The course explores the unique place and skills of both pastoral care and pastoral counseling. It seeks to provide an overview of the theories, methods and practices of pastoral care and counseling in the Christian congregations as well as with individuals and groups.

Elective Courses and Description

COUN108   Crisis Intervention                                                               (3 credit hours)

This course provides a general overview of the crisis intervention from a practitioner’s (Counselor or Social Worker, Church Leader, Community Worker) standpoint. Students will explore various models used in adjudicating the severity of a client’s presenting crisis situation in gaining some sense of direction in helping the client cope with the dilemma.

COUN109     Loss and Bereavement Counseling                                (3 credit hours)

The purpose of this course is to examine the physical, mental, emotions, social and spiritual dynamics and issues relating to loss and grief. To this end, the course explores models of coping for individuals in distress and transition as a result of loss and bereavement.

SMIN111      Supervised Ministry                                                              (3 credit hours)

This course provides the student with an opportunity to gain 100 hours of field education or supervised ministry experience in a local church or Para-church organization.