Master of Arts in Christian Counseling/Master of Arts in Family Ministry

DUAL DEGREE PROGRAM

The purpose of the dual Master of Arts in Christian Counseling and Master of Arts in Family Ministry degree program is to provide Christ-centered graduate-level education to prepare servant leaders for the practical ministry of Christian counseling in the local church, denominational agency, and faith-based agency, and family ministry leadership by integrating a theological and counseling foundation with a strong foundation in Christian education.

ADMISSION

In order to pursue a Dual Master’s Degree program, the applicant must apply to, meet the existing admission requirements for, and be accepted into each of the master’s degrees which comprise the dual degree program.

Note: Church Membership Requirement (for admission into the EDD in Educational Leadership—all concentrations, PHD in Leadership Studies’ Ministry Concentration, Master’s Ministry Degrees, and Advanced Ministry Certificate Programs): Within the last 12 months, the applicant must have been an active member of a Christian church that holds Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and who holds solely the Old Testament and the New Testament as sacred Scripture.

PROGRAM PREREQUISITES

Old Testament Survey
New Testament Survey
General Psychology

Prerequisites may be met with equivalent courses from another institution or from a passing grade on the GSOM Old Testament and New Testament equivalency exams and do not count toward degree completion.

REQUIRED SHARED CURRICULUM - 24 hours (excluding prerequisites)

course	Credit hours
Required Shared Curriculum	24
DISC 5302 - Biblical Servant Leadership GSOM 6310 - Ministry Mentorship (S-L)* THEO 5313 - Applied Hermeneutics THEO 6305 - Christian History and Heritage THEO 6306 - Systematic Theology WORS 6303 - Spiritual Formation and Worship Electives - Select two courses (6 hours) from the Graduate School of Ministry with approval of Program Director.

MA IN CHRISTIAN COUNSELING REQUIRED CURRICULUM - 18 hours (excluding prerequisites)

course

Credit hours

Required Curriculum

COUN 5312 - Counseling Theories and Techniques

COUN 5314 - Lifespan Human Development
or
MAFM 6316 - Faith Formation in the Life Stages

MACC 6301 - Introduction to Christian Counseling
MACC 6302 - Abnormal Psychology
MACC 6303 - Christian Counseling Skills

Recommended Courses: (Elective - 3 hours)

COUN 5313 - Group Counseling Methods
COUN 6311 - Addictive and Compulsive Disorders
COUN 6314 - Marriage and Family Counseling
COUN 6320 - Counseling Victims of Trauma
COUN 6324 - A Christian Approach to Human Sexuality
DISC 6317 - Biblical Foundation and Models for Small Group Ministry
MACM 6303 - Conflict Resolution in Ministry
MACM 6304 - Victim Assistance Ministry Training
Or a course from one of the following disciplines:
COUN, DISC, MACC, MACM, THEO, or WORS

MA IN FAMILY MINISTRY REQUIRED CURRICULUM - 18 hours (excluding prerequisites)

course	Credit hours
Required Curriculum	18
Select three of the following: MACH 6311 - Early Childhood Ministry MACH 6312 - Ministry with Children MAFM 6316 - Faith Formation in the Life Stages MAFM 6353 - Ministry to Families MAST 6350 - Family-Based Student Ministry Select a MA in Family Ministry 9-hour concentration and complete the required courses. (Concentrations are listed on the single degree plan.)

TOTAL HOURS
24 hours	Required Shared Curriculum
18 hours	MA in Christian Counseling Required Curriculum
18 hours	MA in Family Ministry Required Curriculum
60 hours	TOTAL Dual Degree (excluding prerequisites)

(S-L)=Course(s) with field-based service-learning component.

Refer to individual course descriptions for course requisites.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Find course descriptions by category under the Graduate Course Descriptions section in the navigation panel.