Master of Arts in Christian Counseling

The Master of Arts in Christian Counseling is a non-licensure 36-hour graduate program designed to provide Christ-centered education to prepare servant leaders for the practical ministry of Christian counseling. The program provides both a theological and counseling foundation, enabling the student to incorporate biblical principles into a counseling ministry. The program is designed for graduates who plan to counsel in the local church, denominational agencies, and ministry-based organizations.

In addition to previously stated admission requirements, the following program-specific requirements must be met:

• Evidence that the student is a Christian and is compatible with DBU's mission by proven conduct in accordance with Christian standards set forth in the Bible by announced intent, and by church involvement.

• Church Membership Requirement (for admission into the Master’s Ministry Degrees, Advanced Ministry Certificate Programs, EDD in Educational Leadership—all concentrations, and PHD in Leadership Studies’ Ministry Concentration): 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.

REQUISITES

• Old Testament Survey

• New Testament Survey

• General Psychology

Requisites 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.

Graduate School of Ministry Portfolio

Dallas Baptist University’s Ministry Degree Programs seek to provide an academic experience that enables all candidates to engage and impact Christian Ministries of the 21st century. The Portfolio is designed to be an individualized collection of documents that represent the candidate’s preparation for future ministry positions, demonstrating the candidate’s ongoing knowledge, skills, and ministry experiences.   

The Graduate School of Ministry provides candidates the opportunity for self-reflection through the compilation of documents in an electronic Portfolio. Documents in the Portfolio may include Signature Assignments, Resume, and Philosophy of Ministry among others.  

Throughout the program, the candidate will collect designated documents and upload them to the Portfolio within Blackboard. The Portfolio will be used to assess development as the candidate proceeds through their designated ministry program.  It is the candidate’s responsibility to meet with their GSOM Program Director to discuss the Portfolio required documents prior to graduation.

PROGRAM LEARNER-CENTERED OUTCOMES

• GSOM Corporate LCO 1.1: Students will analyze biblical texts, key theological doctrines, and important historical developments of the Christian faith.

• GSOM Corporate LCO 1.2: Students will demonstrate graduate level research and writing proficiency applicable to ministry contexts.

• GSOM Corporate LCO 1.3: Students will apply foundational concepts of spiritual formation, worship, and servant leadership in faith and practice.

• MACC LCO 2.1: The student will be able to assess cognitive, emotional, physical and spiritual development.

• MACC LCO 2.2 The student will be able to explain the causes and recommend treatment for spiritual , interpersonal, relational and behavioral problems of life commonly encountered in churches, denominational agencies and ministry-based organizations.

• MACC LCO 3.1 The student will be able to apply biblical, psychological, and counseling principles to formulate interventions for situations that will be encountered in ministry.

• MACC LCO 3.2 The student will be able to demonstrate competent counseling skills and techniques to help people resolve problems of life.

(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.