First Day of Class: September 14, 2026

Apply now
Apply now

School of Pastoral Counseling and Christian Care

The School of Pastoral Counseling and Christian Care prepares students to serve individuals, families, churches, and communities through biblical counsel, pastoral care, emotional healing, spiritual support, and Christ-centered guidance.

This school is designed for pastors, ministers, church leaders, care ministry workers, counselors in ministry settings, family ministry leaders, and those called to help people through the wisdom of Scripture, compassion, prayer, and Spirit-led care.

Students are trained to support spiritual growth, strengthen families, minister to wounded people, provide care in church settings, and develop pastoral care ministries that bring comfort, clarity, restoration, and hope.

  • Biblical counsel, pastoral care, and spiritual support
  • Christ-centered restoration rooted in the finished work of Christ
  • Compassionate listening, wise guidance, and responsible ministry care
  • Family ministry, crisis care, grief support, and church-based care systems
  • Ethics, boundaries, confidentiality, referral wisdom, and accountability
Start Your Application
Explore Programs
Our Degree Programs

Choose the path that fits your calling

Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Counseling and Christian Care

24 Months · 66 Credits
View curriculum →
Master's Degree

Master of Arts in Christian Counseling and Pastoral Care

36 Months · 90 Credits
View curriculum →
Master's Degree

Master of Arts in Marriage, Family, and Ministry Care

36 Months · 90 Credits
View curriculum →
Doctor of Ministry

Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Counseling and Christian Care

36 Months · 45–54 Credits
View curriculum →

Important Ministry-Care and Licensure Note

These programs are designed for ministry-based pastoral care, Christian counseling, church leadership, and spiritual support. They are not presented as state licensure programs for clinical mental health counseling, psychology, therapy, marriage and family therapy, or social work. Students seeking professional licensure should review the requirements of their state, country, denomination, or governing authority.

Course Title Credits Course Description
Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Counseling and Christian Care
66
Two-year accelerated pathway. Total includes the 36-credit Associate foundation and 30 additional bachelor-level pastoral care and Christian counseling credits.
Master of Arts in Christian Counseling and Pastoral Care
90
Three-year accelerated pathway. Total includes prior Associate and Bachelor requirements plus advanced Christian counseling and pastoral care training.
Master of Arts in Marriage, Family, and Ministry Care
90
Three-year accelerated pathway. Total includes prior Associate and Bachelor requirements plus advanced marriage, family, and ministry care training.
Doctor of Theology in Pastoral Counseling & Christian Care
45-54
Three-year hybrid doctoral program after the Master’s degree or approved equivalent, with doctoral ministry project and defense.

Program 1: Two-Year Accelerated Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Counseling and Christian Care

Prerequisite:

Completion of Associate Degree in Bible Ministry or approved equivalent foundational Bible ministry studies (36 credits).

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Counseling and Christian Care prepares students to serve people through biblical counsel, compassionate care, prayer, spiritual support, and ministry-based guidance. It equips emerging ministers, church workers, care team members, and family ministry leaders to bring comfort, clarity, restoration, and hope within the local church and ministry setting.

Students are trained to listen with compassion, apply biblical wisdom, support families, respond to crisis, serve wounded people, and help build healthy church care systems with integrity, confidentiality, and accountability.

Program Item Official Program Summary
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Counseling and Christian Care
Duration of Study
Two-year accelerated program
Total Credits Required
66 credits
Prerequisite
Associate Degree in Bible Ministry or approved equivalent foundational Bible ministry studies (36 credits)
Additional Bachelor-Level Credits
Online, hybrid, or ministry cohort format

Fall Semester: Core Courses

Course Title Credits Course Description
Biblical Foundations of Pastoral Counseling
3
Introduces the biblical foundation of pastoral counseling and Christian care, with emphasis on Scripture, compassion, wisdom, spiritual maturity, and ministry-based support.
Introduction to Christian Care Ministry
3
Surveys the purpose and practice of care ministry in the local church and how pastoral care supports spiritual growth, families, and people in need.
Spiritual Formation for Care Leaders
3
Focuses on prayer, character, humility, emotional maturity, spiritual discipline, and the care leader’s dependence on Christ.
Biblical Counseling Methods
3
Equips students with a ministry-based framework for listening, asking wise questions, applying Scripture, praying with people, and offering Christ-centered guidance.
Pastoral Listening and Helping Skills
3
Develops practical skills for compassionate listening, wise response, encouragement, correction, support, and care conversations.

Fall Core Total: 15 credits

Spring Semester

Course Title Credits Course Description
Pastoral Crisis Care
3
Prepares students to provide spiritual support during seasons of crisis, loss, transition, fear, discouragement, and personal difficulty.
Grief, Loss, and Comfort Ministry
3
Trains students to minister comfort and hope to those experiencing grief, bereavement, disappointment, separation, or painful life changes.
Marriage and Family Ministry Care
3
Provides biblical and practical foundations for supporting marriages and families through communication, prayer, restoration, forgiveness, and spiritual guidance.
Developing Church Care Ministry Systems
3
Teaches students how to organize care teams, visitation ministries, follow-up systems, prayer support, member care, and reporting structures.

Spring Core Total: 12 credits

Practicum or Internship

Course Title Credits Course Description
Christian Care Practicum or Internship
3
Provides supervised church-based care ministry experience with guided reflection, responsible service, and faculty or ministry-leader evaluation.

Practicum Requirement: 3 credits

Capstone Project:

A major pastoral care or Christian care ministry project demonstrating the student’s ability to apply biblical counsel, compassionate care, and ministry systems to a real church or ministry context. The project may include a care ministry plan, follow-up system, family support model, volunteer care training outline, or restoration pathway.

Total Credits Required: 66 credits

Program 2:Three-Year Accelerated Master of Arts in Christian Counseling and Pastoral Care

Prerequisite:

Completion of all requirements for the Associate and Bachelor degrees in Bible Ministry, Pastoral Counseling and Christian Care, or an approved equivalent pathway (66 credits).

Program Overview

The Master of Arts in Christian Counseling and Pastoral Care is designed for pastors, ministers, church leaders, care ministry workers, and counselors in ministry settings who desire advanced preparation in biblical counsel and pastoral care.

This program strengthens the student’s ability to provide spiritual support, organize care ministries, serve wounded people, respond to crisis, and lead church-based Christian care with wisdom, compassion, and accountability

Program Item Official Program Summary
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Christian Counseling and Pastoral Care
Duration of Study
Three-year accelerated program
Total Credits Required
90 credits
Prerequisite
Completion of all requirements for the Associate and Bachelor degrees or approved equivalent pathway (66 credits)
Additional Bachelor-Level Credits
24 credits beyond the Bachelor requirement
Delivery Format
Online, hybrid, or ministry cohort format

Fall Semester: Core Courses

Course Title Credits Course Description
Biblical Theology of Care and Counsel
3
Examines pastoral care and Christian counseling through Scripture, with emphasis on Christ, compassion, restoration, wisdom, and the ministry of the Church.
Advanced Pastoral Counseling Practice
3
Develops advanced ministry-based counseling skills, including spiritual assessment, listening, biblical application, prayer, encouragement, and care planning.
Ethics, Boundaries, and Accountability in Care Ministry
3
Covers confidentiality, boundaries, referral wisdom, documentation, accountability, and ethical responsibility in Christian care settings.
Capstone Research Project I
3
Begins a formal ministry-based research project addressing a pastoral care or Christian counseling need.

Fall Semester Total: 12 credits

Spring Semester

Course Title Credits Course Description
Grief, Crisis, and Pastoral Response
3
Prepares students to minister during crisis, death, loss, trauma, transition, and seasons of deep emotional pain.
Trauma-Informed Ministry Care
3
Introduces responsible care for wounded people, emphasizing safety, compassion, patience, boundaries, prayer, Scripture, and referral partnerships.
Capstone Research Project II
3
Completes and presents the final capstone project, demonstrating advanced understanding of Christian counseling and pastoral care.

Spring Semester Total: 9 credits

Practicum or Internship

Course Title Credits Course Description
Practicum in Christian Counseling and Pastoral Care
3
Applies advanced ministry-care principles in a supervised church or ministry setting with reflective evaluation and faculty guidance.

Practicum Requirement: 3 credits

Capstone Project:

A comprehensive research thesis or applied ministry project demonstrating the student’s ability to synthesize advanced Christian care knowledge, pastoral wisdom, and practical ministry skills in a real care context.

Total Credits Required: 90 credits

Program 3:Three-Year Accelerated Master of Arts in Marriage, Family, and Ministry Care

Prerequisites:

Completion of all requirements for the Associate and Bachelor degrees in Bible Ministry, Pastoral Counseling and Christian Care, or an approved equivalent pathway (66 credits).

Program Overview

The Master of Arts in Marriage, Family, and Ministry Care prepares students to strengthen marriages, families, parents, children, and households through biblical wisdom, spiritual support, and ministry-based care.

This program is designed for pastors, family ministry leaders, marriage ministry workers, counselors in ministry settings, and leaders called to restore and strengthen families in the local church.

Program Item Official Program Summary
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Marriage, Family, and Ministry Care
Duration of Study
Three-year accelerated program
Total Credits Required
90 credits
Prerequisite
Completion of all requirements for the Associate and Bachelor degrees or approved equivalent pathway (66 credits)
Additional Master-Level Credits
24 credits beyond the Bachelor requirement
Delivery Format
Online, hybrid, or ministry cohort format

Fall Semester

Course Title Credits Course Description
Biblical Foundations of Marriage and Family
3
Examines marriage, family, covenant, parenting, love, forgiveness, honor, and household order through Scripture and Christ-centered ministry.
Marriage Enrichment and Ministry Care
3
Equips students to support healthy marriages through communication, prayer, trust, reconciliation, spiritual growth, and ministry care.
Parenting, Children, and Intergenerational Care
3
Prepares students to support parents, children, youth, and grandparents through biblical guidance and practical ministry care.
Capstone Project I
3
Begins a family ministry research project addressing a real need in marriage, family, or ministry care.

Fall Semester Total: 12 credits

Spring Semester

Course Title Credits Course Description
Communication and Conflict in Marriage and Family
3
Teaches biblical and practical approaches to communication, conflict resolution, forgiveness, honor, and restoration in family relationships.
Crisis Care for Families
3
Prepares students to support families facing loss, conflict, crisis, illness, financial pressure, trauma, and relational breakdown.
Capstone Project II
3
Completes and presents the final capstone project, demonstrating readiness to lead marriage, family, and ministry care initiatives.

Spring Semester Total: 9 credits

Practicum or Internship

Course Title Credits Course Description
Practicum in Marriage, Family, and Ministry Care
3
Applies family-care principles in a supervised ministry setting and evaluates practical growth through guided reflection.

Practicum Requirement: 3 credits

Capstone Project:

A comprehensive research thesis or applied ministry project demonstrating the student’s ability to strengthen marriages, families, parents, children, and households through biblical wisdom and practical ministry care.

Total Credits Required: 90 credits

Program 4: Three-Year Hybrid Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Counseling and Christian Care

Prerequisites:

 Completion of all requirements for a Master’s Degree in Christian Counseling and Pastoral Care, Marriage, Family, and Ministry Care, Bible Ministry, Theology, Divinity, Ministry, or an approved equivalent Master’s program.

Program Overview

The Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Counseling and Christian Care is an advanced professional ministry degree for experienced pastors, overseers, ministry founders, Christian care leaders, and senior church leaders.

This program equips leaders to build, oversee, and strengthen pastoral counseling ministries, Christian care systems, restoration pathways, family care structures, and church-based support ministries. The program is applied, ministry-focused, and designed to produce leaders who can care for people deeply while also building systems that allow the church to care for people consistently.

Program Item Official Program Summary
Degree Name
Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Counseling and Christian Care
Duration of Study
Three-year hybrid program
Total Credits Required
45-54 credits
Prerequisite
Master’s degree in Christian Counseling, Pastoral Care, Marriage and Family Ministry, Bible Ministry, Theology, Divinity, Ministry, or approved equivalent
Delivery Format
Hybrid: online plus in-person doctoral engagement where required
Final Requirement
Doctoral ministry project and defense with faculty supervision

Year 1: Advanced Pastoral Care and Restoration Foundations

Course Title Credits Course Description
Theology of Pastoral Counseling and Christian Care
3
Examines pastoral counseling and Christian care through advanced biblical, theological, and ministry lenses, emphasizing Christ-centered restoration and spiritual maturity.
New Creation Identity and Ministry Restoration
3
Explores care ministry through the finished work of Christ, focusing on identity, sonship, grace, spiritual authority, and restoration in Christ.
Advanced Pastoral Helping and Spiritual Guidance
3
Develops high-level pastoral care skills for complex ministry situations, including discernment, wisdom, prayer, listening, and guidance.
Ethics, Governance, and Risk in Care Ministry
3
Studies advanced ethical responsibility, boundaries, confidentiality, accountability, governance, and risk awareness for care ministries.
Applied Doctoral Research Methods
3
Introduces doctoral-level applied research for identifying ministry problems, gathering data, evaluating systems, and designing practical solutions

Year 1 Total: 15 credits

Students select one elective course from the list above.

Year 2: Systems, Specialized Care, and Ministry Application

Course Title Credits Course Description
Designing Church-Wide Care Systems
3
Teaches doctoral students how to build scalable pastoral care systems, care teams, follow-up structures, restoration pathways, and ministry documentation.
Crisis, Trauma, and Restoration Leadership
3
Prepares leaders to guide ministries through crisis, trauma, loss, moral failure, conflict, and restoration processes.
Marriage, Family, and Generational Care
3
Provides advanced ministry approaches for strengthening marriages, families, parents, children, and generational discipleship systems.
Advanced Practicum in Pastoral Counseling and Christian Care
3-6
Connects doctoral learning to supervised advanced care ministry work, measurable outcomes, and leadership-context reflection.
Doctoral Ministry Project Design and Proposal
3
Guides students in designing an approved doctoral project that addresses a real pastoral care or Christian counseling ministry challenge.

Year 2 Total: 15-18 credits

Fall and Spring Terms: Hybrid, online plus in-person engagement

Year 3: Doctoral Ministry Project and Defense Phase

Course Title Credits Course Description
Doctoral Ministry Project I: Design and Development
6
Begins approved doctoral ministry project development, implementation planning, ministry framework writing, and faculty-guided supervision.
Doctoral Ministry Project II: Implementation and Analysis
6
Continues project implementation, analysis, evaluation, writing, revision, and ministry impact documentation.
Doctoral Project Defense and Ministry Integration
6
Completes final project submission, defense, revision, and integration of the approved ministry contribution.

Year 3 Total: 18 credits

Primarily independent research with faculty supervision

Doctoral Dissertation:

A publishable or institutionally implementable doctoral ministry project representing original applied ministry research in pastoral counseling, Christian care, restoration ministry, family care, or church-wide care systems. The project demonstrates the student’s ability to integrate biblical truth, pastoral wisdom, research, and real ministry impact.

Total Credits Required: 45-54 credits

STU Monthly Hybrid Learning Model

Students in this school follow the STU Monthly Hybrid Learning Model. Course content is completed through the STU online learning platform, while students attend oneassigned live academic session per month based on their cohort and degree level.

Read full schedule and learning model.

Admissions Open

Answer the call. Begin your journey today.

Speak with an admissions counselor about transferring credits, financial pathways, and the program that aligns with your calling.

 
Request Information
Apply Now

No application fee · Rolling admissions