Christian Ministry and Leadership, M.A.C.M.L. (Pastoral Care and Counseling)

Degree Program

The Pastoral Care and Counseling specialization is designed to equip students to wisely and ethically care for people dealing with common pastoral needs, including spiritual wounds, emotional pain, family challenges and mental illnesses, and develop a sense of when to refer individuals to professional help.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Master of Arts in Christian Ministry and Leadership, Pastoral Care and Counseling specialization, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate abilities relevant to personal spiritual formation, including an understanding of spiritual theology, knowledge of God and self, relational skills, and an understanding of their vocation (ULO 3).
2. Explain the major doctrines of Christianity, including their biblical basis, and contemporary relevance (ULO 1).
3. Synthesize knowledge, skills, and perspectives from specialization-specific content of the Christian Ministry and Leadership program to determine implications for professional practice (ULO 2). 

Each Program Learning Outcome (PLO) listed above references at least one of the University Learning Outcomes (ULO 1, 2, 3), which may be found in the General Information section of this catalog.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must possess a Bachelor of Arts degree or its academic equivalent from an accredited college with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). Applicants who do not possess a Bachelor of Arts degree or its academic equivalent from an accredited institution may still apply and may be provisionally admitted at the discretion of Talbot School of Theology. Additionally, applicants should have completed an accredited course in Old Testament survey and in New Testament survey prior to matriculation. To meet the prerequisite, students must have received a C or higher in approved undergraduate or graduate survey courses from a regionally accredited institution. If the prerequisite courses are not completed prior to matriculation, the student is required to take TTBE 519 and TTBE 520 during their program.

All applicants must submit a written statement outlining their vocational objectives and how the degree might relate to those objectives.

Graduation Requirements

1. Satisfactorily complete 49 semester credits as outlined in the curriculum chart below.

2. Students without previous undergraduate courses in Old Testament Survey and New Testament Survey must take TTBE 519 and TTBE 520 in addition to the standard curriculum.

3. Complete the online introduction to theological research and writing by the end of the second semester.

4. At least 25 of the total credits required for the degree program must be completed in residency at Biola. Advanced Standing and transfer credit are not considered residency credits.

5. Obtain a 3.0 average with no grade below a C- in all courses to be credited toward graduation.

6. Complete the entire program in no more than five years.

7. Meet with a graduate academic records and degree specialist in the Office of the Registrar one year prior to graduation to declare intent to graduate. (See Graduate Graduation Check description in the Admission, Enrollment and Graduation Requirements section).

Program Structure

The academic program leading to the degree Master of Arts in Christian Ministry and Leadership with a specialization in Pastoral Care and Counseling is comprised of 49 credits, including:

1. Biblical and theological foundations.
2. Spiritual Formation Focus (SFF).
3. Ministry skills.
4. Additional elective courses determined by the student in consultation with the advisor.

Combined B.A. - M.A. Program

Students in Biola University's Bachelor of Arts in Bible, Theology, and Ministry with a concentration in Pastoral Care and Counseling may take graduate courses in their senior year, allowing the completion of a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in an accelerated format. See the Bachelor of Arts in Bible, Theology, and Ministry for the undergraduate portion of the accelerated B.A. - M.A. program.

Curriculum Requirements

¹

TTPT 695 may be taken for 1 or 2 credits. If taken for 2 credits, the second credit may count toward required elective credits.

²

Up to 6 graduate general elective credits may be taken in other schools in Biola University with advisor's approval.