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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.

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 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.

REQUIRED SHARED CURRICULUM - 24 hours (excluding requisites)

course

Credit hours

Required Shared Curriculum

24

MINS 5302 - Ministry Research and Writing Across Media

MINS 5303 - Foundations of Spiritual Life

MINS 6305 - Ministry Mentorship (S-L)
THEO 5313 - Applied Hermeneutics
THEO 6305 - Christian History and Heritage
THEO 6306 - Systematic Theology
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 requisites)

course

Credit hours

Required Curriculum

18

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
MACM 6303 - Conflict Resolution in Ministry
MACM 6304 - Victim Assistance Ministry Training

MAEML 5310 - Small Group Ministry Design and Practice

or
a course from one of the following disciplines:
COUN, MACC, MACM, MAEML, THEO, or WORS

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

course

Credit hours

Required Curriculum

18

Select three of the following:
MACH 5312 - Ministry with Children

MACH 6311 - Early Childhood Ministry
MAFM 6316 - Faith Formation in the Life Stages
MAFM 6353 - Ministry to Families
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 requisites)

(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.