Marriage, Couple & Family Counseling

PCN 122 – Group Experience & Self-Evaluation

The course provides students with an in depth self-evaluation for both personal development and professional development for the human services field. Student learning occurs through in-class instruction and group participation during class. The teaching method is experiential in nature. The course consists of an off campus weekend seminar during the first semester of the freshman year. Students will be required to read a textbook on spiritual formation and complete a reflection journal post seminar.

PCN 201 – Systems of Counseling I: Christian

This course examines the history of Christian counseling as it relates to the integration of theology and psychology. Consideration is given for the broad range of approaches including: biblical counseling, levels-of-explanation, integration, and Christian psychology. Course content includes study and application of the principles and methods for effective biblical change.

SOC 228 – Principles & Techniques of Counseling

This introductory course aims to apprise students of the basic tools necessary for effective counseling. As might be expected, the course covers a broad range of topics ranging from professional ethics to specific techniques used in therapy. Although most of the current theories and techniques are not necessarily derived from specific scriptural texts, a biblical worldview is foundational to the views advanced in this class. To that end, students are encouraged to interact with several sources outside the classroom setting in order to provide rich illustrations for the benefit of their classmates.

PCN 212 – Systems of Counseling II: Psychology

This course surveys the various psychological systems of counseling beginning with the early pioneers extending to the most recent therapeutic methodologies. Consideration is given for an eclectic approach that utilizes a foundational methodology with intervention strategies from various schools of thought.

CPS 541 – Group Counseling Leadership Skills

This is a clinical course designed to give students their first training in the theory and practice of group psychotherapy. Emphasis will be given to identifying and developing group leadership skills. Practical group experience outside of class will be required.

CPS 520 – Applied Counseling and Psychological Methodologies

This course will introduce the student to a variety of traditional counseling methodologies along with our appraisal from an evangelical biblical perspective. Students will also have opportunities to develop a breadth of concrete and functional skills to facilitate helping of the “whole” person. Consideration will also be given to contemporary issues facing the practitioner.

CPS 530 – Professional Ethics in Counseling and Psychological Casework

A study of ethical principles as they apply to situations of counseling others will be conducted by means of case study. Students will be expected to grow in their level of judgment for decision making in the context of potential ethical dilemmas and challenges.

CPS 520 – Applied Counseling and Psychological Methodologies

This course will introduce the student to a variety of traditional counseling methodologies along with our appraisal from an evangelical biblical perspective. Students will also have opportunities to develop a breadth of concrete and functional skills to facilitate helping of the “whole” person. Consideration will also be given to contemporary issues facing the practitioner.

CPS 540 – Marriage Counseling and Psychotherapy

This course is designed to explore the major models of couple therapy as well as biblical concepts foundational to marriage and relationship. The class will also consider materials on major ruptures of the relational bond. Through readings, lectures, video tapes and classroom participation, theoretical perspectives and therapeutic techniques will be presented.

CPS 550 – Family Counseling and Psychotherapy

This is a crucial course for defining family relationships on the basis of biblical principles and a systematic model of understanding. Healthy and unhealthy family dynamics will be understood and provide a basis for the goals of counseling families. Family dynamics will be understood from a generational and larger church family perspective. The student will understand a variety of models and build a counseling process primarily from the systemic model. Nurture, prevention, and intervention into families in a ministry or clinical context will be discovered and implemented.