Pastoral Counseling
Degrees of Competence and Compassion

The Pastoral Counseling programs are holistic in scope. They seek to understand the human search for meaning and purpose in all its complexity, espousing a growth-oriented, interactive approach that attempts to interpret human behavior and human experience as an integration of the physiological, the intellectual, the emotional, the social, and the spiritual. These programs address the search for meaning beyond the concrete circumstances of daily life ant the reaching out for spiritual understanding. The Programs encourage faith, which transcends the here and now while participants explore the richness of the human person and their individuality.

Pastoral Counseling programs include the Master of Science, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), an M.S./Ph.D. combination program, the Master of Arts in Spiritual and Pastoral Care, and the Post-master's Certificate of Advanced Study. The Department also offers Continuing Professional Education for those seeking licensure and opportunities for non-degree enrollment as special students. Each program seeks to offer a collegial environment inviting individuals to a common pursuit of truth. In this pursuit, the focus is on students, who are expected to be authentic and open, engaged in personalized learning, and developing a personal style of counseling. Faculty and supervisors strive to relate to students as they would have students relate to their clients. To this end, there is a sense of co-pilgramage among faculty and students in this collegial effort.