All of the Bible, for all of life.
This degree program is designed to prepare students for a ministry of biblical counseling to individuals, couples, and families in a congregational, denominational agency, counseling center, or missions setting.
Program Snapshot
| 60 | Credit Hours | 20 Classes |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Years to Complete | |
| $310 | Per Credit Hour | Learn more |
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On Campus
or Online Learn more
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| Next Start Date | February 3 | |
Counsel the Word
| Course Number | Description | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 20200 | Introduction to the Old Testament I | 3 |
| 20220 | Introduction to the Old Testament II | 3 |
| 22100 | Biblical Hermeneutics | 3 |
| 22200 | Introduction to the New Testament I | 3 |
| 22220 | Introduction to the New Testament II | 3 |
| 27060 | Systematic Theology I: Theological Prolegomena, and the Nature and Works of God | 3 |
| 27070 | Systematic Theology II: Christ, Salvation, and the Holy Spirit | 3 |
| 27080 | Systematic Theology III: Baptist Theology of Scripture and the Church, and Eschatology | 3 |
| 32100 | Personal Evangelism & Devotion | 3 |
| 32960 | Introduction to Missiology | 3 |
| Total | 30 | |
| Course Number | Description | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 34300 | Biblical Counseling & Personal Ministry of the Word | 3 |
| 34305 | Practical Theology in Context | 3 |
| 34325 | The Care of Souls in the Congregation | 3 |
| 34330 | Typical Problems in Biblical Counseling | 3 |
| 34830 | Trauma and Crisis in Counseling | 3 |
| 35100 | Marriage and Family Counseling | 3 |
| 35585 | Biblical Counseling Practicum I | 3 |
| 35590 | Biblical Counseling Practicum II | 3 |
| 35595 | Biblical Counseling Portfolio | 0 |
| Total | 24 | |
| Course Number | Description | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted Electives | 6 | |
| Total | 6 | |
| Course Number | Description | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 42490 | The Cooperative Program2 | 0 |
| Total | 0 | |
Total Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling: 60
| Course Number | Description | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 28999 | Thesis Research and Writing (if required) | +2 |
- Students interested in pursuing the thesis option must consult with the department chair for Biblical Counseling.
- The Cooperative Program Course is a (one-time) non-curricular requirement. Students should enroll in the class during their first year of study.
- Continuing students should consult the Academic Catalog for the year in which they started for course requirements as the current requirements may have changed.
Frequently Asked Questions
The M.A. in Biblical Counseling is meant to prepare students for service in ministry contexts.
The program does not prepare students for state licensure. See “ACBC Certification” tab for more information.
Students who are serving (or plan to serve) in full-time ministry are encouraged to consider the Master of Divinity program, as it contains a more robust core of bible, theology, and ministry training.
Students with an accredited bachelor’s degree (in any field/major) are eligible to apply for this concentration. It is not required that applicants have an academic background in biblical or ministry studies.
Click here to learn more or start your application.
Yes. Students with previous divinity credit may be able to transfer their credit into programs at Southern Seminary. See our Transfer Credit page for more information.
No. Our program teaches counseling from a biblical-theological perspective, not one seeking to align with state licensing boards.
Practicum courses are the application of knowledge gained in Biblical Counseling classes through counseling others (including classmates, church, or community members) and receiving observation of skills and feedback from professors and mentors.
Distance students will fulfill course requirements just like residential students via video-record sessions.
Biblical Counseling faculty includes:
Jeremy P. Pierre
Lawrence and Charlotte Hoover Professor of Biblical Counseling and Practical Theology; Dean, The Billy Graham School
Robert D. Jones
Professor of Biblical Counseling and Practical Theology
John M. Henderson
Associate Professor of Biblical Counseling and Practical Theology
ACBC Certification
Southern Seminary is a certified training center through the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC).
The Master of Arts with a concentration in Biblical Counseling provides a pathway for students to not only receive a master’s degree from SBTS but also pursue certification as a biblical counselor through the ACBC. The following information details what courses fulfill which requirements of the ACBC certification process:
34300 BIBLICAL COUNSELING AND PERSONAL MINISTRY OF THE WORD*
PHASE 1 – Basic Training (1/3) + Reading
34305 PRACTICAL THEOLOGY IN CONTEXT*
PHASE 2 – Theology Exam (1st half)
34330 TYPICAL PROBLEMS IN BIBLICAL COUNSELING*
PHASE 1 – Basic Training (1/3) + Reading / PHASE 2 – 1/4 Counseling Exam
35100 MARRIAGE AND FAMILY COUNSELING*
PHASE 1 – Basic Training (1/3) + Reading / PHASE 2 – 1/4 Counseling Exam
35585 BIBLICAL COUNSELING PRACTICUM I*
PHASE 1 – 10 Counseling Hours Observed / PHASE 2 – Theology Exam (2nd half)
35590 BIBLICAL COUNSELING PRACTICUM II**
PHASE 2 – 1/2 Counseling Exam / PHASE 3 – 12-15 Supervised Hours
*Courses taught by a certified ACBC counselor count towards certification.
**This course must be taught by an ACBC fellow in order for the supervised hours to count towards the certification process.
To start the certification process, create a login with ACBC and as students progress through our program they can complete the following:
1. Submit reading and observation logs.
2. Submit Fundamentals Training Certificate upon completing 34300, 34330, and 35100.*
3. Submit your Letter of Complete Sessions upon completing 35590.*
*You can obtain these documents from the Billy Graham School by emailing bgs@sbts.edu.
NOTE: Students coming to study at Southern Seminary with partial or completion of their ACBC certification still must complete all courses for their academic degree requirements. Any certification work such as the exams or observation log can be considered acceptable to fulfill the course assignments per discussion with the professor.
Click here for more information on the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC).
Click here for more information on the ACBC Certification process.
Resources as a Southern Seminary student
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