For most, religion will not be the only driving factor in choosing a school for their degree. A hefty amount of other considerations, such as financial aid, academics, athletics, student life, professional goals and many others weight on the mind. It is important to remember that Christian colleges and universities offer the same or similar programs as their secular counterparts, but they incorporate religious teaching into all of their courses.

Most Christian colleges and universities are private schools – but this does not mean that most private schools are Christian. For instance, a school might be private, and may have even been founded by a particular religious group. Over time, however, the religious aspect may have disappeared. It is important to understand what a Christian school is, and how it is different from a secular, traditional institution.

Every aspect of Christian colleges and universities is rich with religious overtones. Not only are there more Biblical Studies and Religion courses at a Christian school, but the more traditional liberal arts and other programs also incorporate a religious perspective in their teaching. The student body will be composed of individuals sharing a common or similar religion, and thus the campus-based activities, volunteer positions and all other aspects of the school will be religiously-oriented.

Students at a Christian school will obtain the teachings necessary for them to become moral and spiritual leaders in their communities. Even in the non-religious courses, students will be fully equipped with the spiritual tools necessary to spread the word of God.

The extra-curricular activities at Christian colleges and universities are sometimes a requirement for students. They include such activities as week-long missions to underdeveloped countries, community volunteer projects and chapel and worship attendance. They are designed to instill a sense of community and respect, and leadership in all of the schools’ students.

A degree at a Christian school will prepare you for a wide variety of careers, including many in the secular realm. You can become a pastor or a business executive, a missionary or a healthcare professional. Your career path is not limited by your choice to attend a Christian school, but your affiliation with your religion is strengthened, and you will be given the opportunity to expand spiritually as well as academically.

What is Pastoral Counseling Education?

Pastoral counseling education is a certification program that gives you the tools a pastor needs to handle counseling members of their congregation. From marriage counseling prior to a wedding, to handling a serious situation that requires the eye of patient faith, this is an important part of a ministry-driven education.

What Can I Do With Pastoral Counseling Education?

You can be sure that you are ready and qualified to handle those occasional hiccups – or full blown disasters – that can occur in the lives of any Christians. They can also qualify you for questions related to living a Christian life, as is directed in the bible. Being knowledgeable is a necessity for the sake of your church.

An online degree in Christian counseling can open up many doors for you. If you enroll in an online degree in Christian counseling program, you will study the basic concepts and theories that counselors use in the field. Your training will basically consist of the same courses that general practitioners also study. A strong background in psychology will be established.

However, since you will be earning an online degree in Christian counseling, your studies will also touch on the Biblical principles that one may use in helping others deal with their mental or behavioral issues. Typically, an online degree in Christian counseling is a certificate program. The psychology or counseling background will help you get into an online school that offers this program. Upon graduation, you can help others become better people through general counseling, prayer, and guidance through faith.

Because you will be studying online, you will be afforded great convenience and bigger savings. If you are already employed in a church or a Christian organization doing something related to counseling, you will not need to sacrifice time that you can spend on your current responsibilities.

Upon graduation, you will be able to find fulfilling work in the field. You can expect to earn as much as  $72,400 a year with a certificate in Christian counseling. Of course, your salary will depend on how good your practice is or what organization you work for. With this certificate, though, you broaden your horizons and invite more opportunities for your professional life.

Pastoral counseling programs is your step into finding working as a pastoral counselor. Before  you are accepted into pastoral counseling programs, you will need to have a bachelor’s degree first. Ideally, a bachelor’s degree in counseling or other related field will provide you with proper skills and knowledge for the next steps of your training. After taking up a bachelor’s degree, you will need to spend three years completing a seminary degree. This is when you are trained to become a minister, rabbi, priest, pastor, or other lay persons. With pastoral counseling programs, you will then receive training in the mental health field after you graduate from the seminary.

Upon graduation, you will then spend quite some time in clinical training. This is when you counsel groups, individuals, families. You will earn valuable experience in the field; experience that will help you in your career in the long run.

Aside from education and training, certification is also key for a successful pastoral counseling career. There are agencies today that offer certification services for those who are highly qualified counselors. The aim is to produce a group of people who are very good at their jobs and can help many people in dealing with their mental issues.

What to Expect

In order to enroll in an online Christian counseling degree program, you must first have a bachelor’s degree in a related field, typically counseling or psychology. Programs are generally one year in duration and grant the student the extra specialization upon graduation. Coursework includes a mixture of psychology and counseling courses, such as theories in counseling, biblical counseling for women, and issues of biblical counseling. Currently, Colorado Christian, Grand Canyon University, and Liberty University offer the program online, with more and more online programs becoming available.

Benefits of an Online Christian Counseling Degree Program

If you have a strong faith in your Christian beliefs and want to help people, this degree provides you with a different way to approach counseling. While you can still perform non-religious counseling, this degree opens up the door to provide aid to those that have an inherent faith by using the common beliefs you share with your client to help them.

Career Choices

Graduates from an online Christian counseling degree program can work in a variety of environments including churches and non-profit organizations. You can also become a youth group leader, missionary, hospital counselor, marriage and family counselor, or a mental health professional. Christian counselors have been called on to travel to devastated areas to help counsel survivors.

By earning an online Christian counseling degree, you could be just one short year away from an even more rewarding career. You will be able to use your faith and beliefs to provide faith based assistance to those in need, when they need it the most.

Liberty University was founded in 1971 in Lynchburg, Virginia. Today, the university is the world’s largest evangelical institution offering online ministry degrees with 40,000 students and 30,000 of those students are enrolled online. Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award online ministry degrees. This institution is a Christian college meaning that it places Christian ideology and theology foremost in a student’s academic experience.

Liberty University offers its online students the opportunity to study 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from anywhere in the world. Courses are taught in 8 or 16 week sessions with 9 convenient start times per year. This way, students can earn their online ministry degrees at their own pace and on their own time schedule without having to miss out on family and work obligations. Liberty University has 20 years of experience in offering online ministry degrees. The university also boasts small class size for personalized instruction.

Tuition is among the lowest in the nation with full-time undergraduate tuition of $250 per credit hour; full-time graduate tuition of $395 per credit hour. Part-time undergraduate tuition is $250 per credit hour and part-time graduate tuition is $415 per credit hour. There is also a technology fee each semester of $150. Liberty University has many scholarship, loan and tuition assistance programs available.

If you are interested in becoming a spiritual leader and effecting change in your community, there has never been a better or more convenient time to earn your online ministry degree.

But to gain this guidance, they need someone who is there to guide them in the first place. That is where Christian counselors come in. These special people are anyone within the clergy, or the community, who has the training and knowledge needed to offer advice, and guide Jesus’ flock into the light.

Learn more about a Christian counseling degree online now.

Earning your Christian counseling degree online is easy. All you have to do is enroll in a program that was created with adult learners in mind, which is nearly all of them. These are made to fit around your busy schedule, and to allow you to go to school in your own time while you work, take care of a family, and go about your daily routine.

The trick is to find a college that is fully accredited. This will allow you to get a genuine Christian counseling degree online, in your own time. These courses are also often accelerated, in order to help you get your Christian counseling degree online in as little time as possible.

It is Christian counselors that are turned to by believers when they are facing times of need. You can be there for them, in order to guide them through the hardships of their life. Get your Christian counseling degree online, and start offering this invaluable service to your community.

Learn more about a Christian counseling degree online now.

Students who take up a degree in Christian Counseling needs a strong background in counseling. Usually, students will take up Psychology or other counseling courses and then earn a certificate in Christian counseling to complete his degree in Christian Counseling. The main aim of this degree is to utilize the theories and methods used in Psychology, combined with a biblical point of view, in order to help others.

Those who have a degree in Christian Counseling are also qualified to practice general counseling. This means that taking up this degree broadens your horizons. You can choose to practice general counseling or focus on patients who are of Christian faith.

A degree in Christian Counseling can give you career opportunities in many venues. You can work for academic institutions or churches. You can also provide your services for those in the non-profit sector.

Professional counselors stand to earn between over $25,000 to more than $70,000 every year. The pay varies according to where they work. If you are thinking of having a private practice, the pay will depend on the number of patients you see.

Do you have an interest in learning more about your religion?  Have an interest in getting your degree in Christian Counseling?  Theology?  Or do you just want to learn more about the Bible?

And did you think it would be too hard to make time for classes to learn about these things?

Online Religion Degrees: Distance Learning Brings Your Religious Education to You!

Are you familiar with distance education?  It’s a method of teaching and learning which doesn’t require you to go to classes in a classroom, on campus.  Instead, your class material is sent to you using the Internet.  You can turn in assignments via email, and you can communicate with your instructors and classmates the same way, and through other Internet applications, like chats and instant messenger.

Even traditional Christian colleges offer some distance-learning options.  But you can also find some traditional colleges and many online-only colleges and universities which offer degree programs that are entirely online!  That means you can study for online religion degrees without ever having to commute to class.

Not only that, but since most online classes don’t have scheduled sessions, you can study the class material whenever it’s convenient for you.  No rearranging your work schedule or worrying about class times conflicting with your other responsibilities!

Online Religion Degrees: What Will You Choose to Study?

There are so many options.  Consider your goals carefully.  If you’re unsure, consult with an academic advisor, and maybe with the clergy at your place of worship also.  He or she will have some idea of the career opportunities each type of degree offers, and what the programs might be like.  Admissions counselors at schools that offer online religion degrees can also help you make your decision, and explain to you what each program requires so that you can make the right decision.

• Founded in 2001 in Chicago, Illinois
• Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, member of the North Central Association
• A private, for-profit university
• Nineteen campus locations
• Two residencies are required for the doctoral programs

Learn more about Argosy’s Doctoral in Pastoral Counseling Online.

About Argosy University

Argosy University has several online degree programs in addition to the programs offered at their 19 campus locations. Program specializations available include education and business administration. Argosy University offers bachelor, master, and doctorate degree programs, including the Doctoral in Pastoral Counseling online degree.

Argosy’s Doctoral in Pastoral Counseling online degree program is designed for the leaders of religious communities who want to further their education and help the people of their faith. For students who are working professionals, this PhD program provides convenience and a quality education. Argosy’s PhD in Pastoral Counseling online program fosters a sense of community between faculty and students, even though it takes place in a virtual setting.

Doctoral students are required to attend at least two residencies, but everything else- including assignments, studying, interaction, academic and technical support- can be accessed online. During their residencies, students have the opportunity to meet faculty and professors, develop their knowledge and skills, and network. Research students complete during this program contributes to the advancement of the field of religious research and education.

Learn more about Argosy University’s Doctoral in Pastoral Counseling Online.

Argosy University Degree Programs

Bachelor

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology – Criminal Justice
• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology – Organizational Psychology
• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology – Substance Abuse
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Finance
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Healthcare Management
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – International Business
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Marketing

Master

• Master of Arts in Education in Adult Education and Training
• Master of Arts in Education in Educational Leadership
• Master of Arts in Education in Instructional Leadership
• Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology
• Master of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology
• Master of Arts in Sport-Exercise Psychology
• Master of Business Administration
• Master of Business Administration – Customized Professional
• Master of Business Administration – Finance
• Master of Business Administration – Healthcare Administration
• Master of Business Administration – International Business
• Master of Business Administration – Management
• Master of Business Administration – Marketing
• Master of Science in Health Services Management
• Master of Science in Management – Human Resources
• Master of Science in Management – Nonprofit Management
• Master of Science in Management – Public Administration

Doctorate

• Doctor of Business Administration
• Doctor of Business Administration – Accounting
• Doctor of Business Administration – Customized Professional
• Doctor of Business Administration – International Business
• Doctor of Business Administration – Management
• Doctor of Business Administration – Marketing
• Doctor of Education in Community College Executive Leadership
• Doctor of Education in Counseling Psychology
• Doctor of Education in Education Leadership – Higher Education
• Doctor of Education in Education Leadership – K-12 Education
• Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership
• Doctor of Education in Instructional Leadership
• Doctor of Education in Instructional Leadership – Educational Technology
• Doctor of Education in Instructional Leadership – Higher Education
• Doctor of Education in Instructional Leadership – K-12 Education
• Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership
• Doctor of Education in Pastoral Community Counseling

Argosy University Tuition & Financial Aid

Argosy University tuition starts at $788 per credit hour. Financial aid is available including scholarships, grants, and loans.

Learn more about Argosy’s Doctoral in Pastoral Counseling Online.

Source: University website, 2009.