Doctorate in Christian Counseling

The online curriculum offers an innovative approach to higher education. Enrollment is open and students may begin the program at any time. All courses are provided in online classrooms, with one-to-one faculty mentoring. Students also have free access to our comprehensive Study Tactics and Resources Center, with links to subject-related websites, online libraries, articles, and research assistance. Our online degree curriculum includes:

• CRC 800 Counseling: A Christian Perspective This course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive overview of Christian counseling. It will explore the history, principles, and techniques of counseling from a biblical perspective. Students will be introduced to various types of counseling models, theories, and their application in general practice. They will also gain an understanding of how to apply Christian principles and values when working with clients. The course will cover topics such as ethical issues in counseling, assessment tools, and techniques, developing a therapeutic relationship, crisis intervention strategies, and more. In addition, students will learn how to integrate faith into the therapeutic process to provide effective care for individuals from all walks of life.
• CRC 825 Motivational Interviewing Motivational Interviewing is a technique used to help individuals identify and maintain motivation for change. This course provides an overview of the theory, core skills, and applications of Motivational Interviewing (MI). It will also provide participants with practical experience in using MI to support clients in planning, initiating, and sustaining behavior change. Through lectures, role-plays, and demonstrations, participants will gain the knowledge and experience needed to utilize the principles of MI in a variety of settings.
• CRC 850 Counseling Ethics: A Christian Perspective This course provides an introduction to the ethical principles of counseling from a Christian perspective. It explores the ethical and legal considerations of providing counseling services and examines how ethics can be integrated into a Christian worldview. Topics include codes of ethics, boundaries, dual relationships, informed consent, and professional development. In addition, this course examines the use of Scripture in counseling ethics and explores current research on ethical issues related to mental health care from a Christian perspective. Students will gain an understanding of how to ethically utilize resources when providing spiritual guidance in a professional setting.
• CRC 875 Treatment Planning This course provides an overview of Treatment Planning, a fundamental skill in the medical field. It is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to develop comprehensive treatment plans for patients. Students will learn how to assess a patient’s needs and create individualized care plans that reach desired goals and outcomes. Topics covered include goal setting, creating objectives, developing interventions, evaluating progress, and more. Through discussion, simulation exercises, and hands-on activities, students will practice applying their new knowledge to real-world scenarios. By the end of this course, students should be able to confidently create detailed treatment plans for patients in any medical environment.
• CRC 900 Crisis and Grief: A Christian Perspective This course will provide an overview of the crisis and grief from a Christian perspective. It will cover the importance of understanding crisis and grief about faith, as well as how to best support those going through difficult times. By exploring various stories from the Bible, we can gain insight into how God works in tragedy, disaster, and suffering. We will also analyze different approaches to counseling those who are grieving, including Bible-based counseling. Finally, we will discuss strategies for coping with our grief and providing compassionate care for others during times of difficulty.
• CRC 925 Understanding and Treating Complicated Grief This course covers the understanding and treatment of complicated grief, a severe and prolonged form of bereavement that can lead to long-term mental health problems. We will look at the various features of complicated grief, such as its causes and symptoms, as well as various treatments that have been researched and developed to help those affected. Through this course, you will gain an understanding of the complexities involved in treating complicated grief. We will also discuss best practices for helping individuals cope with their loss and reduce their symptoms
• CRC 950 Grief Counseling Across the Life Span Grief Counseling Across the Life Span is an introductory course that provides students with an overview of the major aspects of grief counseling. This course will teach students about the different types of grief, how to identify and respond to individual needs, and how to develop effective counseling strategies for each age group. Through classroom activities, discussion, role-play, and case studies, students will gain a better understanding of how to best provide emotional support to those in need. Additionally, this course will also cover topics related to death and bereavement as well as cultural considerations when providing grief counseling services.
• CRC 975 Loss, Trauma, and Resilience Loss, Trauma, and Resilience is a course that focuses on how individuals and organizations respond to traumatic events. This course will explore the psychological, emotional, cognitive, and social aspects of loss and resilience to understand how individuals and organizations can cope with difficult situations. It will also discuss various strategies for dealing with loss and trauma, including resilience training, therapeutic interventions, self-care techniques, and maintaining a positive outlook. Students will develop an understanding of the mechanisms of resilience to promote healthy outcomes for those who have experienced loss or trauma.
• CRC 1000 Therapy with the Terminally Client This course provides a comprehensive overview of the therapeutic process when working with clients who are facing terminal illness. It covers the significant clinical and practical issues that need to be addressed, such as grief and bereavement, communication, symptom management, and end-of-life decision-making. Additionally, it also looks at the important role of emotional support for both patients and family members. The aim is to equip therapists with the skills needed to provide effective therapy for terminally ill clients.
• CRC 1025 Group Support for Bereavement and Loss Group support for bereavement and loss is an important part of providing comfort and healing to individuals who have experienced a loss. This course aims to provide an overview of group support for bereavement and loss, including the theoretical foundations of group work, common approaches to providing group support, and techniques for facilitating effective group sessions. Additionally, the course will explore various use cases of group support for grief, such as family groups, peer support groups, online counseling, and more. By the end of this course, participants will have gained knowledge on how to effectively run a bereavement and loss group session with confidence.
• CRC 1050 Self-Care (optional)
• CRC 1100 Graduation Thesis/Project in Grief Counseling Writing a graduation thesis or project is a challenging and time-consuming task. In this course, you will learn the skills required to develop and write a successful thesis or project. We will cover topics such as research methodology, critical analysis, referencing sources, as well as presentation techniques. Additionally, you will be provided with tools and resources to help you in the process of writing your thesis or project. This course provides a comprehensive overview for those who want to excel in their graduation thesis/project.