Pastoral care courses are offered from the perspective of the church-based minister rather than the clinic-based specialist. They help students combine reflective self-understanding, spiritual formation, pastoral care theory, and ministerial practice by drawing on the rich historic traditions of soul care found in the writings of the church and on observation and understanding from both biblical revelation and well-grounded social science exploration.
Objectives for students
- Describe the most common spiritual, mental health, and relational issues encountered in a church or other ministry context;
- Plan appropriate strategies of care and guidance for these issues, whether within the church structure or by referral to other professionals;
- Attain insight into how their own spiritual, mental, emotional, theological, and cultural formation affects the ministry they offer to those in need;
- Practice contextualization and theological reflection with regard to issues of human need and pastoral care, for both the purposes of offering personal guidance and developing preventive community strategies, paying particular attention to the distinctives (e.g., geographic, demographic, socioeconomic, and ethnic factors) found within a particular ministry setting.
Pastoral Care
PC 512 • Pastoral Care 4 Credits
Preparation for effective care of self, others, and the larger society. Evaluation of resources available through faith, science, church, and the community to meet the needs of persons, families, and groups, including those with frequently present critical needs. Reflection on both pastoral care and counseling and consideration of the impact that culture and ethnicity have on those relationships. Exploration of the unique needs of caregivers, the development of programs to provide care to individuals and groups, and strategizing to avoid burnout and fatigue in the process of providing care.
Prerequisites: SP 540.
PC 566A • Chaplaincy Internship A 2 Credits
This course provides students opportunity to intern in the work of chaplaincy. Students complete a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (a total of 400-440 hours of ministry and reflection) in a CPE center accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE). Students contract with a CPE site for a supervised experience in a hospital, hospice site, elder care facility, homeless shelter, or other accredited CPE site.
Prerequisites: TL 002A, TL 002B, SP 540, PC 512. CPE site fees are paid directly to the CPE center. These fees are reimbursed to students at the completion of the CPE unit with the submission of a valid invoice or receipt documenting the amount paid to the CPE site. Special Notes: Internship should be taken in the student's final year. Registration by permission of the Director of Supervised Ministry/Internship.
PC 566B • Chaplaincy Internship B 2 Credits
This course provides students opportunity to intern in the work of chaplaincy. Students complete a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (a total of 400-440 hours of ministry and reflection) in a CPE center accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE). Students contract with a CPE site for a supervised experience in a hospital, hospice site, elder care facility, homeless shelter, or other accredited CPE site.
Prerequisites: For MA and MDiv students, PC 566A. Special Notes: Internship should be taken in the student's final year.
PC 607YL • The Minister as Person (Young Life Staff Training) 3 Credits
This course is designed to equip individual to lead an incarnational youth ministry with effective discipleship of young people. Building volunteer teams for ministry is also an important element of the course. Focus is given to spiritual development of the student, the ministry of discipleship, development of volunteer teams for ministry, fundraising and administration. The role of camping ministry and its implications for discipleship is also emphasized.
PC 632 • Pastoral Care of Children, Youth and Families 4 Credits
Formulation of appropriate pastoral care responses to specific crises and problems. Implementation of prayer, scripture, and other pastoral care resources in care situations. Development of a network of resources within your church and community. Identification of ethical, legal, and professional pastoral care issues. Demonstration of basic attending skills. Examination of their own story and how it impacts your in care situations. Explanation of how race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender identity affect expressions of pastoral care.
PC 670 • Directed Study in Pastoral Care and Counseling 1-9 Credits
Research and study by arrangement with the professor.
Special Notes: Permission is required.
PC 699PT • Portfolio in Pastoral Care 0.5-6 Credits
Portfolio course of preselected topics within an existing course in the field of Pastoral Care.
Special Notes: Portfolio courses are created upon request with permission by an overseeing Program Director.
PC 705 • Clinical Pastoral Education 1-4 Credits
Students contract under an accredited CPE center for one unit of CPE, a 400-hour supervised experience, usually in a hospital or nursing care center. CPE is particularly important for persons who plan to enter chaplaincy posts of various kinds, but it is also applicable to many other ministry settings. The credits may be applied as pastoral care electives but may not be applied to professional internship requirements.
Prerequisites: PC 512. CPE site fees are paid directly to the CPE center. These fees are reimbursed to students at the completion of the CPE unit with the submission of a valid invoice or receipt documenting the amount paid to the CPE site. Grade exceptions: This course is Pass/Fail. Special Notes: A passing grade will be assigned when the Office of the Registrar receives, from the student, a notarized copy of the ACPE Certificate of Completion.
PC 772 • Seminar in Pastoral Care 2 Credits
A Master of Divinity or Doctor of Ministry concentration course; an in-depth study of a particular Pastoral Care theme.
Special Notes: Fulfills DMin elective requirements. Prior completion of SP 540 recommended.
PC 774 • Seminar in Pastoral Care 4 Credits
A Master of Divinity or Doctor of Ministry concentration course; an in-depth study of a particular Pastoral Care theme.
Special Notes: Fulfills DMin elective requirements. Prior completion of SP 540 recommended.
PC 795A • Thesis Proposal 2 Credits
Development of a thesis proposal and prospectus. Survey of existing research and delineation of tentative argument and preliminary bibliography. To be developed in consultation and under supervision of a faculty member as thesis advisor.
Grade exceptions: This course is graded Pass/Fail. Special Notes: Approval of faculty member in relevant discipline is required.
PC 795B • Thesis Writing 4 Credits
Implementation of research plan, under the supervision of thesis advisor and with input from a second reader. To include survey of existing research and thesis that is well argued and supported by the literature.
Prerequisites: PC 795A.
PC 812 • Understanding and Managing 4 Credits
Concentration content course to fulfill DMin requirement. Concentration topic varies based on scheduling and student interest.
Prerequisites: GS 801.
PC 815 • Models for Pastoral Care in the Local Church 4 Credits
Concentration content course to fulfill DMin requirement for either Congregation and Family Care or Church Leadership.
Prerequisites: GS 801. Special Notes: This course will fulfill concentration requirements for CFC or CL concentration students or an elective requirement for other concentrations.
PC 862 • Topics in Pastoral Care 4 Credits
Concentration content course to fulfill DMin requirement when paired with the corresponding project course, PC862P. Concentration topic varies based on scheduling and student interest.
PC 870 • Directed Study in Pastoral Care 1-9 Credits
Research and study by arrangement with the professor. Permission is required.
PC 899PT • Portfolio in Pastoral Care 0.5-6 Credits
Portfolio course of preselected topics within an existing course in the field of Pastoral Care.
Special Notes: Portfolio courses are created upon request with permission by an overseeing Program Director.