Description of Courses by Department


Description of Courses by Department


(Click on the above link to access a PDF copy of the course descriptions.)

General Studies


GenSt 110 College-Level Writing I (3 credit hours)
This course focuses on writing skills with a minimal amount of grammar fitted to the needs of the individual student. The student will find a clear and easily followed path to knowing how to write well. This course includes three essays that will be sent to the instructor three times each. That means the student will know clearly what revisions are expected before any final grade is issued.

GenSt 111 College-Level Writing II (3 credit hours)
A continuation of the writing skills learned in GenSt 110 with a further exploration of how to write a solid research paper for college courses.

GenSt 120 Mathematics for Teachers (3 credit hours)
This course focuses on the mathematical knowledge a teacher needs in order to teach math in the primary grades. This course comes later in the Ministry of Christian Education degree program.

GenSt 130 Science for Teachers (3 credit hours)
This course focuses on the science knowledge a teacher needs in order to teach science in the primary grades. This course comes later in the Ministry of Christian Education degree program.

GenSt 150 World History (3 credit hours)
An overview of human history from Adam to the Great White Throne (the day of history, when all things will be made known) with an emphasis on the patterns and framework of history along with the relationship between God’s story and human events.

GenSt 160 World Geography & Cultures (3 credit hours)
Although this course includes many of the elements of a typical World Geography course, the focus is on the people groups and cultures of the world including the perspective of Christians missions.

GenSt 210 Thinking and Logic: A Christian View (3 credit hours)
An introductory look at thinking skills and logical thinking from a Christian point of view. The student is also introduced to the concept of "distorted thinking." This is a more wide-spread concept than most people believe, due-to the lack of biblical understanding concerning this issue. The Bible is clear that "as a man thinks in his heart, so is he." (Proverbs 23:7)

GenSt 230 Reading and Research (3 credit hours)
This course introduces the student to critical reading as well as to the skills of research needed by college students and graduates. Analyzing differing types of texts is included.


Christian Counseling


ChCo 101 Introduction to Biblical Counseling (3 credit hours) 
Christian counseling is, by definition, a revelation of the life and love of Jesus Christ in helping someone change for the better. That life and love come alive in the use of the Bible, and in relying upon the Holy Spirit to advance the goals and challenges of counseling. This is the starting point for formal Faith-Based Biblical Counseling Training. In this course, the student is introduced to the "Model of Life."

ChCo 110 Personal Approaches to Counseling (3 credit hours)
This course includes the texts Wild at Heart and Captivating, both by John Eldredge. One is for men and the other for women. This course will take the student on a personal journey of inner healing and wholeness.

ChCo 201 Introduction to Counseling Skills (3 credit hours) 
This course includes the text Slipping through the Cracks by Mark Sanders. Skills training is introduced; the student will learn the 8 counseling skills. The course explores biblical teachings concerning the nature of human beings, their brokenness, unhealthy coping skills, dysfunctional and unhealthy patterns of living and the usefulness of counseling in helping individuals move toward healing, healthy relationships and wholeness.

ChCo 220 Biblical & Theological Foundations of Counseling (3 credit hours) 
This course includes the text The Rule of 52 by Tom Barnette. This course also includes the text A Theology of Christian Counseling by Jay. E. Adams. Biblical counseling begins with a study of the Word of God as it relates to human behavior and human need. The primary goals of this course is to encourage biblical thinking and explore biblical principles for promoting lasting change in people. This course provides a theological and Biblical basis for Christian counseling.

ChCo 230 Advanced Counseling Techniques (3 credit hours)
This course includes the text Basic Counseling Techniques: A Beginning Therapist’s Tool Kit by Wayne Perry. Advanced Counseling Techniques are introduced. The student will learn the skills and protocols for proper paper work to use with the client, i.e., making the appointment, the assessment, the counseling process and referrals to name only a few. Ethics are introduced with an overview of how to establish a biblical-based counseling center.

ChCo 310 Assessment of Human Needs (3 credit hours)
This course includes the text Strategic Pastoral Counseling: A Short-Term Structured Model by David G. Benner. This course is an examination of emotional problems, their antecedents and consequences with a special emphasis on the destructiveness of sin. The course will look at different methods of assessing psychological problems. This course is designed to introduce students to both formal and informal marriage and family assessment methods.

ChCo 330 Marriage Counseling (3 credit hours)
This course includes the text Desperate Marriages: Moving Toward Hope and Healing in Your Relationship by Gary D. Chapman. This course prepares the counsellor to deal in an effective manner by being totally familiar with the dynamics of marriage relations, and especially parenting. The course presents an overview of the history, major theoretical and therapeutic models of marriage and family therapy. Throughout the course students are encouraged to evaluate their effectiveness and relevance against a biblical understanding of marriage and family.

ChCo 350 Spiritual Warfare and Counseling (3 credit hours) 
This course includes the text Spiritual Warfare for Every Christian by Dean Sherman. A thorough study of the role and function of angels and demons in relation to the church of Jesus Christ and believers, is detailed in this course. This course introduces students to the nature of God, the nature of Satan, the works of angels, the works and nature of demons. Students also learn about the place of spiritual warfare in counseling a variety of clients.

ChCo 430 Counseling and Family Violence (3 credit hours)
This course includes the text Domestic Violence: What every Pastor Needs to Know by Al Miles. Counseling and Family Violence from a Christian perspective is one of the required courses for students pursuing a degree in counseling with an emphasis in family counseling, domestic violence counseling, substance abuse and addiction counseling and/or pastoral counseling. This course will provide fundamental knowledge about the development of effective interpersonal skills for relationships.

ChCo 440 Grief and Loss Counseling (3 credit hours)
This course includes the texts All Our Losses, All Our Griefs: Resources for Pastoral Care by Kenneth R. Mitchell and Grief Relief by Stan Dekoven. Grief therapy is a specific counselling specialty in which a professional therapist assists the client to identify, clarify, and express various emotions related to a loss. The study covers theoretical perspectives and models of grieving, coping, developmental, cultural, family and other variables associated with the human response to loss and grief.

ChCo 450 Crisis Counseling (3 credit hours)
This course includes the text Crisis Counseling: A Guide for Pastors and Professionals by Scott Floyd. When crises happen, whether by "accident" or design, they cause severe disruption to our lives. It is an inherent quality of ministry to be able to effectively minister to those in crisis times. This course offers both a biblical and family systems conceptualization of family pathology. Students will gain an understanding of how to respond to people in distress in the middle of traumatic circumstances.

ChCo 470 Addiction Counseling (3 credit hours)
This course includes the text How to Defeat Harmful Habits by June Hunt. This course will cover alcoholism and other chemical dependencies. This course introduces students to a theological understanding of factors underlying addictive patterns in human behaviors. Students examine contemporary theories and models of addiction as well as assessment and interventions. This course introduces students to the major psychoactive drugs used by professionals.


Biblical Studies


BibSt 110 Old Testament Survey (3 credit hours)
This course includes The Promise and the Blessing: A Historical Survey of the Old and New Testaments by Michael A. Harbin. This course connects the dots of the Old Testament books to reveal the big picture of salvation history. Organized chronologically rather than canonically, this book traces the flow of Israel's history. It begins with God's creation of the cosmos and the initial problem of the fall of man. Then it traces God's solutions to that problem as he selects first one man, Abraham, then his line, and then the nation of Israel to provide the Messiah.

BibSt 111 New Testament Survey (3 credit hours)
This course also includes The Promise and the Blessing: A Historical Survey of the Old and New Testaments by Michael A. Harbin. This course picks up with the story of Jesus and shows how the New Testament proceeds out of the Old. Finally, it focuses on the Messiah himself and looks at how the gospel of Jesus was spread throughout the known world

BibSt 205 Hermeneutics (3 credit hours)
This course includes the text Knowing Scripture by R.C. Sproul. Traditional hermeneutics is the study of the interpretation of written texts, especially texts in the areas of literature, religion and law. A type of traditional hermeneutic is Biblical hermeneutics which concerns the study of the interpretation of The Bible. This course explores how we approach the Bible in order to best know what God means for us through the various parts of His word.

BibSt 310 Apologetics (3 credit hours)
This course includes the text The Apologetics Study Bible: Understand Why You Believe by Ted Cabal (editor). Apologetics is the branch of Christian theology that is concerned with making a defense, or case, for the truth claims of the Christian faith. Apologetics teaches that sufficient proof exists.

BibSt 430 The Book of Romans (3 credit hours)
This course is an in-depth study of the book of Romans, the key book of Paul’s gospel.


Christian Life and Ministry


ChMin 101 The Exchanged Life (3 credit hours)
The student is introduced to the "Exchange Life" concept, also known as the "Christ Life." This is one of the most important concepts in the Bible, dealing with one's identity in Christ. The student is also introduced to the concept of "Appropriation." Appropriation does not necessarily mean to gain something new but to set aside for our practical possession something that already belongs to us.

ChMin 105 Approaches to the Christian Life (3 credit hours)
This course includes the text What Every Christian Ought to Know by Adrian Rogers. This course is an exploration of the basic principles of what it means to be a Christian. The student is introduced to the "spirit-soul-body-flesh" complex.

ChMin 210 Forgiveness (3 credit hours)  
This courses includes the text Let It Go: Forgive So You Can Be Forgiven by T.D. Jakes. This is an introduction to active and practical forgiveness. Forgiveness is the bottom line of the Christian faith. A minister of Christ must know how to practice forgiveness even when it hurts.

ChMin 230 Marriage and Family Life (3 credit hours)
This course includes the text The Power of Commitment: A Guide to Active, Lifelong Love by Scott Stanley. This course examines the modern problems inherent in marital and family relationships; offers suggestions for treatment on an individual and church-wide basis; and provides counseling resources. This course introduces basic sociological research in the area of marriage and family. It also examines the dynamics of family relationships so that material can be useful to students in their own lives.

ChMin 240 Experiencing the Love of God (3 credit hours)
This course leads the student in a practical study and application of the many Bible verses that outline for us the incredible love of God in which we live.

ChMin 250 Overview of Church History (3 credit hours)
This course includes the text The Pilgrim Church by Ed Broadbent as well as The Early Church by Gene Edwards. The course covers the beginnings of the church, the fall into Roman darkness, the true church tucked here and there through the centuries, the beginnings of Reformation, and the outpourings of the Holy Spirit from John Wesley until today. The course also covers key figures in the history of the church.

ChMin 270 Faith & Human Development (3 credit hours)
This course includes the text Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning by James W. Fowler. This course is an introduction to human development from the perspective of faith. The aim of the course is to provide a foundation of knowledge that will help the student become a more effective counselor, educator, and leader.

ChMin 330 Living in the Holy Spirit (3 credit hours)
This course includes the text The Holy Spirit: Activating God’s Power in Your Life by Billy Graham as well as How to Be Led by the Spirit of God by Kenneth Hagin. This course basic awareness of the promise of the equipping of the Holy Spirit given us by Jesus and events are designed to build a theological understanding of the person and work of the Holy Spirit for individuals of any age, lay church leaders, clergy, and entire congregations.

ChMin 350 Authority of the Believer (3 credit hours)
This course includes the text The Incredible Power of Kingdom Authority by Adrian Rogers. This course explores the authority of the believer in Christ and the principles of walking in that authority. Practical applications of spiritual authority are made towards counseling, teaching, and home life.

ChMin 360 Spirit-Led Missions (3 credit hours)
This course is an investigation of the experiences of a number of missionaries who, contrary to custom, brought Christ to the level of the people to whom they were ministering – and the incredible results that followed as a result. Among those studied are Hudson Taylor and Bruce Olson.

ChMin 410 Ethics in Leadership (3 credit hours)  
This course includes the text Biblical Ethics by Oswald Chambers. Leadership Ethics highlights the importance of fidelity, integrity, and value-based decision making. Contemporary ethical issues in church, community, and ministry leadership are examined from a biblical perspective. Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior.

ChMin 430 Preparation for Pastoral Ministry (3 credit hours) 
This course includes the text Pastor’s Handbook by John R. Basagno, as well as the text A Tale of Three Kings by Gene Edwards. This is a study of the practical side of a minister's life and duties. It will include a discussion of many of the problems a pastor faces in how to be equipped to meet people’s needs. The course develops the principles of leadership and what constitutes preparation for pastoral ministry.


Christian Education


ChEd 101 Introduction to Christian Teaching
This course introduces the student to the arena of service in teaching in a Christian school.

ChEd 210 The Christian Teacher
This course investigates what it means to be a teacher, in particular a Christian teacher.

ChEd 220 Child Growth and Development (3 credit hours)
This course includes the text Your Child's Growing Mind: Brain Development and Learning from Birth to Adolescence by Jane M. Healy.  A study of various theories concerning child development and the learning process. The ideas of Piaget, Dewey, and other theorists of the mental development of children are also discussed.

ChEd 230 Parental Role in Education (3 credit hours) 
This course explores a Christian approach to raising children including Biblical, spiritual, mental health, and physical health concerns. The course covers the importance of parental involvement even when their children go to school. Practical strategies are given that will help parents prepare their children for academic success.

ChEd 250 Introduction to Learning Theory (3 credit hours)
This course includes the text How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School by the Committee on Developments in the Science of Learning. This course will explore teaching techniques and learning environments which best meet the needs of all types of learners including children who are physically, mentally, or socially challenged. The course will also explore a number of theories regarding how children learn, including behaviorist learning, emotional learning, and present-day brain research.

ChEd 330 Classroom Management (3 credit hours)
This course provides the best practices for keeping students on task and engaged with learning.

ChEd 340 Classroom Teaching Methods (3 credit hours)
This course explores a variety of methods for effective classroom instruction.

ChEd 360 American Education: A Contrary View (3 credit hours)
This course includes the text The Underground History of American Education by Joh Taylor Gatto. The course provides an overview of the history of American education, but also gives a view as to how education has ended up as it is today – by one of America’s greatest classroom teachers.

ChEd 370 Early Childhood Literacy (3 credit hours)
This course investigates the beginning stages of learning to read.

ChEd 371 Teaching Reading (3 credit hours)
This course uses the Spaulding Method of teaching to read and the text titled The Writing Road to Reading. Upon completion, the student will be skilled at teaching children to read.

ChEd 440 Learning and Assessment (3 credit hours)
This course is an advanced approach to classroom teaching and learning theory as well as aligning instruction with assessment. Different methods of assessment are investigated.

ChEd 450 Special Populations in Education (3 credit hours)
This course explores the needs of children with special physical, mental, behavioral and emotional handicaps, legal issues relating to the rights of these children and their families, and problems and issues related to providing services to families of children with special needs.



Final Exam for all Degree Tracks
Comprehensive Examination: Final Examination –
The exam includes the text Wisdom for Life: Keys to Finishing Well by John Basagno. The exam will require the student to draw from all the course topics in order to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of Christian counseling.