Dual Degree: Master of Divinity & Master of Arts in Pastoral Care and Counseling
Designed for students who desire to be experts in helping others heal and become emotionally healthy. Students combine deep biblical and theological knowledge with extensive pastoral care and counseling training. Students with this degree are persons wishing to work in church, non-profit, or institutional settings. Students in this program are uniquely qualified to minister to the needs of mind, body, and soul.
Students can finish this program in four years or less of full-time study.
Why pursue a dual degree at NBTS?
- Adaptive: Courses are offered days, evenings, and weekends as hybrid courses, or completely online.
- Faster Completion: Students can complete both programs in four years full-time, instead of the five years for both programs.
- Welcoming: Affirming of all persons desiring to study theology and pastoral counseling.
- Innovative: Study with a faculty who offer innovative opportunities for learning and appreciate adult learners.
- Justice Oriented: Attend a school with a heart for God’s people who believe justice is the demand of the Gospel.
- Diverse: Learn with a diverse faculty and student body who will offer a variety of perspectives.
- Academic and Practical: Take courses from professors who combine academic learning with practical skills.
- Vocational Focus: Students use the degree to serve as pastoral and pastoral counselors in churches, hospitals, prisons, and non-profit organizations.
Admissions Requirements
Application deadlines:
Spring semester – November 30
Fall Semester – May 31
Please click here for detailed deadline information.
Applications received after the deadline will be considered for admission in the following semester.
Each applicant must:
- Hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher (4.0 scale).
- Official transcript(s)* of all undergraduate and graduate work pursued to date are required;
- Complete a statement of purpose following the instructions on the application.
- Two letters of recommendation.
- Complete Application Form with $75 non-refundable application/background check fee;
- Students with additional master’s credits may receive transfer credits (see the transfer credit policy).
- Photo ID (state issued driver’s license, state identification card, or Passport) to verify identity
- Additionally, International Students
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- must submit transcripts of undergraduate degree programs that originate from an institution outside the United States or Canada be sent to a professional transcript service for a course-by-course evaluation.
- Demonstrate their proficiency in English (see English Proficiency Requirements);
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*The Admissions Committee requires that all transcripts that originate from an institution outside the United States or Canada be sent to a professional transcript service for a course-by-course evaluation.
| Credits | Duration | Format | Campus | Time |
| 96 | 4 Years (FT) 5-7 Years (PT) | Combination of Hybrid & Online | FT & PT in NJ PT in NY* | Classes begin every September & January |
*Students at the NY campus may need to travel to the NJ campus for some courses
Curriculum
96 total credit hours required The program is divided into 4 modules. Students would complete module 1 before moving on to module 2 and complete module 2 before moving on to module 3 and then complete module 4.
| Module 1 – 24 credits of required courses + 3 credits of electives (27 credits total) | |
|---|---|
| Course Number & Name | Credits |
| OT510 Introduction to Old Testament | 3 |
| NT510 Introduction to New Testament | 3 |
| CH510 History of Global Christianity I | 3 |
| CH511 History of Global Christianity II | 3 |
| IN511 Analyzing and Confronting the Systems of Privilege IN331 Analyzing Systems of Privilege – Workshop |
3 |
| WP511 Introduction to Worship | 3 |
| PC510 Introduction to Pastoral Care & Counseling | 3 |
| MS520 Called and Equipped: Vocational Discernment and Spiritual Formation | 3 |
| MS001 Boundaries for Ministry Workshop [REQUIRED BEFORE FIELD ED or C.P.E.] | NC |
| Pastoral Care Elective | 3 |
| Module 2 – 15 credits of required courses + 6 credits of CPE + 2 credits of Field Ed. (23 total) | |
|---|---|
| Course Number & Name | Credits |
| BS520 Biblical Research and Writing | 3 |
| TH520 Foundations and Global Theology I | 3 |
| TH521 Foundations and Global Theology II | 3 |
| PR510 Public Proclamation: Preparation and Delivery | 3 |
| IN520 The Christian Experience and Witness | 3 |
| FE511 Field Education Seminar – required with or prior to FE510 | NC |
| PC543 Clinical Pastoral Education I** | 3 |
| PC544 Clinical Pastoral Education II** | 3 |
| FE510 and FE512 Field Education Seminar – included with CPE | 2 |
**CPE will provide 2 credits of field ed with the class (FE520) and an additional 6 academic credits
| Module 3 – 18 credits of required courses + 6 credits of electives +1 credit of Field Ed. (25 credits) | |
|---|---|
| Course Number & Name | Credits |
| Student’s choice of a Biblical Studies course (OT or NT) | 3 |
| ET520 Christian Ethics and Social Justice | 3 |
| CE510 Introduction to Christian Education | 3 |
| IN521 Contextualized Ministry and Public Faith | 3 |
| IN522 Our Christian Traditions in Context | 3 |
| PC511 Research Methods in Pastoral Care | 3 |
| FE513 Field Education III | 1 |
| Elective Course | 3 |
| Pastoral Care Elective | 3 |
| Module 4 – 6 credits of required courses + 9 credits of electives + 6 credits project/thesis (21 credits) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course Number & Name | Credits | ||||
| Student’s choice of a Biblical Studies course (OT or NT) | 3 | ||||
| Pastoral Care Elective | 3 | ||||
| Pastoral Care Elective | 3 | ||||
| Pastoral Care Elective | 3 | ||||
| MS510 Pastoral Administration | 3 | ||||
| Capstone Thesis/Project Choose a path: | Path 1 – Thesis: | PC691 & PC692 M.A. Thesis | 6 | ||
| Path 2 – Project: | PC693 M.A. Project | 3 | |||
| Additional Elective | 3 | ||||
*Some denominations require students to take denominational studies electives (see your advisor for more information), amount of credits vary.
What is Field Education?
Field Education provides students an opportunity, with the assistance of experienced supervisors and lay committees, to integrate classroom learning with actual practice of ministry in context. A student is eligible to begin Field Education during Module 2 of the program [after 30 academic credits]. Once placed, students must spend 8-12 hours per week or 120-180 hours for the semester engaged at the field site. Included in the onsite hours is one hour of theological reflection with the field supervisor.
In conjunction with an approved field education placement, students must attend a class, which is designed to guide in the practice of theological reflection by examining the field placement experience. The course provides peer group support and requires assigned readings, reflection papers and journaling. Successful completion of a unit of Field Education and the class earns one academic credit. The grading system is Pass (P)/Fail (F).
Both supervisor and student evaluations are completed at the end of each unit.
Remuneration is suggested, generally btween $150 – 175 /week.
Students register for FE510, FE511, FE512, and FE513 to receive the required 3 academic credits.
Students may use CPE for two of the field education requirements. Students in CPE do not receive remuneration. All students are urged to check their own denominational requirements. Some require students to engage in CPE.
What is Clinical Pastoral Education?
According to the ACPE, “Clinical Pastoral Education is interfaith professional education for ministry. It brings theological students and ministers of all faiths (pastors, priests, rabbis, imams and others) into supervised encounter with persons in crisis. Out of an intense involvement with persons in need, and the feedback from peers and teachers, students develop new awareness of themselves as persons and of the needs of those to whom they minister. From theological reflection on specific human situations, they gain a new understanding of ministry. Within the interdisciplinary team process of helping persons, they develop skills in interpersonal and interprofessional relationships.”
CPE is normally set in an institutional environment such as a hospital or nursing home. CPE is done in units and one unit (400 hours) is required for this degree. A unit of CPE can be completed full-time in an intensive format of 10 to 12 weeks. Others are completed over a full academic year (14 hours per week). There are a limited number of online CPE programs, please contact the Office of Field Education for more information.
Program Outcomes
Click here to see Learning Outcomes for this program.
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