Academic Credit Requirements

Masters Degree requires that the student must have completed forty eight (48) credits in a specific field of study and then write the Masters Thesis= eighteen (18) credits for a total of sixty six (66) credit hours. One exception is the Master of Divinity (MDiv.) which requires (50) credits plus the Masters Thesis for a total of sixty-eight (68) credit hours. The student must have achieved an overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher on all courses attempted.
 

Pastoral Counseling
 

Associates Degree in Pastoral Counseling
(AA-PC)
 

APC and BAPC candidates are encouraged volunteer to work with the spiritual leader(s) of their local church, synagogue or house of worship in practicum settings. A written report of experiences from the local leader obtained in such settings is placed in the student(s) official files at the University.
 

Post Graduate Work For
Master & Doctoral Programs

     Post Graduate Studies for additional credit in the Master and Doctoral Degree Program will be assigned on an individual basis.

     We encourage those in their Master and Doctoral programs to engage in the work on the Post Graduate level to advance their standing in the Academic Community and to offer support to the University by investing their research to our ever expanding pool of Academic Research.

     This pool of research will be available to the lower Degree Programs and offer an additional support medium for all who are in need of research material.

Students are further required to seek volunteer work accumulating a minimum of 5 hours per week during each semester either at a local religious organization, or any volunteer outreach organization (upon written approval of the Dean of the Department).
 

Master’s Degree
in Pastoral Counseling (MPC)

In order to qualify for the Master’s Degree Program, a student must have completed a Bachelor’s Degree program at an accredited institution, or one that has reciprocal credit recognition with RVU. Although there is no specific undergraduate degree or course of study that is required to participate in the MPC degree program, it is strongly suggested that areas of undergraduate coursework consist of courses in psychology, social work, grant writing, coaching, teaching, mediation, dispute resolution, and religion.
 

Doctoral Degree in Pastoral Counseling (PhD)

Program Objectives:
 

     This program is designed to equip the student for a higher level of competence in their chosen religious counseling/coaching field, previously achieved by the foundational work normally accomplished in the Master Degree Program.

This program leads to a Religious Doctoral Degree in the following:
 

•       Pastoral Counseling

Program:
 

The research program consists of two parts:


     •     The Doctoral Project
     •     The Dissertation.

Together they comprise a fifty (50) credit hour program.

The method of approach for the Dissertation is identified in the Syllabus For Doctoral Degrees.
The Project portion of the program requires the student to, independently research and write an evaluation of the assigned study material.

In addition, the prospective candidate for the PhD in Pastoral Counseling degree is encouraged to explore and participate in local volunteer practicum situations. Your department advisor has a list of prospective organizations (such as ‘Crisis Hotline’). A minimum of 250 hours of volunteer service is required to complete the doctoral program. A report will be issued from the local practicum organization to your advisor at RVU.
 

**Please Note-Each state and many organizations also have unique and additional training, examination, and licensing requirements to conduct certain types of religious/pastoral counseling services. (i.e. must be a member of the ministerial staff of the local worship center) The ability to perform marriages, conduct family pre-divorce conflict counseling, extra-martial sexual counseling, and other areas are but a few that many governmental organizations require additional qualifications, training, and examination in order to participate. Please check with the local regulatory bodies in your area before becoming involved in any counseling sessions.

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