Program purpose
Preparation for thoughtful, accountable service.
Explain the biblical foundations of pastoral care. Apply the field responsibly within Christian ministry and its stated boundaries. Present and defend an assessed portfolio or supervised project demonstrating learning.
What you will study
A coherent academic pathway.
The complete program requires 18 semester credits.
- Foundations — 6 credits
- Specialization — 9 credits
- Final project or portfolio — 3 credits
Courses and requirements
Your complete course map.
Select a course to read its scope, prerequisites, learning hours, and assessment requirements. Follow prerequisite order; the course list does not promise a delivery date.
Foundations 6 credits
FOR101 Spiritual Formation and Christian Discipleship3 credits
Connect prayer, Scripture, Christian character, community, and service in a formation plan. Reflect on discipleship without requiring private personal disclosures.
Prerequisites: Undergraduate admission.
Workload: At least 135 documented learning hours.
Assessment: The published course outcomes, required assessed work, and degree-level rubric govern; the verified syllabus supplies assessment weights.
ETH201 Christian Ethics and Ministerial Integrity3 credits
Apply Christian ethics to authority, stewardship, confidentiality, boundaries, and integrity. Evaluate ministry cases and justify a responsible response.
Prerequisites: Undergraduate admission.
Workload: At least 135 documented learning hours.
Assessment: The published course outcomes, required assessed work, and degree-level rubric govern; the verified syllabus supplies assessment weights.
Specialization 9 credits
PCR201 Foundations of Pastoral Presence3 credits
Practice attentive listening and compassionate spiritual support using fictional pastoral cases.
Prerequisites: FOR101, ETH201.
Workload: At least 135 documented learning hours.
Assessment: Submit a source-supported study, an applied ministry or teaching product, and an oral explanation or assessed discussion; demonstrate the stated course outcomes.
PCR202 Pastoral Care Boundaries and Referral3 credits
Recognize limits of ministry competence and apply approved safeguarding, consent, and referral procedures.
Prerequisites: FOR101, ETH201.
Workload: At least 135 documented learning hours.
Assessment: Submit a source-supported study, an applied ministry or teaching product, and an oral explanation or assessed discussion; demonstrate the stated course outcomes.
PCR203 Grief and Christian Hope3 credits
Prepare a respectful biblical response to grief and suffering without diagnosis, coercion, or guaranteed outcomes.
Prerequisites: FOR101, ETH201.
Workload: At least 135 documented learning hours.
Assessment: Submit a source-supported study, an applied ministry or teaching product, and an oral explanation or assessed discussion; demonstrate the stated course outcomes.
Final project or portfolio 3 credits
PCR204 Supervised Pastoral Care Project3 credits
Complete an approved spiritual-care learning agreement, activity record, reflection, and supervisor evaluation.
Prerequisites: All preceding courses in this certificate; faculty-approved project or portfolio plan; approved supervisor and placement.
Workload: At least 135 documented learning hours.
Assessment: Submit the final portfolio or supervised project, source-supported reflection, and oral presentation; earn C or higher and at least 3 in each undergraduate rubric dimension.
Course sequence
- Complete the foundation courses before specialization. Complete all other required courses before the final project or portfolio.
- Obtain faculty approval of the final plan; supervised projects require an approved supervisor and learning agreement. No prior ministry experience substitutes for assessed credit.
Final project and examination
Complete an approved spiritual-care learning agreement, activity record, reflection, and supervisor evaluation. Final assessment requires C or higher and a score of at least 3 in every undergraduate rubric dimension.
Academic standards and transfer requirements
Each semester credit requires at least 45 documented learning hours: approximately 15 hours of instruction or equivalent faculty-guided engagement and 30 hours of independent work. A 3-credit course requires 135 hours; a 6-credit course requires 270. Shorter terms do not reduce workload.
Undergraduate and certificate courses require C or higher and a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00; graduate and doctoral courses require B or higher and at least 3.00. Grades: A 90-100, B 80-89, C 70-79, D 60-69, F below 60. Complete at least 67% of attempted credits within 150% of the published program credits. Existing repeat and appeal procedures continue.
Each syllabus specifies measurable outcomes, readings, learning activities, workload, prerequisites, assessment weights, accessibility, and integrity rules before teaching. Assess Scripture and theology, evidence and method, ministry application, and ethics and communication. Final projects require at least 3 on the four-level rubric in every dimension, the minimum course grade, and accepted revisions.
Bachelor students complete at least 30 credits through GDICU, including all 12 advanced field and capstone credits. At least half of each certificate and master degree, and every required culminating project and GDICU-supervised practice component, must be completed through GDICU. All doctoral credits are completed through GDICU. Transfer requires documented content, level, workload, and outcome equivalence; C minimum undergraduate, B minimum graduate.
Count each course once within a credential. Approved certificate courses may apply once to a bachelor degree after admission and a course-by-course equivalency review. Undergraduate work cannot become graduate credit. Previously awarded graduate-degree work cannot be reused in another graduate award. Experience, attendance, ordination, or office alone earns no academic credit.
No recruitment, intervention, or data collection begins before proposal approval and documented institutional ethics review, consent, confidentiality, safeguarding, and site permissions where required. A theological text or archival study also requires source integrity and any access permissions. Existing examination, one-revision, and appeal policies continue.
Academic requirements do not open applications or enrollment. Faculty assignments, complete teaching packages, library access, supervision, accessibility, student support, systems, financial terms, and applicable authorization must be verified before program release. Existing student catalog rights and written transition plans remain in force.
Read the complete academic catalog for the governing program and student policies.
Who may apply
Admission begins with verified preparation.
Secondary-school completion or an accepted equivalent, prior academic records, a Christian learning or ministry-purpose statement, current physical study location, and assessed readiness for college reading, writing, technology, and participation. Any equivalent-preparation exception requires written faculty assessment and an Academic Affairs decision.
Completion standard
Progress must be demonstrated.
Complete all 18 credits in the prescribed course map. Earn C or higher in each applied course and at least 2.00 cumulative GPA. Complete the stated sequence, institutional-study minimum, required supervision, final assessment, and accepted revisions. Complete an approved spiritual-care learning agreement, activity record, reflection, and supervisor evaluation. Final assessment requires C or higher and a score of at least 3 in every undergraduate rubric dimension.