Purpose

The Certificate in Biblical Counseling is designed for students with diverse backgrounds and ministry goals. They are pastors, elders, deacons, ministry leaders, lay people, counselors, missionaries, and more. The certificate will develop within the student a theological soundness that informs a biblical counseling and discipleship orientation.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must hold a high school diploma or GED, have a personal testimony of faith, be a member of a Gospel preaching church, and receive a pastor’s recommendation.

Graduation Requirements

  • All credits must be completed from Central Seminary.
  • A cumulative GPA of 2.0 (C) must be achieved.

*This certificate is not an academic graduate degree.

The Certificate in Biblical Counseling is a very flexible program designed to meet the needs of pastors, counselors, and teachers. Courses are offered in the semester format (both mornings and evenings), week-long modular format, and weekend format (four Friday evenings and Saturday mornings). The certificate may be completed in two years.

Certificate Requirements

The Certificate in Biblical Counseling consists of 24 credit hours: 16 credits are required and 8 credits are electives.

Required Courses: 16 credit hours

CO 501 Foundations of Biblical Counseling
CO 502 The History and Philosophy of Biblical Counseling
CO 503 Theology of Biblical Counseling
CO 504 Comparative Analysis Between Biblical Counseling, Integration
Counseling, Psychological Counseling
CO 505 Biblical Counseling Process
CO 525 Physical Man vs. Immaterial Man
CO 565 Biblical Counseling/Discipleship in a Local Church Ministry
CO 590 Counseling Internship

Elective Courses: 8 credit hours

(Students may choose any courses listed to meet the elective credit requirement)

BI 518  Job
BI 519  Psalms
CO 510 Current Issues in Biblical Counseling
CO 522  The Theology of Personhood
CO 550  Marriage and Family
CO 526  Problems and Procedures in Biblical Counseling
CO 530  Counseling Victims and Abusers
CO 540  Biblical Philosophy of Addiction
CO 541  Biblical Apologetics to Challenge the Secular Philosophy of Addiction
CO 542  Biblical Procedures and Processes to Counsel Addiction
CO 543  Pharmacology and the Impact of Drugs on the Brain
CO 552  Complementarianism and Biblical Counseling
CO 561  Problems and Procedures in Counseling Women
CO 562  Controversial Issues in Counseling Women
CO 563  Discipling Women Through Biblical Counseling

General Independent Studies (up to 2 credit hours – these are 1 credit classes)

CO 583 Biblical Counseling Alliance
CO 584 Association of Certified Biblical Counseling
CO 586 Expository Counseling Training Center
CO 587 Faith Church, Lafayette, IN
CO 588 Addiction Connection
CO 589 Real Life