Biblical Counseling
Department
Description
Biblical Counseling
Department
This program exists to facilitate the healing of wounded hearts and minds through Christ’s selfless love, ultimately restoring God’s image in humanity. This is done by equipping students to teach, preach, and heal with a solid foundation in Biblical teachings and a faith-based approach to transforming lives into the image of God.
The philosophy of the Biblical Counseling program is rooted in the belief that “the true principles of psychology are found in the Holy Scriptures” and that “true science and inspiration are in perfect harmony.” (1) Derived from the Greek words psyche (soul) and logos (study), Biblical counseling focuses on understanding the soul from a Christ-centered perspective and applying Biblical principles to address life’s challenges in alignment with faith.
This program emphasizes the mind’s role in the great controversy, humanity’s creation in God’s image, and the holistic nature of individuals—physical, mental, spiritual, and relational. It seeks to restore God’s image by promoting mental health through love, truth, and freedom. While sin causes internal conflict, Christ offers hope for transformation. Our mission is to facilitate healing grounded in Biblical teachings, integrating faith with God-inspired principles to empower individuals to live according to divine principles.
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1. White, E. G. (1977). Mind, character, and personality (Vol. 1, pp. 10, 310). Southern Publishing.
Who Should Attend This Program?
The Biblical Counseling program is ideal for individuals passionate about addressing emotional and spiritual health challenges through a Christ-centered approach. It prepares those called to bring healing and hope to a broken world, following Jesus’ model of healing, educating, and preaching (Luke 4:18; Matthew 28:19-20). This program is designed for aspiring Biblical counselors, Biblical counseling evangelists, and others seeking to provide Christ-centered support. It offers a solid foundation in Biblical principles and faith-based counseling principles. Additionally, it provides valuable preparation for students wishing to pursue further studies in Biblical counseling or related fields within a faith-based framework.
Ministerial and Service Paths
Graduates of the Biblical Counseling program are prepared to serve in ministerial roles as Biblical counselors and Biblical coaches within churches, Christian schools, faith-based institutions, and Christ-centered wellness ministries, advocating for mental and spiritual well-being through Biblical prevention, education, and training. They may also lead wellness ministries focused on emotional and spiritual health. This program equips students for roles as Biblical counseling evangelists and in lifestyle ministry, emphasizing healing through Biblical principles. Graduates are trained to preach, teach, and promote Christ-centered healing within churches, schools, wellness centers, and their communities, reflecting the mission to restore God’s image in humanity.
The program is designed to:
Apply principles of emotional and spiritual well-being grounded in the Bible and God-given wisdom to promote the restoration of God’s image in humanity. This is demonstrated through the development of a Christ-like character reflected by love, forgiveness, truth, freedom, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, mercy, faith, meekness, self-control, and hope.
Establish and promote centers of influence and faith-based wellness ministries that emphasize emotional and spiritual healing, offering restoration through teaching, preaching, and mental health principles grounded in the Bible.5. Provide spiritual and emotional healing in harmony with the Seventh-day Adventist Church mission, grounded in biblical God-i principles.
After successfully completing the Bachelor’s in Biblical Counseling, graduates will be:
Knowledgeable, integrative, and applicative learners:
Graduates will understand biblical counseling principles through a Christ-centered Adventist perspective, gaining expertise in biblical counseling, emotional well-being, and the integration of biblical truths into mental and spiritual health. They will critically analyze historical, theological, and biblical concepts while utilizing discernment, analytical thinking and Christ-centered decision-making skills to address the mental and spiritual health needs in alignment with God's Word.
Creative and critical-thinking, biblically guided researchers:
Graduates will apply critical thinking to investigate emotional and spiritual phenomena and evaluate research through a biblical lens. They will integrate sociocultural factors into their research practices ensuring that their work is grounded in biblical truth while seeking to offer solutions based on faith and God-inspired principles.
Selfless and responsible individuals:
Graduates will adhere ethical standards based on Adventist biblical principles, demonstrating a commitment to Christ-like service, social responsibility, and the promotion of healing through biblical counseling. They will develop cultural and interpersonal sensitivity, exercise spiritual leadership to positively influence communities, and apply biblical counseling principles to promote emotional and spiritual well-being.
Communicatively empathetic and versatile missionary students:
Graduates will communicate effectively through active listening, empathy, and brotherly love. They will convey biblical counseling principles logically and persuasively, using their ability to express ideas clearly and applying these principles to enhance communication and ministry, all in line with biblical teachings.
Collaborative individuals pursuing comprehensive self-control and personal development:
Graduates will demonstrate self-discipline and integrity through habits of punctuality, diligence, and responsibility. They will refine their project management and teamwork abilities, exercise sound judgment in professional and ministerial interactions, and cultivate skills to develop innovative ministry plans that align with their Christian mission after graduation.
- Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Counseling
- Certifications: Life Coaching Certification, Health Coaching Certification, Biblical Mental Health and Character Growth Coaching Certification, Advanced Prayer and Discipleship Coaching Certification, Christian Discipline for Character Development Certification and Chaplaincy Certification.
Core Curriculum
(84 credits)
For a complete description, review the Core Curriculum section of this bulletin.
Summer Outreach Training School
(17 credits, part of Core Curriculum)
The Summer Outreach Training School is an essential component of the Core Curriculum. All students are expected to participate in this program, designed to prepare them to lead people to Christ, deepen their faith, and strengthen their commitment to work in God’s vineyard. This program also lays the foundation for their spiritual journey at Hartland College. For more details, please refer to the Summer Outreach Training School section of this bulletin.
Literature Evangelism
In our program, literature evangelism is integral to our wholistic approach to emotional and spiritual well-being. This practice aligns with Hartland College’s mission to “equip professional missionaries to transform the world through Christ’s selfless love” while reinforcing our integration of Biblical principles with spiritual and emotional healing. Through literature evangelism, students share Seventh-day Adventist literature, fostering spiritual restoration and emotional healing while enhancing essential communication and outreach skills. This supports our goal of training individuals to address the emotional and spiritual health challenges of the 21st century. Ultimately, the program promotes healing and equips students with tools to spread hope and transformation. Consequently, all students will participate in Hartland’s four-week literature evangelism program during their sophomore winter break, reinforcing their commitment to biblical counseling and the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
The curriculum of the Bachelor’s in Biblical Counseling is a four-year, in-person course of study that consists of core curriculum courses and specialized courses within the Biblical Counseling major, all aligning with Hartland College’s mission. This program provides an initial undergraduate education in Biblical counseling, introducing students to a broad range of knowledge that includes Biblical counseling principles and areas in emotional and spiritual healing. Courses emphasize the integration of the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, focusing on achieving spiritual, mental, and physical balance while transitioning from theoretical learning to ministry application This equips students for professional roles and faithful service in Biblical counseling, ministry, and Christian healing practices, preparing them to serve as instruments of God’s healing and restoration.
Degree Type: Bachelor’s degree
Course duration: 4 years
Credits: 174
Internship: 10 weeks
More Information: 2024-2026 Academic Bulletin