Grace College and Theological Seminary

Psychology and Counseling Studies at GCTS

Grace College and Theological Seminary appears in our ranking of the Top 25 Small Colleges for a Counseling Degree.

Grace College and Theological Seminary offers a number of psychology and counseling degrees, including a bachelor’s degree in counseling, a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. Students may also pursue a minor in behavioral science.

The bachelor’s degree in counseling focuses on counseling as it is seen from the Christian perspective. The 120-credit-hour major is designed to prepare students for graduate work in both clinical psychology and counseling. Both the B.A. in Counseling and the B.S. in Counseling are designed around four essential relationships, and courses are organized according to these relationships, including the student’s relationship to the world and the environment, relationship to others, relationship to self and relationship to God. Courses in these areas include global perspectives, public speaking, consumer economics, and essential doctrinal themes. Behavioral science courses include child and adolescent psychology, an introduction to sociology, an introduction to counseling, an introduction to psychology, theories of personality and an introduction to criminal justice. Counseling courses include biblical psychology, abnormal psychology, addictive treatment, process and techniques of counseling and psychological measurement. Students will receive an introduction to the major theories in counseling including Christian and secular approaches as well as the techniques and principles of data collection and investigation in the social sciences. Students will also learn how to develop a theoretical base for evaluating human problems within a biblical framework before discussing practical techniques that help structure counseling sessions.

The purpose of the bachelor’s degree in psychology is to familiarize students with the concepts and content of psychology from both the secular world and the Bible in order to prepare them for work in the field or graduate school. During this 120-credit-hour program, students will take courses in a number of areas of psychology, including clinical psychology, social psychology, abnormal psychology, and child/adolescent psychology. As is the case with a B.A. or B.S. in Counseling, the program is divided based on the student’s relationships. Students may expect to take additional behavioral science courses such as victimology, theories of personality, an introduction to criminal justice, counseling, psychology, and sociology. Psychology electives include biblical psychology, brain and behavior, psychological measurement, motivation and emotion, health psychology and process/techniques of counseling. Courses such as abnormal psychology will study emotional and mental disorders, their classification, symptomatology and methods of treatment as well as the Christian approach to mental health. Students will also be introduced to the major theories of personality and how one’s personality develops, including behavioristic, existential, humanistic and psychoanalysis approaches.

The emphasis of the on-campus Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is to train graduates to become professional counselors. The program and faculty are committed to helping students become scripturally grounded, interpersonally competent and professionally skilled, and biblical principles and a Christian worldview are woven throughout the curriculum. Students are encouraged to consider a faith perspective when applying and learning clinical skills and knowledge. Graduates are prepared and qualified to pursue doctoral studies in counseling or to seek state licensure as a professional counselor, and graduates are employed in a number of secular and Christian counseling settings, including private practices, churches, colleges, schools, residential programs, and community mental health centers. The school offers both on-campus and online learning options, the latter of which requires students to attend residency on campus every year. Both on-campus and online learning environments are accredited by the CACREP and provide the same quality training and curriculum. Students can expect to take coursework in ethical and legal issues, gender and sexuality, lifestyle and career counseling, theological foundations of counseling, social and cultural issues, group counseling, personality and counseling theories, human growth and development and marriage and family counseling. Electives include advanced internship extension, spirituality in counseling and contemporary issues and trends in counseling. The M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Grace College and Theological Seminary can be completed in two or three years, depending on the student’s commitments outside of the school.

About Grace College and Theological Seminary

Located in Winona Lake, Indiana and founded in 1937, Grace College and Theological Seminary is an evangelical Christian community of higher education. The school is comprised of five divisions, including the School of Professional and Online Education, the School of Ministry Studies, the School of Business, the School of Behavioral Sciences and the School of Arts and Sciences. Although the seminary and college are historically affiliated with the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, the faculty and student body come from diverse denominational backgrounds.

Grace College and Theological Seminary Accreditation Details

Grace College & Seminary is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and the Grace Theological Seminary is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools. The Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.

Grace College and Theological Seminary Application Requirements

Undergraduate students seeking a bachelor’s degree in psychology must submit a completed application, SAT and/or ACT scores and an application fee for admission. However, the school waives the $30 application fee for applicants who apply online. Students seeking enrollment in the master’s degree program must show evidence of an undergraduate degree as well as a grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The school recommends applicants to have taken and passed at least two behavioral health science courses such as counseling, criminal justice, sociology or psychology. The GRE is not required for admission into the program. However, students must submit all transcripts from post-secondary institutions as well as a curriculum vitae, one spiritual life reference, and one professional reference. The school also requires applicants to submit to a background check and interview

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition for an undergraduate degree costs approximately $23,930 per year for freshmen, and graduate students can expect to pay $588 per credit hour for the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree. The school’s financial aid program provides 99 percent of undergraduate students with the funds necessary to make the school more affordable. Students must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine eligibility, and the school provides assistance through state, federal and Grace College programs. Grace College and Theological Seminary supports military students and veterans via financial aid and scholarships as well as college credit for military training and experience.