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Prospective Students

Program Objectives

Western Seminary offers three counseling degree options through the Portland campus:

  • the Master of Arts (M.A.) in Counseling (requiring 71 hours)
  • the dual degree track of M.A. in Counseling and the M.Div. in Pastoral Counseling (requiring 112 hours)
  • and the dual degree track of M.A. in Counseling and M.A. in Intercultural Studies (requiring 106 hours).

In addition to the Seminary's general educational goals, the counseling programs endeavor to achieve the following:

Core Objectives

    1. Equip counselors for ministry in and through the Church;
    2. Integrate biblical and theological foundations with the insights of psychology and practical counseling strategies;
    3. Promote growth in Christian maturity demonstrated through effective interpersonal relationships; and
    4. Prepare individuals who are seeking state licensure.

The specific competencies we endeavor for our students to obtain are listed below.

Master of Arts in Counseling, Core Competencies

(Courses assigned primary responsibility for developing each competency are listed following that competency. Overarching competencies should be contributed to by each course)

Upon completing the core M.A. Counseling curriculum, each M.A. student shall:

BE a person whose godliness is worthy of being emulated by others, and whose integrity imparts credibility to his/her ministry (SFS 501-504; CNS 506; overarching).

  • motivated by a genuine love for God, others and self;
  • reflects biblical balance and skill in life management, appropriately fulfilling those roles and responsibilities mandated by God;
  • regularly practices the spiritual disciplines;
  • aware of and applying biblical principles for forming new habits.

BE a person who experiences interdependency with others so that the interests of the whole group are best served (SFS 501, 502, 504; PRA 530; CNS 512).

  • appreciates different temperaments and gifts;
  • a "life participant" in a body of believers;
  • appropriately ecumenical in advancing God's kingdom.

KNOW significant themes and developments within biblical history to understand the "bigger picture" of God's redemptive program (BLS 501-502/03).

KNOW the tenets of historic orthodoxy (THS 501-503).

  • how to defend them biblically;
  • how each can be meaningfully communicated to contemporary society;
  • the primary implications of each for ministry;
  • articulate a personal theology;
  • a method for addressing theologically contemporary issues confronting the church and society.

KNOW at an introductory level assessment measures available to mental health practitioners (CNS 525).

  • be sensitive to ethics related to testing and interpretation of results;
  • have an increased self awareness of mental, emotional, and spiritual functioning by having taken, scored, and evaluated a variety of testing instruments.

KNOW his/her personal strengths, weaknesses, and other elements of individuality that can help or hinder ministry effectiveness (PRA 530; CNS 512; CNS 525; CNS 530-534).

  • strengths and liabilities of temperament, and an ability to talk about them in an open and non-defended manner;
  • areas of primary gifting;
  • awareness of appropriate ministry roles in light of gifting and temperament;
  • awareness of when to seek help for continued personal growth;
  • gives and receives peer and professional feedback regarding personal and professional issues.

KNOW the major theories of counseling and personality development (CNS 503; CNS 504; CNS 505; CNS 507; CNS 512).

  • major themes of development across the life-span and how they impact the helping relationship;
  • the unique contributions of the major counseling theories;
  • the systems approach to working with families and be able to apply;
  • principles of group dynamics and be able to apply principles in educational, therapeutic and support groups;
  • foundational issues of work and career decision making.

KNOW HOW to utilize the fundamental principles of hermeneutics to interpret and apply biblical texts accurately (DBS 506).

  • fundamental principles of hermeneutics;
  • methods of inductive/exegetical Bible study.

KNOW HOW to effectively integrate his/her understanding of theology, spirituality and human behavior (CNS 508; CNS 534).

  • awareness of world view components and can articulate their own beliefs;
  • understands their personal theology and spirituality;
  • has a coherent theory of human personality.

KNOW HOW to recognize and competently handle intercultural issues in counseling (CNS 501; CNS 513).

  • developed sensitivity to social, spiritual, psychological, and physical issues pertinent to a counselor working with ethnic minority clients;
  • an increased awareness of personal cultural worldview and how it affects multicultural interactions;
  • have developed a biblical framework for viewing cross-cultural interactions.

KNOW HOW to think critically so that various truth claims can be effectively evaluated (THS 501-503; CNS 508; overarching).

  • awareness of world view components and can articulate their own beliefs;
  • familiarity with the unique contributions of world view systems other than their own.

KNOW HOW to build an effective therapeutic relationship (CNS 501; CNS 530).

  • mastery of the basic helping skills;
  • mastery of empathy development;
  • maintain an awareness of therapist variables impacting counseling sessions;
  • provide an elementary assessment of therapist listening skills.

KNOW HOW to accurately diagnose the major mental disorders and KNOW HOW to establish and implement an effective treatment plan for each (CNS 503; CNS 505; CNS 531; CNS 532)

  • working knowledge of the DSM IV;
  • familiarity with standard treatment approaches;
  • ability to formulate and implement treatment goals and objectives.

KNOW HOW to identify and confront ethical dilemmas (CNS 506; CNS 530-534):

  • have developed a model for decision making to be used when confronted with ethical dilemmas;
  • be familiar with pertinent professional ethical codes;
  • have developed forms appropriate for use in professional practice;
  • be familiar with ethical issues that are of particular significance to Christian counselors.

KNOW HOW to articulate a theology of marriage and apply theological and psychological principles in working with couples (CNS 511).

KNOW HOW to build upon his/her seminary training to be a true life-long learner (CNS 530-534; overarching).