Doctorate in Christian Counselling and Spiritual Direction

Philosophy

The primary mission of the educational programmes in Christian Counselling and Spiritual Direction coursework is:

• To develop competent, critical reviewers and well-informed researchers, professors, and clinicians;
• To enhance and promote a comprehensive basis for teaching, researching and practicing Christian Counselling and Spiritual Direction;
• To promote systems that respect the diversity of client populations as well as approaches to research, teaching and clinical practice;
• To advance the body of academic literature within the field through the promotion of research outcomes and analysis, research and clinical ethics, teaching and clinical effectiveness, special populations, evidence-based practice, and mental health concerns;
• To inculcate excellence and critical thinking within the field.

Sequence

• Advanced-standing course credits may be taken before or after the student's matriculation at IUGS. Master’s students must complete their 27 credits advanced standing and doctoral students their 66 advanced-standing credits before undertaking Research and Design I.
• For doctoral students, Research I must be completed, approved and filed before work begins on Research II.
• Research and Design I (and for doctoral students Research and Design II) must be completed, approved and filed before the first draft of the Master’s Project, Thesis, Doctoral Project or Dissertation is submitted.
• The Graduate Seminar may be completed at any time during the student’s enrolment at IUGS but must be successfully completed before graduation.

Instructional strategies will include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Assigned readings of texts and academic journal articles;
• Seminar review of these assigned readings;
• Interactive lectures;
• Small group discussions, where students will be evaluated on their level of participation;
• Use of electronic media (Questia online library provided by the University and other sources selected by the student, mentor, and Dean);
• Examinations (cumulative and comprehensive examinations to ensure subject-matter