The MCC program is divided into three semesters. Students will take core courses, electives, practical counseling labs, and research seminars. A final dissertation is required.

• Total Credit Hours: 36–42

• Course Load per Semester: 6–7 courses (approx. 12–14 credit hours)

Sample Course Areas

• Biblical and Theological Foundations of Counseling

• Christian Counseling Theories and Methods

• Marriage and Family Counseling

• Pastoral Care and Crisis Counseling

• Psychology for Christian Counselors

• Counseling Ethics and Professional Practice

• Trauma and Addiction Counseling

• Research Methods in Counseling

Dissertation Requirement

The dissertation is a major requirement of the MCC program, designed to demonstrate a student’s ability to conduct original research in Christian counseling and integrate theory with practice.

Requirements:

• Credit Hours: 6 (part of total credits)

• Length: 20,000 – 30,000 words (depending on institutional guidelines)

• Format: APA 7th edition (or school’s academic style manual)

• Supervision: Each student is assigned a faculty supervisor for guidance.

• Stages:

1. Proposal Submission & Approval (Topic, Objectives, Methodology)

2. Research & Data Collection (Biblical, theological, empirical, or qualitative/quantitative research)

3. Writing & Draft Submission

4. Defense (Viva Voce) – Oral presentation before faculty panel

5. Final Submission – Bound hard copy + digital copy to library/archives

Focus Areas for Dissertation May Include:

• The role of Christian counseling in strengthening marriages and families

• Integrating biblical principles into addiction recovery programs

• The effectiveness of pastoral counseling in trauma healing

• Counseling interventions for grief and loss in the church

• A theological framework for addressing mental health in Christian communities

• Cross-cultural perspectives in Christian counseling practice