Religion Degrees Online

Graduate theology and religious studies schools offer students many options when it comes to what they can study. Some theology and religious studies graduate programs are interdisciplinary and cover fields such as history, ethics, literature and humanities. Students can focus their graduate theology and religious studies program coursework on missiology, ministry or religious studies in general, or can tailor their education to a specific demonization. And those who would like to go into counseling can choose a graduate theology and religious studies program in pastoral counseling or marriage and family counseling.

As you can see, there is an array of careers available to those who earn a masters or PhD in theology and religious studies, so use this page to find the ideal one for your interests.

The Associate of Arts Degree is designed for the student who desires a strong biblical foundation in preparation for further study at another college or effective ministry within the local church. A core of Bible, ministry, and general education courses enable the student to gain a solid foundation for life and ministry.

Total Program Requirements 64 credit hours

Bible Core 22 credit hours
Ministry Core 9 credit hours
General Education Core 30 credit hours
Electives 3 credit hours

Student Ministry Training 4 semesters

Course Outlines

Bible Core 22 credit hours
BI 131 Principles of Inductive Bible Study 3
BI 132 Principles of Biblical Interpretation 3
BI 133 Old Testament Survey 3
BI 134 New Testament Survey 3
BI 135 Doctrinal Survey I 2
BI 136 Doctrinal Survey II 2
BI 231 Pentateuch 3
BI 232 Life of Christ 3

Ministry Core Courses 9 credit hours
MN 191 Foundations for Life and Ministry 3
MN 192 Evangelism and Discipleship 3
MI 292 Missiology 3

General Education Core Courses 30 credit hours
CM 101 Speech 3
EN 101 English Composition I 3
EN 202 English Composition II 2
EN 203 Introduction to Literature 3
HI 202 Survey of Western Civilization 3
MA 202 College Algebra 3
PE 101 or 102 1
SC 201 Introduction to Meteorology 3
SS 102 Developing Interpersonal Relationships 3
SS 201 Marriage and Family 3

Electives 3 credit hoursStudent Ministry Training 4 semesters

The Bible and Ministry Certificate is designed for the student who desires a strong biblical and ministry foundation in preparation for effective ministry within the local church and community. A core of Bible and ministry courses enables the student to gain a solid foundation in preparation for Christian ministry.

Total Program Requirements 58 credit hours

Bible Core 22 credit hours
Ministry Core 14 credit hours
Bible or Ministry Electives 11 credit hours
General Education Core 11 credit hours

Student Ministry Training 4 semesters

Course Outlines
Bible Core 22 credit hours
BI 131 Principles of Inductive Bible Study 3
BI 132 Principles of Biblical Interpretation 3
BI 133 Old Testament Survey 3
BI 134 New Testament Survey 3
BI 135 Doctrinal Survey I 2
BI 136 Doctrinal Survey II 2
BI 231 Pentateuch 3
BI 232 Life of Christ 3

Ministry Core Courses 14 credit hours
MN 191 Foundations for Life and Ministry 3
MN 192 Evangelism and Discipleship 3
MN 291 Christian Teaching Ministry 3
MI 292 Missiology 3
MN 294 Worship & Music 2

General Education Core Courses 11 credit hours
EN 101 English Composition I 3
EN 202 English Composition II 2
SS 102 Developing Interpersonal Relationships 3
SS 201 Marriage and Family 3

Bible or Ministry Electives 11 credit hoursStudent Ministry Training 4 semesters

Youth and Family Ministry – Degree Requirements
Youth and Family Ministry Major

Fourteen courses including:

Theology Core
REL 210 Research Methods in Religion
REL 301 Interpreting the Old Testament
REL 302 Interpreting the New Testament
REL 362 Theology of the Reformers
REL 481 Contemporary Theology
REL 495 Religion Seminar/Keystone

Ministry Core
YFM 208 Vocational Formation I (0 credit)
YFM 209 Vocational Formation II (0 credit)
YFM 235 Foundations for Ministry with Youth and Families
YFM 302 Ministry Practices
YFM 358 Life and Work of the Church
YFM 399 Internship
Religion/Theology Electives (students choose one)
REL 345 The Lutheran Heritage
REL 343 Theology of Marriage and Family
REL 363 Religion in America
REL 356 World Religions
REL 357 Giants of Christian Faith
REL 425 Christian Spiritual Practices

Exploring Topics in Youth and Family Ministry
(students choose 2 of these .5 credit courses; not all courses are offered in a given year; additional .5 credit courses may be added)

YFM 205.1 Ministry in the Great Outdoors
YFM 205.2 Mission Trips and Service-Learning
YFM 205.3 Media, Music and Ministry
YFM 205.4 Youth Culture and Religion
YFM 205.5 Urban Youth Ministry
YFM 205.6 Youth Ministry on the Margins
Social Science Courses
PSY 105 Principles of Psychology
SOC 231 Family Systems
PSY 250 Child Development or PSY 252 Adolescent and Young Adult Development or SWK 260 Humans Developing
Augsburg College YFM majors may also participate in the Lilly Scholars Program as well as any one Study abroad program offered by the Religion Department.

Youth and Family Ministry Minor
The Youth and Family Ministry Minor is perfect for students who, though majoring in another discipline, may have interests in ministry with youth and their families. The requirements for the Youth and Family Ministry minor are:
REL 301 Interpreting the Old Testament or REL 302 Interpreting the New Testament
REL 362 Theology of the Reformers or REL 481 Contemporary Theology
YFM 235 Basics of Youth and Family Ministry
YFM 302 Ministry Practices
YFM 358 Life and Work of the Church
A student with a youth and family ministry major or minor may not also major or minor in religion.

Religion Major/Minor
See description on Religion department webpage.

Prerequisites
Religion 100 (or 300 for advanced transfer students) is prerequisite to all other courses.

Graduation Requirements
Courses designated REL and YFM are offered by the religion department. A maximum of 13 total REL and YFM courses may be applied toward the 32-course requirement for graduation. Taking extra electives in REL or YFM may require students to complete more than the minimum 32 courses required for graduation.

Transfer Courses
All transfer courses for majors and minors, including ACTC courses, must be approved in writing by the chair. Only courses successfully completed (2.0 or above) within the last 10 years will be considered. In general, courses that meet the transfer guidelines may only be applied to elective credit for the major. Students who have taken an approved introductory course in Bible and/or Christian theology at another college may take REL 300 in place of the College REL 100 and 200 requirement; consult the registrar’s office.

Program Requirements
65 credits for the Associate of Arts degree

Biblical and Theological Studies: (37 Credits)
BIBL 150 Old Testament History Literature 3
BIBL 151 New Testament History and Literature 3
BIBL 152 Life of Christ 2
BIBL 153 Acts 2
BIBL Old Testament Bible Elective 3
BIBL New Testament Bible Elective 3
BIBL 253 Hermeneutics 3
HITH 151 Pentecostal Heritage 2
ITCS 101 Introduction to Missions 2
PMIN 150 Personal Evangelism 2
THEO 161 Introduction to Theology 2
THEO 162 Christianity and Culture 2
THEO 251 Systematic Theology I: Scripture, God, Creation 3
THEO 252 Systematic Theology II: Humanity, Sin, Christ, Salvation 3
THEO 254 Ethics 2

General Education: (28 Credits)
BUSI 158 Personal Finance 3
COMM 210 Fundamentals of Speech 3
ENGL 111 English Composition I 3
ENGL 112 English Composition II 3
HIST History Elective 3
MATH 111 College Math OR 3
MATH 200 College Algebra
PHED 110 Health Concepts 1
PMIN 101 Spiritual Formation 1
PSYC 101 Introduction to College 2
PSYC 210 General Psychology 3
SOCI 213 Marriage and Family 3

Master of Arts (M.A.) in Christian Counseling

The objectives of the Master of Arts in Christian Clinical Counseling program is to produce students able to:
Through the gifts of Christ, minister to persons in need by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Cultivate competency in human services that can only result from cooperation with the Holy Spirit in obedience to God.
Develop expertise in the various functions of the counseling, marriage and family or social services within the Christian community.
Clarify the student’s sense of identity and mission.
Verify the skills and competency by actual practice of counseling.
Determine one’s readiness for working in Christian human services.

This program consists of fifty-two credit hours of study; clinical supervision; 600 hours of counseling practicum with an approved Christian counselor or psychologist; and a thesis. Individuals who fulfill the program’s requirements will receive the Master of Arts in Christian Counseling degree.

This is the breakdown of the core curriculum for the graduate major in Christian Counseling:

Breakdown of core curriculum

Class Class Description Credits
CCO 608 Legal Issues I 3 Credits
CCO 609 Legal Issues II 3 Credits
CCO 610 Law for the Christian Counselor 3 Credits
CCO 616 Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 3 Credits
CCO 622 Mediation 3 Credits
CCO 624 Administrative & Organizational Procedures 3 Credits
CCO 626 Statistics 3 Credits
CCO 631 Critical Problems in Children & Youth 3 Credits
CCO 632 Modern Psychotherapies 3 Credits
CCO 634 Marriage Counseling 3 Credits
CCO 652 Christian Counseling 3 Credits
PSY 612 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders 3 Credits
CED 612 Writing Research Papers Across the Curriculum 3 Credits

Lab Work 6 Credits
Thesis 6 Credits
Total: 51 Credits

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Christian Counseling
Course work in Christian Counseling and Christian Marriage and Family Counseling prepares our students to attend to issues of faith and spirituality while addressing the mental health needs of persons. SFBC&TS Counseling programs integrates faith and reasoning in the helping profession.

Graduates should be able to:
Demonstrate the ability to provide counseling services to the church and community.
Be prepared to contribute to the development of knowledge as it relates to integrating faith and reasoning.
Be equipped to apply insights of Christian theology along with the knowledge and techniques of the behavioral sciences.

This program of study consists of forty-two credit hours of study and counseling practicum. The student must hold a masters degree in a related field of study and have a minimum 600 hours of clinical experience.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Christian Clinical Counseling
Course work in Clinical Christian Counseling and Christian Marriage and Family Counseling prepares our students to attend to issues of faith and spirituality while addressing the mental health needs of persons. SFBC&TS Counseling programs integrates faith and reasoning in the helping profession.

Graduates should be able to:
Demonstrate the ability to provide mental health services to the church and community.
Be prepared to contribute to the development of knowledge as it relates to integrating faith and reasoning.
Be equipped to apply insights of Christian theology along with the knowledge and techniques of the behavioral sciences.

This program of study consists of sixty credit hours of study and practicum. The student must hold a masters degree in a related field of study, have a minimum of seven years of full-time, paid, occupational life learning experience related to the counselingmajor.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Christian Marriage and Family Counseling
Course work in Clinical Christian Counseling and Christian Marriage and Family Counseling prepares our students to attend to issues of faith and spirituality while addressing the mental health needs of persons. SFBC&TS Counseling programs integrates faith and reasoning in the helping profession.
Graduates should be able to:

Demonstrate the ability to provide counseling services to the church and community.
Be prepared to contribute to the development of knowledge as it relates to integrating faith and reasoning.
Be equipped to apply insights of Christian theology along with the knowledge and techniques of the behavioral sciences.

This program of study consists of sixty credit hours of study and counseling practicum. The student must hold a masters degree in a related field of study, have a minimum of one year, full time post-masters clinical experience.
Program Requirements
Sixty credit hours of directed and independent studies that include documented research and reading of 20,000 pages (i.e., a minimum bibliography of sixty books and journal articles).

The dissertation must be typewritten, double spaced, and not less than 150 pages, covering a topic in the student’s field of study.

Two thousand hours of internship with a mental health provider; i.e., licensed Christian counselor, psychologist, etc., approved by the Provost Office.

Certified by New York State, the Certificate in Religious Studies offered by St. Joseph’s College is designed for those wishing to deepen their study of religion for their own personal development and/or to serve in church-related ministries. The program consists of 18 credits, six of which are required religious studies core courses. The remaining 12 credits are electives to be chosen from courses offered by the Religious Studies and, where appropriate, the Psychology and Social Sciences Departments, with an advisor’s approval and based on the student’s individual needs and interests. The program is available at both the Brooklyn and Long Island Campuses and is open to members of the community who wish to pursue this certificate as a matriculated or non-matriculated student.

Who is the Program Intended For?
Matriculated or non-matriculated students.
Students who wish to study religion in greater depth for their own personal enrichment.
Laypersons serving or planning to serve in church- or parish-affiliated fields such as religious education, youth ministry, social outreach, marriage preparation and family ministry.
Those seeking a broader theological background that will better equip them for the work they are already doing.

Tuition
The normal College tuition is $405 per credit. However, the College will offer a one-third discount to anyone who is currently engaged in a church- or parish-affiliated ministry. A letter from your church will be needed to verify that you qualify for this discount.

Which Courses Must I Complete?
To obtain the Certificate in Religious Studies, students must complete two required courses: RS 130-Encountering God in Faith, and RS 173–The Quest for God. The remaining 12 credits can be any combination of courses from the Religious Studies Department. These can be focused on a particular area, such as scripture, ethics, morality and social justice, youth ministry, marriage and family ministry or social outreach. Some psychology and sociology courses, such as Adolescent Psychology, Group Dynamics, Sociology of the Family or Introduction to Social Work, can also be taken as part of the combination.