Counselling

Bachelor of Theology (Counselling Stream)

The BTh with a focus in Christian counselling is 60 per cent theology and 40 per cent counselling psychology, providing advanced training for Christian and pastoral counsellors that integrates theology and counselling from a Bible-based, Christ-centred, Spirit-led perspective. If you complete this programme, you will not only be well-equipped to help hurting people, but you will also be able to register with as an Intermediate Religious Professional in Christian Pastoral Counselling with the Council for Pastoral and Spiritual Counsellors.

If you choose to do the BTh with a counselling focus, you will complete the 18 compulsory theology courses and 12 counselling courses. Due to the higher level of lecturer engagement required to teach counselling courses, the price for the counselling electives is slightly higher than the cost of the other BTh courses. You will need to purchase a few textbooks, which you will use during all the counselling courses.

What Textbooks Do I Need?

Please acquire them before you start your first counselling course:

For your first-year subjects, you are required to purchase the following textbook:

  • Collins, G. 2019. Christian Counseling – a Comprehensive Guide (Third Edition). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (The 2007 hard copy of Collins’ text is also acceptable.)

For your third-year compulsory subject, BCC3122 Problem Solving and Opportunity Development Counselling, you will need the following text:

Egan, G., & Reese, R. J. (2023). The Skilled Helper (4th ed.)

E-book is available on the following platforms:

· Cengage

· VitalSource

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Do I Qualify?

Please note that you may not register for the BTh (Counselling) programme if you are currently registered for a cognate programme at another institution.

To register for the BTh, you need to have a school-leaving certificate that grants university access. In South Africa, this is a National Senior Certificate (NSC) with four subjects at a rating of 4 (50-59 per cent) or higher. If you have an accredited tertiary qualification, we accept that in lieu of a school-leaving certificate. If you do not qualify for direct admission to the BTh, you can start with the Higher Certificate in Christian Counselling.

Courses

Programme requirements

Compulsory Courses

These are the courses that you must do in order to graduate from the BThC. If you earn 360 credits but do not have all of them as completed courses, you will not be eligible to graduate. In addition to your compulsory courses, you must choose 2 electives each from the available 2nd and 3rd year courses.

Total Credits (360)

The BThC requires that you earn a minimum of 360 total credits (30 x 12-credit courses).

Additional requirements

  1. Exit-Level Credits (120)
    120 credits required

    To graduate with the BThC, you must have at least 120 third-year credits in your completed subjects. If you have 360 total credits, but less than 120 third-year credits, you will not be able to graduate. The first number in the course code indicates the year level (e.g., BIB3124 is a third-year course because the first number is a 3). Note: If you have not yet taken any third-year courses, this bar will not show anything—it only works when you have at least one third-year subject.

Select a year below to view its courses.

Code
Course
Credits
Compulsory Courses10
BIB1121How to study the Bible12 credits
BIB1123The Words and Works of Jesus12 credits
HCC1120Biblical Basis of Christian Counselling 12 credits
HCC1121Theoretical Foundations of Christian Counselling12 credits
HCC1122Ethics in Christian Counselling12 credits
HCC1123Christian Counselling and Human Development12 credits
PRA1122Introduction to Youth Ministry12 credits
THE1120Introduction to Theology12 credits
THE1121Christian Foundations12 credits
THE1122Biblical Worldview12 credits
Elective Courses9
CCC1121Human Development and Christian Counselling12 credits
CCC1123Introduction to Crisis & Trauma Counselling12 credits
CCC1124Introduction to Domestic Violence and Abuse12 credits
CCC1125Introduction to Wellness Counselling12 credits
CCC1126Introduction to Addictions Counselling12 credits
CCC1127Excellence in Christian Counselling - Ethical and Legal Issues12 credits
CCC1128Theoretical Foundations of Christian Counselling12 credits
CCC1129Biblical Basis and Introduction to Christian Counselling12 credits
HCC1125Christian Counselling Skills 212 credits

Minimum study requirements: You are required to complete 48 credits of study every 12 months (commencing with date of enrolment).

Important Notice: To stay on track, take no more than four counselling courses per year, complete all the compulsory courses, and make sure that you earn 120 credits (6 theology and 4 counselling) at a third-year level to graduate.

Timetable

Courses that run every term:


Courses that run terms 1 and 3


Courses that run terms 2 and 4

Rules for Assessment, Credit Accumulation, Progression and Qualification

Assessment

Unless otherwise indicated, the pass mark for all assessment tasks is 50%. To pass a course, you must maintain a grade average of 50% or above.


Credit Accumulation And Qualification

Each undergraduate course is worth 12 credits, which will accrue towards your qualification. When you complete your studies, whether or not you have earned a qualification, you will be issued with a transcript detailing all your courses and the credits you have earned.

You need to accumulate 120 credits to be awarded a qualification at Higher Certificate level and 360 credits for a Bachelor of Theology. The Bachelor of Theology Honours requires 120 credits above a Bachelor’s degree. An additional 180 credits are needed to obtain the Master's degree (i.e., 660 credits in total), and a further 360 credits for the Doctor of Philosophy degree.

Progression

Once you have met all the requirements for your chosen qualification, you will be awarded the qualification.

Advntages of studying with SATS

When you enrol at SATS, you meet a team of committed believers who are passionate about serving Jesus by serving you. Our team is creative, innovative, dedicated, and enthusiastic about the way they teach and serve your study needs. When you enrol at SATS, you can expect to

  • grow under the teaching of a seminary and a team of lecturers who believe the Bible and love the Lord (Luke 6:40);

  • receive an accredited qualification that is respected worldwide;

  • love the convenience of instant online access to everything you need for your studies;

  • experience a challenging programme that maintains high academic standards;

  • enjoy fast, friendly service from academic and administrative staff;

  • join a seminary that responds to the needs and inputs of its students;

  • interact with peers from all around the world who love Jesus, making new friends in the process;

  • learn from a diverse team of highly qualified academics who love Jesus and the truth;

  • grow with a ministry that is innovative in its use of technology;

  • benefit from a programme that is simultaneously thoroughly biblical and deeply practical;

  • engage with lecturers who are actively engaged in theological research;

  • and rest in the knowledge that our staff prays daily for our students.

How much does it cost?

Click here to see the Full Price List for all programmes

Kindly note that all fees paid to SATS are non-refundable.

Complete our online application form, or contact us.