SATS is excited to offer a new concentration in our BTh, namely, Christian counselling. 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 have a fixed curriculum. You will complete the 18 compulsory theology courses and your 12 compulsory 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 five textbooks, which you will use during all the counselling courses.
What Textbooks Do I Need?
The SATS counselling programmes require the purchase of the following textbooks:
- McMinn, M. & Campbell, C. 2007. Integrative Psychotherapy – toward a comprehensive Christian Approach. InterVarsity Press.
- Collins, G. 2007. Christian Counseling – a Comprehensive Guide (Third Edition). Thomas Nelson.
- Meier, Minirth, Wichern & Ratcliff. 1999. Introduction to Psychology and Counseling: Christian Perspectives and Applications. 2nd Baker Books.
- Tan, S. & Scalise, E.T. 2016. Lay Counseling: Equipping Christians for a Helping Ministry (Revised and Updated).
- Tan, Siang-Yang, 2011. Counseling and Psychotherapy: A Christian Perspective. Baker Publishing.
All five books are available on Kindle (Amazon) in Digital format for immediate download. Please acquire the textbooks before you start your first counselling course.
Do I Qualify?
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 Life.
BTh First Year
These courses are compulsory:
- BIB1121 How to Study the Bible
- BIB1123 The Words and Works of Jesus
- PRA1122 Introduction to Youth Ministry
- THE1120 Introduction to Theology
- THE1121 Christian Foundations
- THE1122 Biblical Worldview
- CCC1121 Human Development and Christian Counselling
- CCC1127 Excellence in Christian Counselling – Ethical and Legal Issues
- CCC1128 Theoretical Foundations of Christian Counselling
- CCC1129 Biblical Basis and Introduction to Christian Counselling
Minimum study requirements: You are required to complete 48 credits of study every 12 months (commencing with date of enrolment).
BTh Second Year
These courses are compulsory:
- BIB2121 Hermeneutics (Prerequisite for PRA2123)
- BIB2123 The Historical Books
- BIB2125 Paul’s Letters
- MIS2124 The Mission of God
- THE2122 The Doctrine of Man and Sin (prerequisite for THE2123)
- THE2123 The Doctrine of Salvation (prerequisite is THE2122)
