BCOU 400 Contemporary Issues in Biblical Counseling

This class reviews contemporary issues in biblical counseling. These issues could include but are not limited to, philosophical and scientific assessment of the human person, human sexuality, ability for human change, and contemporary mental health issues. The goal of the class is for the biblical counselor to understand the cultural moment and speak competently to the contemporary moment as a biblical counselor.

The contemporary mental health crisis continues to be a pressing issue. The field of mental health counselors offers various assessments of the problem and the best treatment plans for pressing mental health concerns. This class prepares the biblical counselor to more fully address these issues and develop an appropriate response as a biblical counselor. 

Textbook readings and lecture presentations/notes

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (3)

Each Students will be asked to select a discussion topic from those listed (there will be a discussion topic relevant to each chapter listed for the week) and reply to two classmates, at least one of which has to be on a different chapter than the one selected for the original posting. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F)

Reflection Paper Assignments (3)

Each Student will be required to submit a 2-3 page paper in Turabian format with in-text citations from the selected chapter, sharing a critical reflection of the information from the chapter and how they (the student) would apply the chapter information to a counseling situation. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F)

Topic Paper Assignment

Students will pick a topic from the readings and write an 8-10 page paper, in Turabian format, integrating at least 3 peer-reviewed journal articles, on the topic. Students will provide an introduction of the topic, an analysis of the topic based on the readings and the selected sources, an application section of how the topic would apply in counseling within the church, and a conclusion. The page count is exclusive of the over page and Bibliography. (CLO: E, F)

Quiz: Exam on the DSM-5-TR

Excerpts from the DSM-5-TR will be supplied as part of the reading. There will be 25 objective questions, worth 4 points, each on the symptoms and diagnostic requirements for obsessive-compulsive disorder and bipolar disorder I and II. (CLO: C, F)