CCOU 201 Introduction to Christian Counseling

This course serves as an introduction to biblical counseling and helping ministry with special attention given to tough issues that pain today’s generations, the modern-day search for answers, and the biblical basis for a counseling ministry.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

This course is designed to equip the student to identify and distinguish counseling models that quantify Christian counseling. The content is designed to deliver essential knowledge and skill to help the student become proficient in helping within a Christian ministry context. The course provides the student with an overview of basic resources and knowledge that apply to a broad scope of counseling issues; secondly, it presents practical biblical counseling models and skills to address those issues.

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

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.

Discussion: Anger

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to provide a thread in response to the provided prompt. The thread must be 300–500 words, demonstrate course-related knowledge, and include at least 1 citation from the textbook and 1 citation from the Bible. The Christian worldview and biblical themes should be integrated as appropriate. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 classmates’ threads, focusing on a meaningful point and including substantive additional thoughts and class material in response to the provided prompt. Each reply must be 150–250 words and include at least 1 citation from the textbook and 1 citation from the Bible. All citations should be in current APA format. The student must meet all other writing expectations in the assignment instructions and grading rubric. (CLO: B, E, F)

AI vs. Textbook Comparison Assignment

The student will use an AI tool (such as Microsoft Copilot) to generate ideas about counseling and then compare them to information in Chapter 1 of the textbook. This activity will help the student practice evaluating AI-generated content, integrate textbook learning, and use APA citations. The student will ask the AI for 3 key goals of counseling and compare them to 3 key goals from the textbook by creating a 2-column comparison chart and writing a 200–300-word reflection. The student must address at least 1 biblical goal of counseling the AI missed, supported by at least 1 Scripture passage. The textbook, the Bible, and the AI tool used must be properly cited. The assignment will include a title page, a reference page, and in-text citations in current APA format. The student must fully address all prompts with multiple supporting details/examples and meet all other writing and formatting expectations in the assignment instructions and grading rubric. (CLO: A, C, E)

Short Essay Assignments (2)

The student will submit 2 short essays, of 300–500 words each, addressing topics provided. The essays will be in current APA format and include a title page, a reference page, and in-text citations. Each essay will review a different topic from the text and will also link each topic with Scripture. Both the textbook and Bible should be properly cited in current APA format. The student must meet all other writing and formatting expectations in the assignment instructions and grading rubric. (CLO: A, B, D, E, F)

Helping Relationships Reflection Assignment

The student will reflect on information in Chapter 3 of the textbook and compare how Christian counseling approaches to helping relationships differ from secular counseling. The student will also connect learning to Scripture and a related peer-reviewed scholarly article and then share how they might apply these insights in their own life or ministry in a 400–600-word paper (not including the title page and reference page). The student will use the prompts and section headings (Level 1 APA headings) in the assignment instructions. The textbook, the Bible, and the scholarly article used must be properly cited. The assignment will include a title page, a reference page, and in-text citations in current APA format. All sources must be scholarly, reliable, and well integrated. The student must meet all other writing and formatting expectations in the assignment instructions and grading rubric. (CLO: B, C, D, E)

Depression and Bipolar Disorder Myths Assignment

The student will use an AI tool (e.g., Microsoft Copilot) to generate 12 common myths or misconceptions related to depression and bipolar disorder and will select 6 myths to evaluate. For each selected myth, the student will use Chapter 7 of the textbook and scholarly research to explain what the evidence says and will provide a biblically informed Christian response that considers appropriate support, careful use of Scripture or prayer, and when professional help may be needed. The student will use at least 6 different peer-reviewed scholarly journal articles across the assignment and will complete a 300–400-word reflection on what was learned through the evaluation process. The assignment will include a title page, reference page, in-text citations in current APA format, and an Appendix containing the complete AI prompt and list of 12 generated myths. The student will use the required template and meet all other writing and formatting expectations in the assignment instructions and grading rubric. (CLO: A, B, E, F)

Vision Board and Reflection Assignment

The student will create a vision board that represents his/her understanding of Christian counseling. The vision board will include at least 12 elements illustrating major counseling issues, diverse populations (including 1 personally chosen group), Christian vs. secular approaches, and biblical principles they see as central to counseling practice. Alongside the visual project, the student will write a short 1–2-page reflection paper (not including the title page and reference page) explaining his/her choices, following the prompts in the assignment instructions. The student must support his/her responses with the textbook, Scripture, and at least 1 outside scholarly source where required. The reflection paper will include a title page, a reference page, and in-text citations in current APA format. The vision board must be created from low-tech materials as described in the assignment instructions. Creative and thoughtful integration of visuals, Scripture, and counseling concepts must be present. The student will upload a clear photo of the vision board with his/her reflection paper. The student must meet all other writing and formatting expectations in the assignment instructions and grading rubric. (CLO: C, D, E, F)

Quizzes (4)

Each quiz will cover the Learn material for the assigned modules. Each quiz will contain 25 multiple-choice and true/false questions, have a 40-minute time limit, and allow 1 attempt. (CLO: A, B, E, F)