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Master of Divinity/Master of Arts in Counseling Dual Degree
This degree is an academic program for graduates who seek to enter the ministry with skills in both theology and in counseling. Students accepted into the dual degree program would be able to complete the requirements for both the Divinity and Master of Arts in Counseling degrees in four years instead of the usual five years. In this combined program, neither the M.Div nor the MA in Counseling degree is compromised. The curriculum is in line with the accreditation bodies of both partners. Graduates would also meet the educational requirements of licensure as professional counselors in North Carolina and in most other states.
Course Requirements and Structure of the program
Students in the dual degree program will spend the first two years of the four year program in the Divinity School . The second two years of the dual degree program will be spent satisfying the requirements of the Masters in Counseling program.
- Divinity Requirements: First Two Years. The Divinity School 's regular Program of Study requires 67 Hours of core courses and 23 hours of general electives for a total of 90 hours. The program of study for dual degree students would include 54 Hours of core courses (with Art II requirement met in CNS Internships, Multicultural requirements met either in CPE , Vienna, or CNS Cultures course) and a minimum of 9 hours of electives in the Divinity School plus successful completion of 27 graduate hours of electives in the Counseling Department for a total of 90 hours.
- Counseling Requirements: Second Two Years. The Department of Counseling's Program of Study requires 41 hours of Core Courses, 8 hours of Clinical Courses, 9 hours in a Program Specialty Area and at least 3 hours of electives for a total of 60 hours. The program of study for dual degree students would be the same as those students in the Community Counseling Program Specialty Area.
- Upon successful completion of the counseling program, students will receive both the Masters of Divinity and the Masters of Arts in Counseling degrees.
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Requirements
Link to Course Requirements for Dual Degree
Admissions
Up to three students per year will be admitted to the M.Div./M.A.-Counseling dual degree program. Applicants must be accepted for admission by both the Department of Counseling and by the Divinity School . Applicants are required to submit applications to both schools by January 15. Applications for the Counseling Program are submitted through the Graduate School of Arts and Science at www.wfu.edu/graduate . Applications for the Divinity School are submitted directly to the Divinity School . www.wfu.edu/divinity . Highly qualified applicants will be interviewed separately by the admissions committees of each school. After the interview phase, a joint admissions committee composed of members from both schools will make the final selection. Unsuccessful applicants to the dual degree program have the option of applying to the Divinity School by May 1 but would have to wait until January of the following year to apply for admission to the Department of Counseling or reapply to the dual degree program.
Continuation in the program
A joint committee composed of faculty from both schools will meet each semester to review the academic, personal and professional progress of degree students. Satisfactory academic progress is defined as maintaining a B or better grade point average. Expectations of personal and professional behaviors and/or attitudes are outlined in the Department of Counseling “Evaluation and Continuation Policy.”
Oversight Committee
An oversight committee composed of faculty from both counseling and divinity will manage program details.
Benefits of the dual degree
Meets the demand from consumers and employers.
- The dual degree will meet an increasing demand from students for such a program. Both the school and the department are receiving increasing numbers of inquiries from those who are interested in obtaining both Divinity and Counseling degrees. Several persons in the application pools for the Counseling degree had Master's of Divinity degrees. Six of thirty current counseling students are graduates of divinity schools.
- Graduates will meet the licensure requirements of managed care panels. In order to receive reimbursement for most mental health care services, providers must be admitted to managed care panels. Graduates of the dual degree program will be very valuable to churches and other spiritually based counseling providers because they are licensable and well educated.
- Increasingly ministers and other church personnel are called upon to attend to the mental, emotional and relational needs of their members in addition to their spiritual needs. According to a 2000 national political survey, 75 percent of respondents say it is important to see a professional counselor who integrates their values and beliefs into the counseling process.
- Douglas Ronsheim, the executive director of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, cites a growing need for the trained, licensed professionals that a program like ours would produce in his letter of support.
- Rev. R.J. Ross, President of the Samaritan Institute, in his letter applauded our efforts to establish the dual degree and says there is a significant need for a program that meets the academic requirements for state licensing and provides its students with a basic understanding of major faith groups.
- Steve Scoggin, President of Baptist Hospital CareNet Counseling Centers, wrote that "a combined professional degree program could fill a current need in CareNet for staffing our next generation of clinical staff. Nationally, there will shortages of dually trained clinical counselors."
Supports Pro Humanitate and fosters cross-campus collaboration.
- The dual M.Div./M.A. degree provides an opportunity for the university to act according to its clearest value: Pro Humanitate. Those graduates will be well prepared to serve humanity in many settings. The mission and program statements in Divinity and in Counseling share many common objectives with the university. Both programs foster academic excellence; acknowledge the importance of understanding diverse religious, cultural and ethnic perspectives; and strive to promote personal growth.
- A major study released in March 2000 concluded that "Wake Forest should concentrate its graduate study resources on doctoral and "carefully selected" masters programs that reflect the research strengths of the faculty, involve cross-campus collaboration and are of the highest quality." This collaborative degree program will utilize the best of the existing curricula in Divinity and Counseling to prepare students for careers in ministry and in mental health. It would also partner with counseling entities at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center such as Pastoral Care and CareNet.
- The dual degree program would offer opportunities for collaboration in research and course offerings. A collaborative undertaking of this nature will create opportunities for funding, research, and faculty development. Possibilities for shared courses and lectureships that benefit Divinity, Counseling, and the broader university may also grow from the combined effort.
Offers a distinctive program of high quality at a low cost.
- Uniqueness. There are no M.Div./M.A. in Counseling dual degree programs at universities with the academic credentials of Wake Forest. The closest model is a joint social work/divinity degree program at Duke and at UNC-Chapel Hill. Wake Forest would be a leader with this dual degree.
- The dual degree program utilizes courses, facilities and faculties already in place.
In summary, the faculties of the Divinity School and the Department of Counseling believe the Master of Divinity/Master of Arts in Counseling degree will be a distinctive program that would utilize the strengths of both departments to produce marketable and valued graduates.
