Equipping Counselors in Local Churches
New Track of Study
Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling
The MABC program is designed to equip biblical counselors for practical ministry with a balanced theological curriculum. The primary goal for the program is to train aspiring pastors who want to be better equipped in biblical counseling. The program is also intended for the benefit of non-pastors, both men and women, who desire to counsel well under the authority of local church pastors.
At CBTS, we believe that the Bible speaks authoritatively to all matters of life and godliness, and that pastoral care and counseling must flow from a robust biblical and theological foundation.
The Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling will be grounded in our confessional standards, shaped by our Reformed heritage, and centered on the local church. Students will be equipped to minister effectively in counseling contexts with a gospel-centered, Christ-exalting approach that upholds the sufficiency of Scripture in addressing the heart of human struggle.
We rejoice in this step forward and remain steadfast in our mission to serve Christ and His church by training faithful shepherds and counselors for the next generation.
Similar to the Master of Divinity program, usually only individuals who are at least 21 years of age, hold a Bachelor’s Degree and are members in good standing of an evangelical church shall be eligible for acceptance to the Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling program. Those meeting these qualifications without a Bachelor’s Degree shall be eligible for acceptance to the Diploma of Biblical Counseling program. The administration of CBTS reserves the right to waive any or all of these entrance requirements or to decline the application of any man to CBTS at its own discretion.
A total of 57 credit hours is necessary to complete this curriculum.
A Balanced Theological Curriculum for Biblical Counselors
Counseling Faculty
J. Ryan Davidson
“Counseling that rests on the Word of God, that is informed by the light of nature, and that is attentive to the complexities of humanity is a great need of our day. Training within the seminary context provides the counselor with the benefit of both theological and practical training and seeks to particularly assist those who are counseling within the context of the local church. This new program offers students the ability to learn within a Confessional context and focus their studies on the work of counseling as a supplement to the public means of grace within the context of the church.” – J. Ryan Davidson
J. Ryan Davidson holds a Ph.D. from the Free University of Amsterdam, researching pastoral theology in the early church period. He is a graduate of Samford University (B.A.), The College of William & Mary (M.Ed.), and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Th.M.). He currently pastors Grace Baptist Chapel, a Reformed Baptist Church in Hampton, VA. He is married to Christie and they have four children.
Brad Beevers
Brad Beevers holds a Ph.D. in New Testament and Hermeneutics from Westminster Theological Seminary, where he also completed his M.A. in Religion. He earned his B.A. in Religion at Swarthmore College.
Dr. Beevers has over 30 years of experience in ministry and theological education. He has written and taught extensively in the field of biblical counseling, delivered over 80 unique conference lectures, and continues to equip the church through teaching, mentoring, and writing.
Course Curriculum
Exegetical Theology
Old Testament Introduction (3 hr.)
New Testament Introduction (3 hr.)
Hermeneutics & Biblical Theology (3 hr.)
Elementary Greek I (3 hr.)
Elementary Greek II (3 hr.)
Systematic Theology
Symbolics (3 hr.)
Doctrine of the Word (2 hr.)
Doctrine of God for Counseling (2 hr.)
Doctrine of Man & Ethics (3 hr.)
Doctrine of Christ & Salvation (3 hr.)
Historical Theology
Historical Theology Overview (3 hr.)
Practical Theology
Counseling Core (total 21 hr.)
Introduction to Biblical Counseling (2 hr.)
Marriage & Family Counseling (2 hr.)
Case Studies in Biblical Counseling (2 hr.)
Dynamics of Heart Change (3 hr.)
The History of Counseling & Pastoral Care (2 hr.)
Biblical Counseling & Legal Issues (2 hr.)
Counseling & the Body (2 hr.)
Biblical Counseling in the Local Church (2 hr.)
Counseling Children & Adolescents (2 hr.)
Counseling Practicum (Mentoring (2 hr.)
Counseling Electives (4 hr.)
Case Studies in Biblical Counseling: Addictions (2 hr.)
Case Studies in Biblical Counseling: Gender & Sexuality (2 hr.)
Advanced Biblical Counseling – Research (3 hr.)