Description of program: This program seeks to develop advanced clinical, research, and reflective-critical abilities in persons of superior promise in the field of pastoral counseling.

Faculty and faculty interests: Primary faculty include William Harkins (Columbia), Rodney J. Hunter (Emory), Sharon Mook (Columbia), John Patton (Columbia), Karen Scheib (Emory), and Edward P. Wimberly (ITC). Faculty interests include psychotherapy, marriage and family theory and therapy, pastoral theology, women's issues, personality theory, gender, racial, and ethnic dimensions of pastoral counseling, and studies in Freud, Jung, and religion.

Admissions requirements: The M.Div. degree with a "B" average or better; 1 year of Clinical Pastoral Education; normally 3 years of post-seminary professional experience (negotiable) and a personal interview upon invitation.

Program requirements: The program integrates 2 years of psychoanalytically-oriented clinical supervision at the Georgia Association for Pastoral Care with doctoral-level academic work in theology and the relevant theological and non-theological disciplines. Four core seminars are supplemented by 18 hours of electives (which include theology and/or ethics and an optional concentration in marriage and family aimed at meeting licensing requirements), a research methods seminar, clinical and academic qualifying exams, and a dissertation. Students take courses in all 3 schools but enroll in 1, from which they receive their degree. The program is under the supervision of a student-faculty committee with representatives from all 4 constituent institutions.

Clinical component: A two-year clinical practicum normally undertaken at the Georgia Association for Pastoral Care is required. Additional supervision is available.

Duration of program: Average of 5 years up to 6 years.

Titles of recent dissertations: 1) Embracing the "Lost Sheep": Creating a Parish-Based Counseling Ministry for Those Wounded By Problem Drinking; 2) Theological Contextualization in Pastoral Counseling: A Postliberal, Cultural-Linguist Approach.

Cost and financial aid: Tuition varies with school of enrollment; financial aid is limited.

Graduate placement: Graduates of this program serve as pastoral counselors and leaders in the pastoral counseling field in the U.S. and several foreign countries. A few teach part-time but the degree does not normally qualify one for an academic career.

Current number of students in coursework: 32 at the 3 schools.

Contact persons: Interested students should contact the individual schools for details; or contact Dr. John Patton, Executive Director, 404-687-4538.

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