Preparing for Pastoral Counseling at KCU
Apex School of Theology appears in our ranking of the 20 Best Master’s in Pastoral Counseling Online Degree Programs.
Devoted to Romans 8:28, the School of Social Work & Human Services awards the Bachelor of Science in Counseling Psychology to Kentucky Christian University undergrads following God’s call to alleviate suffering in therapeutic careers. Chaired by Dr. James Sapp, a National Certified Counselor, the 120-credit degree uses Scripture to spark spiritual growth and solve everyday problems. The 12:1 student-professor ratio keeps courses like Lifespan Development, Crisis Management, and Addictions small before the 400-hour internship. Pastoral training can continue with the 33-credit Master of Arts in Christian Leadership that sharpens evangelistic skills for Church service. Overseen by Dr. Brian Baldwin, the graduate program ends with a thesis after four Grayson tracks: Family Ministry, Missional Studies, Preaching, or Discipleship. Majors might also join Laos Protos, pledge Psi Chi, take the Haiti or Costa Rica trip, attend the Leadership Conference, volunteer at Highpoint Fellowship, and enjoy Worship Nights.
About Kentucky Christian University
Kentucky Christian University was founded on December 1, 1919, by Gospel evangelists J.O. Snodgrass and J.W. Lusby as the Christian Normal Institute. Before the 1920s ended, the teacher preparation department disbanded and Churches of Christ ministry training took over. During Dr. J. Lowell Lusby’s 40-year tenure, the name Kentucky Christian College was adopted in 1944. First accredited in 1984, it gained university status exactly 20 years later. In 2009, Kentucky Christian University added Young Library that now houses over 80,000 volumes. Raising $7 million in 2017 alone, Kentucky Christian remains a close-knit nonprofit, baccalaureate CCCU member with 500 Knights, including Counseling majors. Linked to 1,971 LinkedIn alumni, KCU has trained Mark Stuart, Bob Herdman, David Faust, and more at the 121-acre Grayson campus near Crown City Wildlife Area.
The U.S. News & World Report ranked Kentucky Christian the 48th best Southern college with 59 percent retention. On Niche, KCU was graded “B+” for diversity, safety, and academics. College Factual placed KCU 102th for male-female diversity, 79th for counseling psychology, and 46th for religious studies nationally. On WalletHub, Kentucky Christian University is the South’s 252nd top value. BestColleges.com declared KCU the 23rd top pick statewide. Christian Universities Online featured KCU among its 50 most affordable. PayScale calculated a mid-career median salary of $63,800 for Kentucky Christian University alums. KCU has Kentucky’s 20th biggest endowment at $6.17 million according to College Raptor. Best Counseling Degrees also crowned KCU the fourth best master’s institution for pastoral care.
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Kentucky Christian University Accreditation Details
In January 2010, Kentucky Christian University passed its decennial comprehensive evaluation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to continue Level III accreditation without sanctions under its fifth president, Dr. Jeff Metcalf. Located 458 miles south via Interstate 75 in Decatur, this elite 11-state Appalachia accreditor is recognized by the Secretary of Education to check the teaching quality of KCU’s 10 baccalaureate and five master’s degrees. Please note that Kentucky Christian is not accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP) though.
Kentucky Christian University Application Requirements
Getting into Kentucky Christian University is deemed “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s since only 324 of the 835 Fall 2017 applicants were victorious for 39 percent acceptance. First-year Knights battling for B.S. in Counseling Psychology spots must finish a state-recognized high school diploma. Earning a 2250 GED score with no subsection below 410 qualifies too. The Enrollment Services Department requires a minimum 2.0 GPA or top 50 percent class rank. Scoring at least 18 on the ACT or 940 on the SAT is mandated. The holistic process weighs spiritual maturity, Christ-like character, and extracurricular activities. Undergrad transfers with 12+ core academic credits and 2.0 GPAs can enroll. Seniors applying for the Out of Blocks Program need 3.25 averages though. The M.A. in Christian Leadership is GRE-optional, yet an accredited bachelor’s GPA above 2.5 is expected. Graduate Test of English as a Foreign Language takers must score 550 (paper) or 213 (computer).
Kentucky Christian University has freshman Fall applications available from January 1st to July 1st with a March 1st priority date. The B.S. in Counseling Psychology transfers can apply until January 1st for Spring and May 1st for Summer too. M.A. in Christian Leadership candidates have rolling admission year-round to the Graduate School. Admission and Re-Admission forms are easily submitted online using the ICS portal. The paper PDF form might also be downloaded and postmarked to 100 Academic Parkway in Grayson, KY 41143. Please contact (800) 522-3181 or knights@kcu.edu for further inquiries.
- Check, credit card, or money order for $35 fee
- High school or college transcripts with class rank
- Official results to SAT, ACT, and TOEFL exams
- Pastor or minister reference of Church involvement
- Two extra recommendations from familiar persons
- Self-reflective admission essay of 500 to 1,000 words
- Affidavit of sponsorship and financial funds (international)
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2018-19, Kentucky Christian University is billing full-time B.S. in Counseling Psychology majors $9,660 per term or $19,320 annually. Studying part-time incurs $625 per credit. Undergrads may pay the $297 services fee, $150 College 101 fee, $150 online fee, and $30 international fee. Living at the Carter County campus’ dorms like Pifer or Water Hall adds $8,270 each year. Indirect costs include the $1,200 for books, $2,268 for transport, and $1,566 for personal allowances. Annual bachelor’s attendance equals $33,304 on-site and $28,980 at home. The M.A. in Christian Leadership charges $325 per credit or $3,900 each semester full-time. Future pastoral counselors also pay a $650 thesis fee and $1,200 for textbooks.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Financial Aid Center connects 90 percent of full-time KCU Knights to annual assistance packages averaging $12,634 for $5.45 million total. University funds include the Lusby Excellence Award, Bible Bowl Scholarship, Preaching Scholarship, Covenant Church Scholarship, Alumni Legacy Scholarship, Opportunity Award, Commitment Grant, Pauline Hendricks Scholarship, SCEC Scholarship, and Great Commission Award. The KCU Partnership Award is reserved for undergrads with 20 ACT and 1410 SAT scores or higher. Tribe members qualify for Bureau of Indian Affairs aid. The Yellow Ribbon Program matches GI Bill benefits for military servicepersons. The $5,920 Federal Pell and $800 FSEOG Grant are available with FAFSA forms coded 001965. Federal Work-Study positions in Grayson offer up to 20 hours weekly. Independent students have an aggregate limit of $57,500 for Perkins, Stafford, Plus, and non-federal loans. Kentuckians also score the College Access Grant, Go Higher Grant, KTG Grant, and Coal County College Completion Scholarship.
Learn more about Kentucky Christian University at the School of Social Work & Human Services website.