Denver Seminary Online School & Pastoral Counseling Programs
Denver Seminary offers four online and blended counseling and ministry options: a graduate certificate in pastoral care and counseling, a graduate certificate in school counseling, an MDiv (master of divinity) with a pastoral care and counseling concentration, and a PhD in counselor education and supervision. These programs are designed for students seeking biblical training, counseling skills, and flexible formats, including online, on-campus, and blended study.
Across the programs, Denver Seminary emphasizes faith community, practical preparation, and close faculty-student relationships. The school serves students from over 50 denominations and offers an education rooted in biblical faith and charitable orthodoxy. Several of the programs include internships, mentoring, and field training, and the seminary also provides fully accredited degrees and certificates that can be completed online or with limited campus visits, depending on the program.
The 16-credit graduate certificate in pastoral care and counseling prepares students to provide pastoral care and counseling in church, parachurch, and other missional settings. It is not designed for licensed therapy or counseling, but instead focuses on foundational knowledge, skills, and experiential practice. Key courses include pastoral care and counseling relationships; therapeutic communication; brief counseling theory and practice in ministry settings; and grief and loss counseling.
The 18-credit graduate certificate in school counseling is designed for students who already hold a CACREP-accredited master’s degree in counseling or an equivalent degree and want to become licensed in school counseling in Colorado. The program uses the same core school counseling curriculum as the master’s level program and can be completed fully online or on the Denver campus. Important courses include introduction to school counseling; counseling children and adolescents; seminar in school counseling; and school counseling internship I and II.
The 79-credit master of divinity (MDiv) includes a pastoral care and counseling concentration for students who want to prepare for ministry that includes counseling and care. The concentration is not a licensure path, but it combines biblical training with psychological principles and includes off-campus internship experience in churches, parachurch organizations, rescue missions, and some healthcare settings. Key courses include communication in pastoral care; brief counseling for ministry; counseling issues in pastoral care; and crisis counseling.
The 66-credit counselor education and supervision doctoral program is a relational, cohort-based online degree that prepares students for leadership in counseling, supervision, teaching, research, and advocacy. Students complete core courses, internships across several roles, rotating special topics, and a dissertation, with yearly campus visits and a strong personal formation component. Key courses include leadership in counselor education and supervision; supervision of counseling; advanced counseling research design and assessment; and quantitative research methods.
Admission to these programs depends on the level of study. For the graduate certificate programs, applicants must complete the seminary application process, submit the biographical questionnaire, writing portion, references, and transcripts, and meet the required previous education standards. The school counseling certificate is intended for students who already hold a CACREP-accredited master’s degree in counseling or an equivalent degree, while the pastoral care and counseling certificate is for students seeking foundational pastoral care training rather than licensure.
For the MDiv with a pastoral care and counseling concentration, applicants need a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 2.5, and the required application documents. For the PhD in counselor education and supervision, applicants must hold a 60-credit CACREP or CORE-accredited master’s degree in counseling or equivalent, have a minimum 3.0 graduate GPA, hold or be eligible for a professional counseling license, complete the degree-seeking application and interview, and have one year of clinical experience.
Denver Seminary is a private evangelical Christian seminary in Littleton, Colorado, with a campus also in Washington, DC. It is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), and its programs are offered in online, blended, and on-campus formats. All programs reflect the seminary’s commitment to biblically grounded theological education and practical ministry preparation.
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Graduate Certificate in Pastoral Care and Counseling
Graduate Certificate in School Counseling
MDiv with a Pastoral Care and Counseling Concentration
Ph.D. in in Counselor Education and Supervision
6399 South Santa Fe DriveLittleton, Colorado
Program Essentials
Post-Bachelor's Certificate
Counseling: Spiritual Counseling
Yes
0 – No required campus visits
16
Spring, Summer, Fall
Complete in as little as 1 year
Program Admissions
No GRE required
2.5
No state restrictions
Program Tuition
16
$720.00
$11,520.00
$720.00
$11,520.00
Program Essentials
Post-Master's Certificate
Counseling: School Counseling
Yes
0 – No required campus visits
18
Spring, Summer, Fall
Complete in as little as 1 year
Program Admissions
No GRE required
2.5
No state restrictions
Program Tuition
18
$720.00
$12,960.00
$720.00
$12,960.00
Program Essentials
Master's Degree
Counseling: Spiritual Counseling
Yes
0 – No required campus visits
79
Spring, Summer, Fall
Complete in as few as 3 years
Program Admissions
No GRE required
2.5
No state restrictions
Program Tuition
79
$720.00
$56,880.00
$720.00
$56,880.00
Program Essentials
Doctoral Degree
Counseling: Education & Supervision
No
3 – Three residencies required
66
Fall
Complete in as few as 3.5 – 4 years
Program Admissions
No GRE required
3.0
No state restrictions
Program Tuition
66
$895.00
$59,070.00
$895.00
$59,070.00
Tuition is calculated based on credits, at the published tuition rate. Rates may change, so please check here for the latest tuition information. For programs with variable tuition rates, we use the rates for part-time students. “Resident” and “non-resident” refer to the student’s school-recognized state residency status. Tuition number represents the cost of tuition for the entire program, not per semester or year. Estimated total tuition does not include additional fees.
Farheen Gani
WriterFarheen Gani has researched degree programs and salaries in counseling since 2020. She has written about topics such as genetic counselor salaries and family and human development bachelor’s degrees. She writes about healthcare, technology, education, and marketing. Her work has appeared on websites such as Tech in Asia and Foundr, as well as top SaaS blogs such as Zapier and InVision. You can connect with her on LinkedIn.