LEAD Degree Programs
Pillar offers a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration and Management, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and Counseling and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Bibical Studies through its LEAD program. Students may apply life/work experience toward their degree.
Graduation Requirements
Course Descriptions (common courses)
Course Descriptions (Business Administration and Leadership)
Course Descriptions (Psychology and Counseling)
Degree Completion Worksheets
(to monitor your progress)
Business Administration and Leadership
Biblical Studies
Psychology and Counseling
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration and Management encompasses a full array of organizational management and leadership curricula including introduction to organizational leadership, marketing, management/administration, finance, entrepreneurship, team dynamics, and theories of leadership. Students in Business Administration and Management will be taught by faculty and field professionals for careers in churches, nonprofit ministries and agencies, and for-profit businesses and organizations.
Psychology and Counseling
The Psychology and Counseling major is designed to provide the student with the basic foundations for any kind of counseling, spiritual formation, coaching, or mentoring ministry. You may choose to build on this foundation with further education and/or training specific to an area in which you desire to specialize, such as pursing a Masters or Doctoral degree, permitting you to progress to attain state licensing as a professional counselor. Upon successful completion of this program you will find yourself prepared to either pursue further education or begin a lay helping ministry in a variety of settings.
Biblical Studies
The Biblical Studies Accelerated Degree seeks to acquaint students with the tools for Bible study, to foster lifelong habits of study skills, to cultivate a love for truth and Christian ministry, and to prepare students for seminary or graduate school.
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Graduation Requirements
To graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree the student must successfully complete 120 semester hours of credit:
- Complete 48 semester hours (credits) in LEAD with at least a "C" (2.0) average.
- Complete or have completed 57 semester hours (credits) in General Education including:
- Humanities 9 hours
- English language 12 hours
- Social Science 12 hours
- Science, 6 hours
- Media and Technology 3 hours
- General Education Electives 15 hours
- Earn or have earned additional 15 elective semester hours (credits)
- Credit by Examination (CLEP and/or DSST)
- Credit by Demonstrated Competency (CDC)
- On Line Education
- Accelerated General Education Offerings
- Transfer from another institution
- Satisfy the community/Christian service requirements as required by the College
- Be current on all financial obligations with the College
- Attend commencement activities
Course Descriptions
Common Courses
CO 210
Goals Priorities and Attitudes: The setting of goals, as well as priorities among those goals, with an emphasis upon how those goals and priorities relate to the realities and aspirations of life. The attitude of the individual including other aspects of psychological makeup and how it impacts upon the ability and willingness to set goals and priorities. An emphasis upon how goals, priorities and attitudes can lead to effective Christian personal management.
Business Administration and Management Courses
OL 305
Administrative Management: This modular course is a study of the five parts of managing organizations planning, organizing, staffing, leading, and controlling/evaluating with the study of principles for application to both not-for-profit and for-profit organizations and applications in organizations with reference to Scripture.
OL 350
Cooperative Vocational Development - Internship: Participate as an intern half per week in an established non-profit or for profit organization to learn implementation of organizational leadership principles in an actual real world enterprise environment.
OL 303
Entrepreneurship and Small Business: Creativity, opportunity, leadership, excellence and profit combined into an entrepreneurial approach to achieve the mission in small business.
OL/TH 306
Ethics in Organizational Leadership/Christian Ethics: This course examines the role of ethics in the life of leadership. Personal and professional dimensions of leadership decisions and behaviors will be considered using case studies to focus on the dilemmas that people in leadership roles often face. Special emphasis will be on assisting students in developing a personal code of ethics and assessing their own behavior in light of it.
OL 302
Managerial Finance: This study will provide an overview of financial tools available for management decision-making. Major course components include income statements, balance sheets, cash flow, budgets, changes in financial position, and ratio analysis. Emphasis is on reading and understanding accounting documents.
OL 310
Organizational Development: Organizational development is the process of planning and implementing interventions to create interpersonal, group, inter-group, or organization-wide change. This course presents the theoretical foundations of organizational development as an applied behavioral science. Students will also be introduced to many types of interpersonal, intra-group, inter-group, and organizational interventions that are used to effect comprehensive and lasting changes.
OL 304
Organizational Marketing and Sales: The use of organizational mission to develop a marketing approach to reach potential constituencies with image, product and service that will cause those constituencies to utilize the organization to meet their perceived needs in a manner that is profitable to the organization.
OL/BI 301
Principles of Leadership/Biblical Concepts of Leadership: This course focuses on the development of individual leadership skills within a broad range of ministry contexts. Students will learn the Christian principles of leadership including servant leadership and other Christian leadership theories.
OL/TH 309
Principles of Team Dynamics and Development/Discipleship and Small Groups: This course will help students understand the theories and practices of group dynamics and team building with emphasis on New Testament models. A study of the New Testament discipleship and small group principles and their application is emphasized. Building group relationships and small group teams is taught from biblical models found in the Gospels, the Book of Acts and other NT books. The New Testament theological models provide rich and vibrant application for the business professional seeking to work productively and with sensitivity and wisdom in team and group market place settings.
OL 201
Project Management: Students will learn and experience the fundamentals of project management - the carefully organized and executed effort to accomplish a specific task within established cost, schedule and quality parameters. The key processes to effective project design, assessment, planning, scheduling and control will be reviewed. Students will apply principles learned via the use of case studies as well as selected class projects.
PH 101
Survey of Worldviews: This course seeks to examine the major belief systems found in our contemporary world. Themes explored include how worldviews function to shape our understanding of reality and how beliefs, assumptions and values shape the way we live.
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Psychology and Counseling Courses
CC 309
Abnormal Psychology (recommended for students planning to do graduate work in psychology and counseling): A descriptive and theoretical survey of the major forms of psychological disorders in children, adolescents, and adults. The course will examine current trends and research in the fields of mental health and psychopathology, as well as methods of treatment.
CC 101
Biblical Principles for Christian Counseling: Examines the nature and purpose of Christian counseling from a Scriptural perspective. Includes an overview of the history of Christian counseling in the U.S.; the differences between Christian counseling and Biblical counseling approaches; how to appropriately utilize secular counseling methods; and whether to use medications in counseling.
CC 406
Conflict Counseling and Christian Peacemaking: This course provides students with a basic knowledge of conflict theory as well as a beginning understanding of conflict resolution skills. Students will also be equipped with a framework of bringing biblical counsel and resolution to conflict situations at home, work and the church.
CC/PM 350
Cooperative Vocational Development - Internship: In this course, students will engage in hands-on training in a setting that will provide actual, hands-on experience in some form of Christian counseling that does not require state licensure. Examples include crisis pregnancy centers, battered women's ministries, men's accountability groups, 12-step programs, and non-clinical counseling in troubled teen ministries.
CC 301
Counseling Skills 1: This course is designed to blend personal growth and practical experience through developing the understanding, knowledge and skills necessary in an effective counseling relationship. The underlying foundation will be from a Christian perspective with integration of belief and practice, Lectures, discussions, skill building activities, role-plays, case studies, oral presentations, and personal reflections will be used to facilitate learning. Since the course has an experiential component, active participation will be expected and encouraged.
CC 302
Counseling Skills II: Building on CC 301 Counseling Skills I, this course will emphasize the building of skills in reflecting listening, applying Carkhuff's Core Conditions for Helping, advising, story-telling and story-listening in counseling, group counseling, and allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to permeate counseling opportunities.
CC 219
Counseling Theory: This course will provide an overview of major theories in counseling and psychotherapy from a biblical perspective. This course will examine the historical context of secular psychology and the rise of Christina counseling. Students will develop criteria for evaluating theories using a biblical framework and formulate their own theory of Christian counseling.
CC 305
Crisis Counseling: This class will encourage students to learn about being an effective helper to those who may face a crisis. Students will learn to understand the four common elements of a crisis, the characteristics of troubled people, the pattern of a crisis, and eight basic steps to helping a person in crisis. Students will be able to learn through class lecture, group interaction and role playing, guest lecturers, research, and written assignments.
CC 307
Cross-Cultural Counseling: This course is designed to build cross-cultural counseling skills. The course will familiarize students with theories, counseling techniques, skill development and a wide range of issues regarding ethical and effective Christian counseling in a world of cultural differences. Emphasis is placed on expanding cultural awareness, knowledge and skill building, as well as appreciation of cultural, racial, ethnic, age and gender issues. Students will learn to address the specific needs of culturally different persons, develop communication strategies and select appropriate ways to help persons of different cultural backgrounds.
CC 205
Human Development: An introduction to the study of observable patterns of personality, moral, and spiritual development. The insights of social and psychological sciences combined with the truth of Scripture and Christian theology provides practical assistance in the ministry of the Gospel to people across the age and experience spectrum.
CC 306
Marriage and Family Counseling: This course focuses on the importance of the family as the foundational biblical and social institution. Students will develop an understanding of the biblical teaching on marriage and family, skills for assessment and counseling, and resources for referring as necessary to build healthy marriages and families.
CC 206
The Holy Spirit in Counseling: This course takes an in-depth view of the role of the Holy Spirit in Counseling. The class will explore Scripture, consider case-studies, and consider how the Holy Spirit's role impacts the entire counseling experience, both from the perspective of the counselor and that of the one seeking help.
Biblical Studies
COMM 210A
Goals, Priorities, Attitudes: The setting of goals, as well as priorities among those goals, with an emphasis upon how those goals and priorities relate to the realities and aspirations of life. The attitude of the individual including other aspects of psychological makeup and how it impacts upon the ability and willingness to set goals and priorities. An emphasis upon how goals, priorities, and attitudes can lead to effective Christian personal management.
BIBL 310A
Old Testament Survey: A survey of the history, literature, and theology of the Old Testament. Emphasis is on the content of the thirty-nine books that comprise the canon of the Old Testament. Attention will be given to the transmission of the text and the canonization of the Old Testament. Students are exposed to the critical issues and scholarly methods employed in modern study of the Old Testament.
PHIL 301A
Survey of Worldviews: An introduction to Western thought focusing on the role and function of philosophy as it relates to worldviews and understanding the fundamental uses of critical thinking as a means for evaluating the various worldview claims.
BIBL 320A
New Testament Survey: This course involves a survey of the history, literature, and theology of the New Testament. Emphasis is on the content of the twenty-seven individual books that comprise the canon of the New Testament. Attention will also be given to the transmission of the text and the canonization of the New Testament. Students are exposed to the critical issues and scholarly methods employed in the modern study of the New Testament.
BSCM 310A
Spiritual Formation: This course is a study of the dynamics of Christian growth and maturity with special emphasis on the Spirit-filled life and classic devotional literature. The concepts of discipleship and spiritual formation are considered with respect to human developmental patterns. Attention is given to students’ own spiritual growth so that they may facilitate the spiritual growth of others.
CHHS 310A
History of the Church I: A survey of the history of Christian church from the first century to the period of the Reformation.
ORGL 310A
Principles of Leadership:
THEO 310A
Introduction to Christian Doctrine: An introductory course designed to acquaint students with the content of the classical Christian faith through a study of essential doctrines as signposts for the Christian story. Discussion also includes the task of theology, theological method, and the Triune nature of Christian reasoning about God.
BIBL 410A
Life and Teachings of Christ: This course is a study of the life and teachings of Christ based upon the four canonical Gospels of the New Testament. This course examines the major events in the life of Jesus and both the form and content of Jesus’ teachings including theology, Christology, the Kingdom of God, and the ethics of the Kingdom.
BIBL 420A
Principles of Biblical Interpretation: A study of the process that led to the creation of the English Bible and its authority. A survey of the principles and practices of independent Bible study including an emphasis on the grammatical historical approach to biblical hermeneutics. The student will study hermeneutical methods of application leading to the development of theme proposition and finally, the lesson itself.
BSCM 410A
Pastoral Care & Counseling: This course brings together the practice of pastoral care with biblical, theological, and psychological perspectives shaping that practice. The class will provide students with basic skills to provide care and counseling, especially in a church setting, and how to provide care for yourself so that you can also care for others.
COUN 440A
Crisis Counseling: This class will encourage students to learn about being an effective helper to those who may face a crisis. Students will learn to understand the four common elements of a crisis, the characteristics of troubled people, the pattern of a crisis, and eight basic steps to helping a person in crisis. Students will be able to learn through class lecture, group interaction and role playing, guest lecturers, research, and written assignments.
BIBL 450A
The Book of Romans: This course is an inductive study of the Book of Romans as a representative example of the Pauline Epistles. The procedure of study involves a survey of the book as a whole, a detailed analysis of the various parts, interpretation of selected passages, and practical application to the Christian life. Attention is also given to the scholarly discussion and the major theological themes in the Book of Romans.
CHHS 410A
The Church in Global Context: This course involves a study of the origin and development of the various Christian traditions in Africa, Asia, and Latin America with particular attention to the development of indigenous churches as well as mission-founded churches. Prerequisites: English Composition and History of Christianity I or II.
BSCM 420A
Principles of Preaching: A study of the foundation of sermon development, formal elements of style and methods of preparation and delivery principles based on biblical, historical and cultural foundations will be included. Students will prepare sermons to be preached in class and will be evaluated. Video technology can be used to enhance learning. Prerequisites: English Composition.
