Your degree in theology and counseling prepares you to use biblical doctrines to administer guidance to Christians in distress. As a result, your theology and counseling degree helps you advise fellow members of your religious organization about how to relate Jesus Christ's ministry to their personal issues such as gambling, low-self esteem or depression. Your degree also helps you develop the interpersonal communications skills you need to effectively communicate with people facing life trials, according to Trinity College of the Bible Theological Seminary in Newburgh, Indiana.
Numerous Christian colleges and universities in the U.S. offer associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in theology and counseling. However, you must achieve at least a master's degree to become a licensed counselor in the U.S., says the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Your master's level theology and counseling curriculum might include classes such as biblical counseling methodology, counseling ethics and legal concerns, theological research and writing and a supervised counseling practicum. You can attend school in person or pursue an all-online degree.
Your theology and counseling education will vary widely depending upon your chosen religion's views about topics such as Old and New Testament interpretation and prophecy, human sexuality and familial structure. Therefore, you should thoroughly research potential schools to ensure that your spiritual beliefs equate with the college's core curriculum.
As a biblical theological counselor, you might gain employment within a church organization, at a prison or rehabilitation center or at a Christian primary, secondary or post-graduate school. You can also own and run your own counseling agency. Additionally, you can write professionally about your counseling experiences, perform research on theological counseling, or become a biblical theological counseling teacher or professor.
Your salary will depend upon which degree --- associate's, bachelor's, master's or doctrate --- you achieve, and if you take a salaried position with an already existing company or found your own organization. Where you live and your experience in your field will also influence your yearly wages. However, in 2008, the average salary of a professional counselor in the U.S. was $33,400, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.