The Doctor of Education (EdD) in Pastoral Community Counseling program is designed to prepare leaders within religious communities with an opportunity for personal and professional development, directed toward making a significant contribution to their community and to society. This program is based on the fundamental belief that religious/spiritual communities provide a unique opportunity for human growth and development. With this in mind, the program is designed to integrate the the development of skills, engagement of knowledge,research and reflective practice,  in a manner that prepares the pastoral counselor to address individual and communal development in an ethically responsible fashion. This is designed to provide a means of support and interaction that exceeds the boundaries imposed by geographical definition, and utilizes technology for the purposes of individual, community, and societal development.The Pastoral Community Counseling program is committed to the concept of community. In this regard, the learners participate with one another and with faculty in a virtual community.  The program is designed to afford working professionals the opportunity to pursue doctoral study while maintaining active participation in their professional endeavors. The program is ideal for priests, ministers, lay leaders, rabbis, and  including hospice, military chaplains, hospital,  prison, counselors or nurse practitioners, who have faith or spirituality as a cornerstone of their practice.*This program [and concentration] are designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of individuals already certified, licensed or endorsed and for individuals interested in pursuing these degrees for reasons other than obtaining teacher or administrator certification, licensure, or endorsement. This program [and concentration] do not lead to state teacher or administrator certification, licensure, or endorsement.