Combined B.A./M.A. in Torah-Based Counseling
Please, note: This is not a state‑licensed or clinical counseling degree. It is a religiously exempt program
intended for practical spiritual counseling within the Jewish community.
The Torah-Based Counseling program at Florida Hebrew University is designed as a comprehensive course of study that may be pursued as a Bachelor of Arts, a Master of Arts, or as an integrated pathway combining both degrees. The program provides students with a structured and progressive foundation in counseling, grounded in Torah principles and informed by practical application.
This program is intentionally developed to address the unique sensitivities, values, and needs of Torah-observant individuals and communities. Emphasis is placed on approaches that are both halachically appropriate and effective in real-life settings.
Students are trained to understand the human condition through a Torah-based framework while developing practical counseling skills aimed at achieving meaningful and responsible outcomes. The program integrates theoretical study with applied techniques, preparing graduates to serve their communities.
Curriculum
Total Hours = 165
Minimum GPA (Grade Point Average) to Graduate - 2.00
Minimum GPA to Maintain Merit-Based Scholarship - 3.50
NOTE: All undergraduate students are required to take 51 credits of foundational courses in the first three (3) semesters of study. Courses marked with asterisk (*) are eligible for credit transfer from High School, Yeshivah, or Seminary.
Year 1: Foundational Core Courses - 36 credits
1st Semester
ENG101 English Writing and Composition* (3 credits)
GEN101 Principles of Logic (3 credits)
COM101 Oral Presentation Skills (3 credits)
HEB101 Lashon Kodesh/Hebrew Language Alef* (3 credits)
FLG101 Foreign Language Alef* (Spanish, French, German, Russian, or Arabic) (3 credits)
NED101 Principles of Nutrition and Wellness (3 credits)
----------------------
Total Credits: 18
2nd Semester
COM102 Oral Communications (3 credits)
HEB102 Lashon Kodesh/Hebrew Language Beith* (3 credits)
ADM101 Principles of Business Administration (3 credits)
CST101 Computer Literacy* (3 credits)
FLG102 Foreign Language Beith* (Spanish, French, German, Russian, or Arabic) (3 credits)
JWH101 Jewish History* (3 credits)
---------------------
Total Credits: 18
Year 2: Core Courses and Foundations of Torah-Based Counseling- 30 credits
1st Semester
ADM302 Fundraising for Business (3 credits)
NSH101 Principles of Family Dynamics (3 credits)
EDU201 Teaching Modesty to Children (3 credits)
FLG201 Foreign Language Gimmel* (Spanish, French, German, Russian, or Arabic) (3 credits)
LAW201 Foundations of Law (3 credits)
NDT 201 Integrative Biology (4 credits)
-----------------------
Total Credits: 15
2nd Semester
NDT 202 Integrative Human Anatomy and Physiology (4 credits)
NDT203 Introduction to Torah-Based Psychology/Neshamah Daat (3 credits)
NDT204 Comparative Studies: Secular Theories vs. Torah-Based Approach (3 credits)
NDT205 Principles of Torah-Based Counseling (3 credits)
NDT206 Research Methods and Statistical Analysis (4 credits)
----------------------
Total Credits: 15
Year 3: Intermediate Studies and Applied Skills - 31 credit hours
1st Semester
NDT301 Basic Kabbalistic Concepts (3 credits)
NDT302 Integrative Neuroscience (4 credits)
NDT303 Developmental Psychology from a Torah Perspective (3 credits)
NDT304 Counseling Theories and Approaches (3 credits)
NDT305 Torah-Based Studies of Family Dynamics (3 credits)
-----------------------------
Number of Credits: 16
2nd Semester
NDT306 Advanced Torah Studies and Kabbalistic Wisdom (3 credits)
NDT307 Applied Principles of Taharat Mishpachah and Shalom Bayit (3 credits)
NDT308 Torah-Based Neurolinguistic Programming/NLP (4 credits)
NDT309 Practicum Alef: Observational Training (4 credits)
------------------------------
Number of Credits: 15
Year 4: Advanced Counseling Techniques and Jewish Thought - 35 credit hours
1st Semester
NDT401 Group Dynamics in Counseling (3 credits)
NDT402 Practicum Beith: Observational Training (4 credits)
NDT403 Advanced Kabbalistic Wisdom and Counseling (3 credits)
NDT404 Rabbi Nachman and The Power of Positive Thinking (3 credits)
NDT405 Spiritual Basis of Marriage and Family Counseling (3 credits)
---------------------
Total Credits: 16
2nd Semester
NDT406 Holistic Nutrition and Wellbeing (3 credits)
NDT407 Cultural Competence in Counseling (3 credits)
NDT408 Practicum Gimmel: Supervised Clinical Experience (4 credits)
NDT409 Advanced Counseling Skills and Case Management (3 credits)
NDT410 Tehilim as a Tool in Counseling (3 credits)
-----------------------
Total Credits: 16
Summer Session
INT401 Internship (3 credits)
Year 5. Preparation for Professional Practice and Master's Thesis - 30
1st Semester
NDT501 The Business of Counseling: Starting and Developing Your Own Practice (3 credits)
NDT502 Practicum Dalet: Supervised Counseling Experience (4 credits)
NDT503 Clinical Psychology and Torah Insights (3 credits)
NDT504 Integrative Psychopathology (3 credits)
NDT505 Torah Perspective on Anxiety and Depression (3 credits)
-----------------------
Total Credits: 16
2nd Semester
NDT506 Practicum Hey: Supervised Counseling Experience (4 credits)
NDT507 Halakhic and Legal Issues in Torah-Based Counseling (3 credits)
NDT508 Preparation for Certification (3 credits)
NDT509 Master's Thesis: Original Torah-Based Research or Clinical Case Study (4 credits)
---------------------
Total Credits: 14
ENSURING YOUR PATH TO EXCELLENCE
At Neshamah Daat, we are committed, beEzrat to providing a comprehensive and enriching education that integrates Torah teachings with modern counseling practices. Our curriculum is meticulously designed for rabbis who wish to focus on counseling, and for individuals serious about pursuing a Torah-Based counseling practice.
Please Note:
The Neshamah Daat/Torah-Based Counseling Program is a specialized educational offering rooted in Torah teachings and Jewish values. This program is not a secular program and its content cannot be accredited by secular accreditation agencies.
State Requirements: Licensing and certification requirements for religious counseling degrees vary by state. Students are responsible for understanding and complying with the specific regulations in their state of residence or practice.
Inquiry for Requirements: For a comprehensive list of licensing and certification requirements, students must inquire by sending an email to: compliance(@)fhumail.org with the subject "Neshamah Daat Counseling Program Licensing/Certification Requirements".