The Advanced Studies Committee of Candler School of Theology oversees Candler's participation in the program. This arrangement enables students to register for courses at Columbia Theological Seminary and Interdenominational Theological Center through Candler. The program requires fifty-four semester hours. Students must complete the program within six years. Extensions may be granted by the Th.D. Committee only under unusual circumstances.
Core seminars deal with personality theory, psychotherapy theory, and pastoral theology.
The clinical setting for the practicum usually is the Pastoral Counseling Service of the Georgia Association for Pastoral Care, although other settings may be approved. These seminars are designed to assist students in developing their doctoral projects. Qualifying Examinations are undertaken after completion of fifty-four semester hours of work. The examinations test competence in theory and practice of pastoral counseling. The Research Project and Dissertation are undertaken at the end of the program of study.