Meet Our President/Founder and Co-Founder
 Dr. Samuel O. Kirkland Sr., Founder and Dr. Katie M. Kirkland Co-Founder
Today, you will find Shepherd's Care College implementing aggressive outreach strategies in an effort to educate individuals who have been overlooked or underrepresented in society. Shepherd's Care College works hand and hand with local, national, and international nonprofit organizations whose missions range from feeding and housing the homeless to providing equal opportunity advocacy services to the disenfranchised.
The journey to provide adequate education to second chance candidates began in the summer of 1976, when Dr. Samuel O. Kirkland, Sr. organized an outreach Christian Ministry in the City of Camden, New Jersey. The organization was named Reaching Out Ministries, Inc. and was incorporated as a not-for-profit organization chartered in the State of New Jersey. The first ministerial programs consisted of:
• Prison Community Treatment Centers (Work Release and Pre-Release)
• Elderly Daycare Services
• Youth Street Ministries and Outreach
• Emergency Traveler's Aide Assistance
In 1984, Reaching Out Ministries, Inc. relocated to the State of Florida, and was later incorporated as a Florida State Christian Church. Immediately, the church began to replicate the services that were being provided in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. As a resident in the City of St. Petersburg, Florida, Dr. Kirkland became very active as a community servant, clergy, and businessman.
In 2000, Dr. Samuel and Dr. Katie changed the name of Reaching Out Ministries, Inc. to Shepherd's Care Ministries of Tampa Bay, Inc. The mission of the ministry remained the same with the exception of the prison ministries. They replaced the prison ministry with an outreach to other churches in the areas of public relations and church planting. It was during the time of the war in Sierra Leone, West Africa, that the Kirkland's found that the
ministry of church planting was not going to be possible in Sierra Leone, and they settled in and waited for the war to end. In the meantime, they were called to pastor at a very historical Baptist Church in the City of Tampa, Florida.
It was during Dr. Kirkland's tenure as a local pastor that Shepherd's Care College was birthed. The Story is a long, but very inspiring one: It tells of a family contacting Dr. Kirkland and asking him to assist in training their child after high school. They expressed the fact that they did not have the money to send their kids to college, and why could he not teach them? It was only natural that the family should ask that question, because Dr. Katie Kirkland was very involved with her ministry of teaching in a classroom setting at the church. After much prayer, he recalled the story of "Acres of Diamonds" as told my Earl Nightingale in his "Leading The Field" motivational tape series. Being inspired by the tape, Dr. Kirkland became committed to the project. He began to speak on the subject, and in turn, he raised funds for the new Shepherd's Care College with the honorariums that he and Dr. Katie received from her singing and his speaking engagements.
Shepherd's Care College is applauded for remaining committed to its mission to not "mix" state with church; while at the same time complying with all state regulations and paperwork necessary to operate a private bible college. Shepherd's Care College is the largest private bible based institution reaching out to second chance education candidates.
 Online Education
Our online programs prepare students for Christian faith and social services industries. Our programs are designed for those currently working in ministry, social services, as well those desiring to begin work in the field of Christianity. Bachelor, Master and Doctoral degrees and certifications in Christian and social service studies are offered though the Shepherd’s Care online education program.
Our Programs
Program of Ministry Religious Missionary Counseling
This program is a religious and theory intensive program designed to provide a balance of intellectual, spiritual, and experiential learning resulting in professional counselors who have multiple competencies as a researcher, theorist, minister, and problem-solver in human growth and development. This program emphasizes religious theory and research and is offered at the Bachelor, Master, and Doctorate and Certification level. This program offers the following mandatory learning tracks:
- Developmental Counseling in Spirituality
- Human Sexuality and Gender Counseling
- Business Administration
- Business and Church Administration
- Social Enterprise
Program of Clinical Religious Counseling
The doctoral program in Clinical Religious Counseling (D.C.R.C.) is also a human growth and development degree program that provides intellectual, spiritual, and experiential opportunities for those individuals interested in Clinical Religious Counseling. This program is offered only at the Doctorate level and promotes competencies in research, theory, problem solving and ministry from a clinical religious prospective. This program offers the following mandatory learning tracks:
- Clinical Foundation
- Nutrition and Herbal Counseling
- Intervention Counseling
- Alternative Care Counseling
- Religious Health Counseling
Higher Education Examination Program
The higher education examination program enables adult learners to receive a high school diploma through a general education examination and 720 hours of demonstrated excellence in:
- Employment/Work Objectives
- Entrepreneurship and Business Development
- Professional Training
- Professional Consulting
- Independent Research
- Church/Charitable/Social Services
- Non-traditional Education
- Certain Conditions Apply
Program participants demonstrate a motivation to advance themselves through learning and transforming what they have learned into a resourceful object that can be used as a gateway to accelerate others.
The Shepherd’s Care Strategic Plan
The plan puts forth an overarching aspiration for Shepherd’s Care College: to be widely recognized as the number one research clergy accredited religion and social services institute in the world, and a model college for the interweaving of religion and human service ideals with practical education and impact on societal and world problems. Displaying an overwhelming aspiration for the institution to succeed in its educational endeavors as a whole is important to all students and communities that seek a platform of educational tools to help them make the planet a better place to inhabit for others.
The general strategy proposed here for achieving this aspiration is captured by two words: focus and connectivity. (1) Focus on strong or potentially strong academic programs that are strategically important to the college, and maintain areas of excellence within each of the basic academic groupings of religion and social sciences. In other words, create and maintain academic leadership across all of the broad areas but do so selectively and strategically within each. (2) Build greater connectivity among the diverse colleges, schools, and programs around these basic academic areas by developing new integrations, boundary-crossing structures, and productive synergies. Greater connectivity implies that it will be easy for students and faculty to cross college and program boundaries in pursuit of their academic goals. The idea is to make academic boundaries as permeable and seamless as possible.
Click here to request full strategic plan.
Tuition/Financial Aid
In lieu of offering federal student aid we offer scholarships and affordable tuition to our students. Our fee structure and scholarship programs are shared with our students at the time of orientation with a Shepherd’s Care Consultant.
Apply Online
If you are interested in applying to a program please click on your program of interest and send describe why you wish to apply to the Shepherd’s Care program of your choice.
Request Brochure
To receive a Shepherd’s Care Brochure please email all requests to: literature@sccmedu.org
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is Shepherd’s Care an Accredited Institution?
A. Yes. Shepherd’s Care College is accredited by an Advisory Council of community members and clergy. This accreditation council maintains the philosophy that it is not up to the government to monitor what is taught in a religious academic setting. Shepherd’s Care has decided to accept no form of Regional or National Accreditation from the Government. However, Shepherd’s Care is legally authorized by the state of Florida to operate as an independent school system [State of Florida, Department of Education, Commission for Independent Education, 1005.06(1) (f)].
Institution of Higher Education.
Q. Does Shepherd’s Care accept or offer Government Financial Aid?
A. Because Shepherd’s Care has decided not to let the Government reinforce its student learning objectives and expectations, Shepherd’s Care does not accept or offer any government financial aid.
Q. Will other schools accept my Shepherd’s Care Transcript, Diploma, or Degree?
A. Acceptance of a Shepherd’s Care transcript, Diploma, and or Degree is solely at the discretion of the institution that the student is applying to.
Q. Will employers accept my Shepherd’s Care transcript?
A. Acceptance of a Shepherd’s Care transcript, Diploma, and or Degree is solely at the discretion of the employer that the student is applying to. Our students are able to understand the importance of leadership and developing cutting edge strategies to sustain organizations and society. Employers are quick to hire individuals with the entrepreneurial and intrepreneurial skills that we teach our Shepherd’s Care students.
Q. What are the admissions requirements to enroll into Shepherd’s Care College?
A. Program of Ministry Religious Missionary Counseling A high school diploma or GED equivalency $300 application fee . Program of Clinical Religious Counseling official undergraduate transcripts, $300 application fee. Higher Education Examination Program $200 application fee
Q. Does Shepherd’s Care promise job placement upon completion of its programs?
A. Although Shepherd’s Care does not promise job placement upon completion of its educational programs, Shepherd’s Care does advocate on behalf of its students by submitting a letter of recommendation to prospective employers upon request.
Q. How long does it take to complete each program at Shepherd’s Care?
A.
Program of Ministry Religious Missionary Counseling
Minimum: At your own pace
Maximum: 4 years
Bachelors: 140 Credit Hours
Masters: 80 Credit Hours
Program of Clinical Religious Counseling
Minimum: At your own pace
Maximum: 2 years
Doctorate: 60 Credit Hours
Higher Education Examination Program
Minimum: At your own pace
Maximum: 4 years
*Certain conditions apply
Q. Do I need to complete Shepherd’s Care programs onsite?
A. No. Although Shepherd’s Care offers courses onsite, we recommend that students take these courses online or via our distance learning program.
Q. Are there any additional fees that I am responsible for before or after I have begun classes?
A. There may be additional materials that you will have to purchase like books. These fees are not to exceed $150 per item.
Q. Do you accept payment plans for Shepherd’s Care Educational Programs?
A. All fee structures are discussed with your Shepherd’s Care Financial Consultant
Contact Us
Phone: (813)774-6600
8875 Hidden River Parkway
Suite 300
Tampa, Florida 33637
United States
Mailing Address
Shepherd's Care College
P.O. Box 7839
Wesley Chapel |
