Chaplaincy

Chaplaincy focuses on holistic, integrative, embodied, emotional and spiritual care in a variety of contexts beyond the local congregation. The Chaplaincy Concentration provides students theoretical and practical knowledge to prepare for vocations in variety of  contexts (healthcare, campus, social justice, street ministries, prison, military, corporate) and with diverse populations. 

  • Learning Goals

    • Reflect theologically and pastorally on the practice of chaplaincy

    • Cultivate competence in theory and facility in the practice of pastoral counseling with attention to diversity and differences, including race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and religious affiliation.

    • Develop facility in practicing ritual and prayer in interpersonal, communal, and public contexts appropriate to diverse settings and needs

    • Reflect critically on institutional and societal cultures and systems in order to engage issues of justice and fairness in ways that integrate the pastoral and prophetic into holistic practice.

  • Required Courses

    A minimum of one course in Pastoral Care is required. Courses that fulfill this requirement include but are not limited to: 

  • Praxis Fulfillment

    To move toward professional work in this vocation, supervised learning in the field is essential:

    • For MDiv Students: In addition to the mandatory two-semester, 6-credit Field Education course (DIV 7900, Supervised Ministry and Seminar), an additional 3-credit Field Education course is required for this concentration (either DIV 7902, 7903, or 7904). That additional Field Education course counts as one of the student's four Chaplaincy-designated courses (12 credits, plus 6 credits for DIV 7900).
    • For MTS Students: A total of 15 credit hours are required: three Chaplaincy-designated courses (9 credits, total) and two Field Education courses (6 credits, total). Those six praxis credits may be earned either through the two-semester DIV 7900 (Supervised Ministry and Seminar) or in some combination of DIV 7902 (Special Project in Field Education), DIV 7903 (Independent Study and Practicum in Field Education), and DIV 7904 (Clinical Pastoral Education).
  • Sample Courses

    Courses that count toward the Chaplaincy concentration include but are not limited to: 

  • Clinical Pastoral Education

    ACPE is…Department of Education recognized organization that provides the highest quality CPE programs for spiritual care professionals of any faith and in any setting. We do this through a rigorous accreditation and certification process for centers and educators that provide CPE. The depth of our training enables students to realize their full potential to strengthen the spiritual health of people in their care as well as themselves. [1]

    You may enroll in 7904 Clinical Pastoral Education for academic credit.

    Note that that the Association of Professional Chaplains Board Certification requires four (4) units of CPE for board certification, often fulfilled through enrolling in a year-long residency after attaining the MDiv degree . MTS students are eligible for affiliate certification requiring two (2) units of CPE. 

    Chaplaincy in healthcare settings increasingly requires certification. In other chaplaincy settings (i.e., campus, correctional facilities, organizing, etc.,) requirements for Board or Affiliate Certification varies.  

    View a video with more information here.

  • Resources
  • Certification

    Attaining Board Certified or Affiliate Certified status with the Association of Professional Chaplains requires specialized CPE education. Find more information below:

    [1] Association for Clinical Pastoral Education. https://www.acpe.edu Accessed January 12, 2020