Master of Arts in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care

The MCPC is a 72-hour degree designed for people interested in pastoral care in a variety of contexts.  The core curriculum (5 courses) provides a theological, historical and ethical foundation for pastoral ministry.  Other required coursework equips the student for general chaplaincy ministry in a variety of settings.  Elective courses enable students to broaden and deepen their understanding of particular ministries in specified settings (e.g., hospice, VA hospitals, prisons, workplaces, disaster relief).  The curriculum provides the requisite 72 credits specified by the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) for recognition as a Board Certified Chaplain (BCC). Students or prospective students seeking board certification by the APC should review carefully the information at http://professionalchaplains.org/ to learn about additional requirements for certification. The MCPC degree does not include Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE).  Students seeking board certification as a chaplain are responsible for undertaking and completing the CPE units required by the APC. Most students pursuing APC certification generally undertake one unit of CPE while in seminary and complete the remaining three units post-graduation.

Through core courses in Biblical studies, history, theology and ethics and an in-depth study of issues in and approaches to chaplaincy, students:

  • understand the Scriptural and theological foundations of ministry and how this informs the theory and practice of pastoral care and chaplaincy;
  • become familiar with a range of pastoral practices and strategies, including significant resources of the Christian tradition;
  • appreciate the pastoral implications of diverse ministry settings within a religiously plural and culturally diverse society;
  • integrate relevant perspectives from the social sciences, including psychology and sociology, with theological reflection and the theory and practice of pastoral care;
  • develop a conceptual framework for informing personal identity and ministerial practice with a theologically rich account of the vocational identity and work of the chaplain and other agents of pastoral care.

    Required Core Courses (15 credit hours)

    B5310   Biblical Basis for Ministry 1
    B5320   Biblical Basis for Ministry 2
    T5310   Historical and Theological Basis for Ministry 1
    T5320   Historical and Theological Basis for Ministry 2
    T5340   Ethics in Ministry

    Required Disciplinary Courses (33 credit hours)

    C5304   Appraisal and Assessment Techniques
    C5317   Medical Issues and Healing Presence
    F5305   Faith Development and Spiritual Type
    F5306   World Religions and Their Spiritualities
    L5310   Liturgy and Ritual in the Pastoral Context
    P5310   Preaching and Teaching for the Chaplain
    P5320   Organizational Development/Systems Theory
    P5330   Issues of Identity and Authority in Chaplaincy
    P5340   Issues in Death and Dying
    P5350   Issues in Loss and Bereavement
    P5360   Ministry in Times of Crisis

    Electives (24 credit hours)

    C5301   Normal Human Development
    C5302  Abnormal Human Behavior
    C5303  Counseling Theories
    C5308  Counseling in a Multi-cultural Society: Identity and Difference
    C5314  Chemical Dependency and Addictive Behaviors
    C5315  Counseling Children and Adolescents
    C5321  Counseling from a Pastoral Perspective
    C5324  Adolescence, Family Systems, and Assessment
    C5325  Comprehensive Clinical Treatment and Recovery in Addiction
    C5326  Trauma Counseling and Crisis Intervention
    F5316  Practicum in Theological Reflection
    P5301  Establishing and Maintaining a Workplace Chaplaincy
    P5302  Theologies and Practices of Christian Forgiveness
    P5303  The Bible as a Resource in Pastoral Care