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 basic theological, historical and ethical material for 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://www.professionalchaplains.org/index.aspx?id=1095#Standards 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;
- are 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 and Culture: Self and Other
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
