Master of Arts in Chaplaincy

Accelerate Your Call To Ministry With A

MASTER OF ARTS IN CHAPLAINCY!

In an ever-evolving world filled with a plethora of situations that inundate the lives of all humankind, chaplaincy is a viable profession that crosses ministerial lines and belief systems providing unprecedented care in all aspects of life from the spiritual to the secular. Chaplains meet people where they are in the midst of their circumstances, whether it is in the workplace, via healthcare services in hospitals, in prisons, on athletic fields, in military branches, on cruise ships, in individuals’ homes, on the streets, in the midst of movements, during pandemics, in behavioral health settings, in governmental agencies, etc., all the while ensuring recipients of their care that time is not devoid of spiritual guidance and support. Serving the “present age” in today’s society must and can occur, and a Master of Arts in Chaplaincy degree is a means to revisioning ministry while expanding professional opportunities to engage in authentic, compassionate care as well as ministry and leadership training across diverse landscapes.

Apply now and join the journey!

The MAC degree program is geared for:

• Individuals who have interest in an aspect of ministry that does not include traditional pastoral ministry
• Individuals who are interested in providing spiritual care in non-traditional settings
• Individuals who may have already completed Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) but who do not hold a Master’s theological degree
• Individuals who have not completed Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) and who do not hold a Master’s theological degree (CPE is incorporated into the course curriculum)
• Individuals who desire to acquire a Master of Arts in Chaplaincy degree as a personal goal
• Individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree or satisfactory educational background from an accredited institution.

The Master of Arts in Chaplaincy degree program is a seventy-two (72)-hour degree for individuals who desire to develop an approach to spiritual care, who possess authentic concern for humankind, and who desire to gain academic and clinical knowledge regarding the spiritual, caregiver, emotional, pastoral support and chaplain roles in diverse contexts. For those who desire, it also includes post-graduation board certification eligibility.

The MAC degree outcomes will allow students to:

• Apply the biblical, theological, and doxological aspects of chaplaincy in pluralistic settings such as churches, direct helping ministries, or the variety of chaplain disciplines that understand and acknowledge the benefits of chaplaincy.
  
• Understand the chaplaincy process of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), its competencies, objectives, and outcomes as endorsed by the Association of Clinical Pastoral Educators (ACPE) www.acpe.edu and the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) www.professionalchaplains.org
  
• Participate in units of Clinical Pastoral Education to complete certification alongside the Master of Arts degree program.
• Apply theological, psychological, ethical, and cultural understandings of real-life caregiving encounters demonstrating effective use of self in the care of others.
• Understand the spiritual needs within interdisciplinary systems where care may be rendered.
• Practice ministerial leadership skills through the delivery of traditional and non-traditional spiritual care.
  
• Acquire knowledge that translates to demonstrating leadership and ministry skills toward living human documents in an ever-changing world and in complex environments to serve the present age.
  
• Skills and knowledge required for chaplain employment opportunities.

Students Will Receive:

• Highly engaged, hands-on traditional, hybrid classes, and online classes.
• Caring, scholarly, and experienced faculty who are practitioners of the subjects they teach and who can provide both expert academic support and individualized spiritual guidance.
• Intentional integration of Bible knowledge, spiritual formation, and ministry skill development.
• Mentored field experience built into the curriculum via Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE).
• Guidance to align the chaplain roles and responsibilities with theological coursework that becomes foundational for chaplain service while teaching the professional and practical knowledge and skills needed to effectively serve diverse recipients of care via the following chaplain disciplines:
  • School Chaplains
  • Healthcare Chaplains
  • First Responder Chaplains
  • Labor/Industrial Chaplains
  • Corporate Chaplains
  • Military Chaplains
  • Music Chaplains
  • Aviation Chaplains
  • Prison/Detention Chaplains
  • Sports Chaplains
  • Environmental Chaplains
  • Movement Chaplains

36 Required Credit Courses:

• Old Testament I
• New Testament I
• History of Christianity in Global Context
• History of Christianity in the United States
• Systematic Theology I OR Systematic Theology II
• Christian Ethics
• Theories in Human Development and Personality
• Introduction to Pastoral Care and Counseling
• Chaplaincy
• Multi-cultural Spiritual/Pastoral Care Ministry
• Professional Ethics for Chaplaincy
• Christian Education Requirement

24 Credit Hours of Clinical Pastoral Education:
Four Units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) are required, which includes additional education and clinical hours as required by ACPE.

12 Credit Hours of Recommended Electives:
Elective choices may be chosen with the guidance of the Director of the Hood Theological Seminary Center For Chaplaincy. Electives will be selected based upon the student’s interest in pursuing chaplaincy in selected fields of interest.

• Death and Dying
• Psychology of Religion
• Listening Skills
• Dynamics in Addiction and Intervention
• Crisis Intervention
• Marriage and Family As System
• Human Sexuality and Spiritual Health
• Seminar in Spiritual/Pastoral Care and Counseling
• Case Study Method in Pastoral Care
• Conflict Resolution
• Forgiveness and Reconciliation in the Healing Process
• Womanist/Feminist Approaches to Spiritual/Pastoral Care
• Power and Violence: A Spiritual/Pastoral Guide to Intimate and Family Violence

Total Hours: 72 (Required and Electives – approximately three years)

Application deadlines

$30 non-refundable application fee (due no later than July 1 for fall semester or December 1 for spring semester made payable to Hood Theological Seminary). Applications for Financial Assistance must be completed and submitted to the Financial Aid Office. Contact Angela Davis-Baxter, Director of Financial Aid &Title IX Coordinator: adavisbaxter@hoodseminary.edu 704-636-6023.

(Please click links for financial aid information):

https://studentaid.gov/

https://www.hoodseminary.edu/future-students/funding-your-education/financial-aid

Application Requirements

1. Prior Education: Official transcripts from all previous undergraduate and graduate institutions must be submitted to the Admission’s Office reflecting a 2.5 GPA or higher. A bachelor’s degree (or its educational equivalent) at a high level of achievement from an accredited institution is a prerequisite for admissions.
2. Statement of Purpose: The applicant will write a 4-to-5-page paper (double-spaced) outlining the following:

• Reasonably Full Account of Your Life that include aspects of your character and belief system.
• Detail of your education and work/vocational history
• Your understanding of: 1) chaplaincy and your understanding of spiritual care; 2) your reasons for seeking a chaplaincy degree, 3) and your plans to utilize such a degree.
• Your perceived strengths and potential areas for development.
• The life experiences that have most significantly shaped you and piqued your chaplaincy interest.
  
• Document can be emailed to kowens@hoodseminary.edu

1. References: Two letters of recommendation. One letter must be from a faculty member of an institution from which you have earned a degree or another person who can speak to your potential for graduate-level study. The second recommendation must be from an individual who can speak to your potential for service as a chaplain.
2. Interview: An interview with the Director of the Center For Chaplaincy will be scheduled once the items listed above are submitted.
   
   

All completed applications are reviewed by the HTS Admissions Committee. For information regarding tuition and fees, click the following link: https://hoodseminary.edu/future-students/funding-your-education/tuition--fees

Dr. Clay Barrow
Director, Center For Chaplaincy,
cbarrow@hoodseminary.edu