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Chaplaincy Certificate

Program Code: D-CHAPL-C
Degree Designation: Certificate
Department: Divinity School
Website: intranet.divinity.duke.edu/certificate-info-requirements

Program Summary

The Certificate in Chaplaincy is designed to prepare students for vocational chaplaincy in a variety of contexts, including healthcare, hospice, prison, higher education, military, and more. The certificate can be earned as part of a residential master’s degree program (Residential MDiv, ThM, and MTS).

Duke Divinity offers a robust, distinctive Christian theological approach to chaplaincy through academic and formation experiences and high-quality contextual learning opportunities with partners such as Duke University Hospital, Duke Chapel, and others.

Academic Requirements

This certificate can be earned as part of a residential master’s degree program (Residential MDiv, ThM, and MTS).

MDVR Requirements

  • 3 Courses

    • PASTCARE 760

    • PASTCARE 860

    • 1 Chaplaincy-Related Elective*

  • Spiritual Formation

    • 1 course CHURMIN 704-713

  • Approved Formational Experience**

  • Middler Portfolio Conversation with Certificate Director

  • 1 Unit of CPE

MTS Requirements

  • 3 Courses

    • PASTCARE 760

    • PASTCARE 860

    • 1 Chaplaincy-Related Elective*

  • Spiritual Formation

    • 1 course CHURMIN 704-713

  • Approved Formational Experience**

  • Thesis with a focus or subfocus related to chaplaincy or pastoral care

ThM Requirements

  • 2 Courses

    • PASTCARE 860

    • 1 Chaplaincy-Related Elective*

  • Approved Formational Experience**

  • Thesis with a focus or subfocus related to chaplaincy or pastoral care

*The elective choice—a course focused on topics relevant to the context of chaplaincy--can include topics such as advanced pastoral care, institutional type of ministry (military, higher education, healthcare, etc.); religious diversity or interreligious engagement; or a course specific to the interest of the student. All are with the pre-approval of the certificate director.

**The focused formational experience should give the student insight and experience into a particular form of chaplaincy. This might include participating in Chaplaincy Innovation Lab webinars, Field Education, shadowing a chaplain, work-study, and more, with the approval of the certificate director.