Theology and Health Care Certificate
Program Code: D-THC-R-C
Degree Designation: Certificate
Department: Divinity School
Website: divinity.duke.edu/academics/certificate-theology-and-health-care
Program Summary
This certificate is available to students who are not enrolled in a degree program at the Divinity School. Students enrolled in the MDiv (residential or hybrid), MTS, MA, or ThM degree programs may alternatively pursue the Certificate in Theology, Medicine, and Culture.
The Certificate in Theology and Health Care prepares students for robust theological and practical engagement with contemporary practices in medicine and health care. The certificate will be of special interest to those with vocations in health care (e.g., trainees or practitioners of medicine, nursing, and other health care professions) who seek theological formation and further confidence engaging questions of suffering, illness, and the place of health care in a faithful life. There are two pathways for certificate completion: residential or hybrid.
The residential certificate is typically completed in one year of full-time residential study and formation at Duke Divinity School. Six classes must be completed to earn the certificate, though many students will choose to enroll in additional courses. One elective course may be taken as P/F with approval of the instructor.
Dual Programs with the Duke School of Medicine
The residential certificate is available to students in the Occupational Therapy program (OTD) at Duke with amended requirements integrated into the OTD degree. Students must apply and be accepted into each program separately. For OTD students, the program requires 5 units for completion and other integrative components. The residential certificate is also available to Doctor of Medicine students during their third/research year in the MD degree program. For MD students, the certificate requires 6 units for completion.
Pathways for C-THC to Divinity School Degree Programs
A C-THC student may apply for matriculation in Fall to MTS, MA, MDiv (residential or hybrid) degree programs. While most do this for the academic year post the C-THC, students are eligible to come back to the Divinity School within the parameters of the Transfer Credit Policy, namely that a possible return is initiated within five years of the C-THC. The student can transfer no more than 10 units of C-THC courses to the degree program, thus more than allowed in the Transfer Credit Policy. Students who took Cultivating Christian Imagination courses may apply for advanced placement with one or both of the CCI courses for Church History, Theology, or Ethics core courses. Some C-THC courses may count as Limited Electives for the residential MDiv and hybrid MDiv programs. Students must complete the degree requirements for each program. C-THC students who wish to apply for a degree program should start by contacting the Office of Admissions. A streamlined application process will be available, and C-THC applicants will need to follow stated admission deadlines.
Academic Requirements
Requirements for Residential Divinity Students and Dual Program with Doctor of Medicine
2 core courses focused on scripture, Christian theology, and/or church history. A comprehensive list of courses is available to students in the degree audit system.
XTIANETH 761 and 763 (Health Care in Theological Context I & II), a two-semester course focused on the intersection of theology and medicine. Students may also elect to take XTIANSTU 705 and 706 (Cultivating Christian Imagination), a two-semester course that combines scripture, history, and theology in a sweeping tour of Christian tradition and the practices of Christian communities.
XTIANSTU 707 (Spiritual Formation and Community Engagement for Theology, Medicine and Culture), a two-semester course that combines best practices of scripture reflection, Christian spiritual formation and disciplines, and mentoring as students discern what faithful practices look like in their contexts (TMC Fellows participate together in a dedicated section of this course).
Optional completion of 2 (or more) elective courses offered within the Divinity School.
Requirements for Occupational Therapy Students
XTIANETH 761 and 763 (Health Care in Theological Context I & II), a two-semester course focused on the intersection of theology and medicine. Students may also elect to take XTIANSTU 705 and 706 (Cultivating Christian Imagination), a two-semester course that combines scripture, history, and theology in a sweeping tour of Christian tradition and the practices of Christian communities.
XTIANSTU 705 and 706 (Cultivating Christian Imagination I & II)
1 elective course from Divinity Theology, Medicine, Culture (TMC) or OTD designed for this program.
Requirements Fulfilled in the OTD Program
OTD Formation for Service Courses I – V and OTD Capstone Courses I and II
OTD Capstone Experience with at least one learning objective clearly connected to the C-THC
Presentation of Capstone project and experience at the OTD Scholarship Week