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 pursue a certificate in theology, medicine, and culture instead.

The certificate in theology and health care prepares Duke Divinity School students for robust theological and practical engagement with contemporary practices in medicine and health care. The certificate in theology and health care 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.

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.

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. The program requires 5 units for completion and other integrative components.
The residential certificate is also available to Doctor of Medicine students during the third year of student counting toward the research year in the MD degree program. The program 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 for one or both of the CCI 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.