Theology and Health Care Certificate (Hybrid)
Program Code: D-THC-H-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 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. There are two pathways for certificate completion: residential or hybrid.
The hybrid certificate is completed in one year of study at the Divinity School, consisting of both residential and online components.
The Health Care Track is designed for those who are working in general medical contexts (e.g., trainees or practitioners of medicine, nursing, occupational and physical therapy, and other health care professions).
The Mental Health Track is designed for those working in mental health contexts (e.g., trainees or practitioners in social work, clinical psychology, marriage & family therapy, psychiatric nursing, counseling, psychiatry, and licensed addiction counseling).
One elective course in each track may be taken as P/F with approval of the instructor.
Pathways for C-THC to Divinity 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 the 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
Health Care Track (complete all)
XTIANETH 761 (Health Care in Theological Context I)
XTIANETH 763 (Health Care in Theological Context II)
XTIANSTU 705 (Cultivating Christian Imagination I)
XTIANSTU 706 (Cultivating Christian Imagination II)
Spiritual Formation: Repeat XTIANSTU 708 at least 2 times
CGPA greater than or equal to 3.0
Mental Health Track (complete all)
XTIANETH 761 (Health Care in Theological Context I)
XTIANSTU 705 (Cultivating Christian Imagination I)
XTIANSTU 706 (Cultivating Christian Imagination II)
PASTCARE 779 (Christian Approaches to Mental Health Care)
Spiritual Formation (complete all)
XTIANSTU 708 Spiritual Formation and Vocation in Health Care
XTIANSTU 709 Spiritual Formation and Vocation in Mental Health Care
CGPA greater than or equal to 3.0
Requirements for Hybrid Students – Health Care Track
Completion of 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;
Completion of XTIANETH 761 (Health Care in Theological Context I), a fall course that engages suffering, illness, disability, and contemporary practices of health care in the light of Christian history, theology, and practice.
Completion of XTIANETH 763 (Health Care in Theological Context II), a spring course that engages contemporary bioethical topics in the light of Christian history, theology, and practice.
Completion of XTIANSTU 708 (Spiritual Formation and Vocation in Health Care), a two-semester course that combines best practices of scripture reflection, Christian spirituality, and Christian spiritual formation and disciplines, and mentoring as students discern what faithful practices look like in their contexts. Health Care Track students will meet in a separate section in the spring.
Optional completion of two (or more) elective courses offered within the Divinity School.
Requirements for Hybrid Students - Mental Health Track
Completion of 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;
Completion of XTIANETH 761 (Health Care in Theological Context I), a fall course that engages suffering, illness, disability, and contemporary practices of health care in the light of Christian history, theology, and practice;
Completion of PASTCARE 779 (Christian Approaches to Mental Health Care), a course focusing on theological engagement with mental health challenges and the practices of mental health care.
Completion of XTIANSTU 708 and 709 (Spiritual Formation and Vocation in Health Care and Spiritual Formation and Vocation in Mental Health Care), a two-semester course that combines best practices of scripture reflection, Christian spirituality, and Christian spiritual formation and disciplines, and mentoring as students discern what faithful practices look like in their contexts. Mental Health Track students will meet in a separate section in the spring.
Optional completion of two (or more) elective courses offered within the Divinity School.