Master of Divinity (MDiv) in Healthcare Chaplaincy
Provide Support to Patients and Healthcare Workers with a Master of Divinity in Healthcare Chaplaincy
If you feel called to provide spiritual care in healthcare settings, Liberty University’s Master of Divinity (MDiv) in Healthcare Chaplaincy can help you gain the knowledge and training needed to serve patients, families, and medical professionals. Healthcare environments can be emotionally and spiritually challenging, and chaplains play a vital role in offering comfort, guidance, and support. Whether you are walking alongside someone facing a terminal illness, helping a family navigate grief, or offering prayer and encouragement to healthcare workers, this program can help you develop the skills needed to minister effectively in hospitals, treatment centers, hospices, and other medical settings.
This degree provides a strong foundation in biblical studies, theology, and pastoral care while incorporating courses specifically focused on chaplaincy. You can also explore the unique responsibilities of healthcare chaplains and learn how to meet the spiritual needs of individuals in critical situations. Through Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), you have the opportunity to receive hands-on training under the guidance of a Liberty-trained mentor. CPE can help you refine your ability to engage with peers, clarify your calling to chaplaincy, and deepen your understanding of spiritual care within the healthcare system.
Our program and courses aim to provide you with enhanced practical training and a comprehensive theological education. The curriculum includes courses focused on practical ministry skills, intercultural engagement, and leadership development, providing you with an opportunity to become well-prepared for diverse ministry contexts.
By pursuing this degree, you can learn how to serve as a compassionate presence for those in need – offering hope, encouragement, and spiritual leadership in some of life’s most difficult moments.
Credit Hours
View CoursesNext start date: Aug 18, 2025
ATS Accredited
Highlights
Highlights of Our MDiv in Chaplaincy Healthcare Degree
Build Real-World Ministry Experience
As a student in Liberty’s MDiv in Chaplaincy Healthcare program, you’ll gain hands-on experience through Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) units, local church ministry training, and fieldwork with church and parachurch organizations. These opportunities are designed to help you develop the practical skills and compassionate presence needed to serve individuals and families in healthcare settings.
Train in a State-of-the-Art Homiletics Lab
Located within the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity, our advanced homiletics teaching lab provides you with the tools and technology to strengthen your communication and preaching skills. Whether you’re delivering a message in a hospital chapel or providing spiritual care at a bedside, this training helps prepare you to lead with confidence and clarity.
Access a World-Class Biblical Resource Center
Liberty’s Scriptorium offers a one-of-a-kind experience, featuring the Rawlings Foundation’s rare books collection valued at over $1 million. You’ll also find a 111-foot-long Torah scroll from the 16th century and a functioning replica of the Gutenberg Printing Press—giving you a deeper connection to the historical and theological foundations of your calling.
Learn from Faculty with Ministry Expertise
You’ll be guided by theologians, missionaries, and chaplains who bring real-world ministry experience into the classroom. Their mentorship will not only strengthen your theological understanding but also help you navigate the emotional and spiritual complexities of healthcare chaplaincy with wisdom, grace, and biblical truth.
Career Potential
What Can You Do with a Master of Divinity (MDiv) in Healthcare Chaplaincy Degree?
Liberty University’s Master of Divinity in Healthcare Chaplaincy can help prepare you to pursue the following occupations:
- Healthcare chaplain
- Pastoral counselor
- Spiritual care coordinator
- Visitation pastor
- Hospice chaplain
- Senior pastor
- Spiritual care director
#4 Best College Campus in America
At Liberty, you’ll find an affordable, high-quality education designed to help equip students like you for the real world. Our commitment to excellence has earned us recognition as the #4 Best College Campus in America by Niche.com.
Earning your degree from a nonprofit university with state-of-the-art resources like ours can help set you apart from your peers.
Courses
What Will You Study in Our MDiv in Healthcare Chaplaincy Program?
As a current or aspiring chaplain, you can benefit from the same foundational training as pastors and other evangelical leaders. Liberty University’s Master of Divinity (MDiv) in Healthcare Chaplaincy can help you develop this foundation while equipping you with specialized knowledge for ministering in medical settings. Through courses in biblical leadership, world religions, foundational homiletics, and theology, you can deepen your understanding of Scripture and learn how to apply it in a chaplaincy role.
This program also allows you to explore key theological topics, analyze major issues in the Old and New Testaments from a conservative evangelical perspective, and develop a Great Commission approach to ministry. With the healthcare chaplaincy concentration, you can take courses in resilient leadership and spiritual care in medical settings, helping you prepare to provide comfort and guidance in hospitals, hospices, and other healthcare environments.
To further tailor your studies, you have the opportunity to complete Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) units through residential intensives. These experiences can help you refine your skills and gain practical ministry training before graduation.
Featured MDiv in Healthcare Chaplaincy Courses
CHPL 500 – Introduction to Chaplaincy Ministry
CHPL 598 – Spiritual and Professional Development of the Chaplain
CHPL 615 – Chaplain Ethics for Advisement and Pastoral Care
CHPL 681 – Healthcare Chaplaincy
Degree Information
- This program falls under the Liberty Theological Seminary
- View the Degree Completion Plan (coming soon)
- Check out our course catalog
- Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Accreditation
Your seminary degree is approved by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and has met rigorous accreditation standards. You can feel confident that your degree is both academically excellent and well-respected among churches, ministries, and nonprofit organizations.
BENEFITS
Why Choose Liberty’s MDiv in Healthcare Chaplaincy Degree?
Grow Academically, Spiritually, and Professionally
Liberty University’s Master of Divinity (MDiv) in Healthcare Chaplaincy is designed to support your development in every area of life. You’ll study in a Christ-centered environment that prioritizes both academic excellence and spiritual formation. From your first course to your final training experience, you’ll be equipped to serve others with theological depth, biblical conviction, and compassionate care.
Develop Practical Skills for Real-World Ministry
This program provides hands-on chaplaincy training that prepares you to serve in hospitals, hospice care, and other healthcare environments. Every course is grounded in Scripture, helping you build a strong theological foundation while learning how to offer spiritual support with wisdom, empathy, and integrity. You’ll be mentored by professors who bring real ministry experience into the classroom and care deeply about your personal growth.
Train Through ACPE-Accredited CPE Intensives
To become a board-certified healthcare chaplain, Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is typically required, and Liberty University is an ACPE-accredited CPE Center. Through our program, you’ll complete the necessary CPE units in on-campus intensives, gaining vital experience in spiritual care and pastoral counseling. This training not only fulfills certification requirements but also deepens your practical readiness for chaplaincy.
Receive Mentorship from Seasoned Chaplaincy Professionals
Throughout your time at Liberty, you’ll be guided by chaplains and ministry leaders who understand the challenges and responsibilities of healthcare chaplaincy. Their mentorship can help you navigate the certification process, develop strong interpersonal skills, and remain rooted in your Christian values as you prepare to serve in emotionally complex and spiritually critical settings.
Admissions
How Do You Become a Master of Divinity (MDiv) in Healthcare Chaplaincy Student?
Every application is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and all applicants must submit the following documents and meet the minimum requirements for admission:
- Admission application
- Official transcripts showing a regionally or nationally accredited bachelor’s degree with at least a 2.0 GPA for admission in good standing
- John W. Rawlings School of Divinity Questionnaire
- Pastoral recommender contact information
- Self-certification form (for students who are in the final term of their bachelor’s degree)
- Current Liberty undergraduate students seeking preliminary acceptance into a graduate program must complete a degree completion application through their ASIST account
Have Questions?
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