Master of Divinity (MDiv) 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 explore the unique responsibilities of healthcare chaplains and learn how to meet the spiritual needs of individuals in critical situations. Clinical Pastoral Education (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 better 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.

90

Credit Hours

View Courses

Next start date: Aug 18, 2025

Degree ATS

ATS Accredited


Build Real-World Ministry Experience

As a student in Liberty’s MDiv in Healthcare Chaplaincy program, you’ll gain hands-on experience through Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) units. 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 can help 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 can 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.


Liberty University’s Master of Divinity in Healthcare Chaplaincy can help prepare you to pursue the following occupations:

  • Healthcare chaplain
  • Hospice chaplain
  • Pastoral counselor
  • Senior pastor
  • Spiritual care coordinator
  • Spiritual care director
  • Visitation pastor
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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, and foundational homiletics, 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. These experiences can help you refine your skills and gain practical ministry training before graduation.

Degree Information

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 can become 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 can help prepare 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 CPE Units

To become a board-certified healthcare chaplain, Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is typically required. Through our program, you’ll complete the necessary CPE units, gaining vital experience in spiritual care and pastoral counseling. This training can not only help fulfill certification requirements but also help deepen 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 develop strong interpersonal skills, and remain rooted in your Christian values as you prepare to serve in emotionally complex and spiritually critical settings.

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: