M.Div. in Professional Chaplaincy – Healthcare

Provide Support to Patients and Healthcare Workers with a Degree in Professional Chaplaincy

Healthcare chaplaincy is a career field that is in need of well-trained, caring professionals. There are many situations where healthcare workers, patients, and families need spiritual guidance and support – which makes chaplains a valuable asset. As a chaplain, you could come alongside someone who is facing the reality of a terminal illness, help them process their grief, and even read them their last rites. Chaplains are spiritual leaders who serve outside of a regular church setting, and healthcare chaplains, in particular, tend to the spiritual needs of those who are at their most vulnerable state – whether in hospitals, treatment facilities, hospice, or palliative care.

At Liberty University, you can receive the training and knowledge you’ll need to pursue this career field by earning our Master of Divinity (M.Div.) in Professional Chaplaincy – Healthcare. Our program contains foundational knowledge needed for any spiritual leader, courses relating specifically to chaplaincy, and information on working with people who are a part of the healthcare system.

You can also complete Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) units as a part of your program, which can make you immediately employable upon graduation. CPE is designed to take you outside of the typical ministry setting and receive guidance under a Liberty-trained mentor. You will learn to better engage with peers, formulate your calling to chaplaincy from your faith tradition, and articulate the core values of your spiritual heritage and theological understanding.

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Why Choose Liberty’s Healthcare Chaplaincy Degree?

At Liberty University, our mission is Training Champions for Christ – so we strive for excellence in all that we do. We believe that choosing where to pursue your degree is an important decision. Here are some of the reasons that Liberty stands out:

• Experienced professors are available to help you through your academic journey, provide you with valuable first-hand knowledge in the field, and guide you in your continued walk with Christ.
• Our residential program provides you with the flexibility to continue to dedicate time to your ministry and family while pursuing your degree. We have optional online and Monday-only classes as well as the option to pursue CPE units or an internship.
• You’ll receive hands-on training in your program so you can be fully prepared to step into ministry as a chaplain upon graduation.
• We incorporate biblical principles into all of our classes preparing you to start your career with integrity.

CPE Training

To work as a healthcare chaplain, you’ll typically need to be board certified by a chaplaincy organization – which requires completion of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) training. Liberty University is an ACPE (Association for Clinical Pastoral Education)-accredited CPE Center. Upon completion of the appropriate CPE units through Liberty’s MDiv program, you may be eligible for board certification.

With mentorship from experienced chaplaincy professionals,  you can gain the skills you need without compromising your principles in order to serve as a chaplain. Our flexible format allows you to choose how you complete your CPE units – either as residential intensives or with a CPE program in your community. These units are available as on-campus modules accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) or as online courses to guide you through your local CPE program.

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What Will You Learn in Our Master’s in Chaplaincy and Healthcare Degree?

As a chaplain, you will need the same foundational training as pastors and other evangelical leaders. Our professional chaplaincy degree will provide you with courses covering these foundational topics. You’ll study subjects like biblical leadership, world religions, expository preaching, theology, and more. Upon successful completion of this program, you will be able to:

• Develop a global Great Commission perspective that demonstrates the proclamation and application of the Gospel and disciple-making process.
• Examine major critical issues in the Old and New Testaments from a conservative evangelical perspective while exhibiting knowledge of the literature appropriate to the discipline of biblical studies.
• Examine theological positions on key doctrinal questions and issues in Christian thought.

For your healthcare concentration, you will take courses on resilient leadership and healthcare chaplaincy. You can also personalize your degree to fit your specific career goals. You may choose to complete CPE units as residential intensives or with a CPE program in your community – or you could choose to complete an internship. Either of these options will provide you with hands-on experience in chaplaincy prior to graduation.

Review the Degree Completion Plan, and check out our featured courses below to learn more about what you’ll be studying!

Featured Courses