Bring Spiritual Guidance to Others with Liberty’s M.Div. in Professional Chaplaincy
Chaplaincy is an important profession because it allows Christianity and spiritual guidance to be brought into every type of setting. From military combat and hospital visits to school or work crises, a chaplain can be the remedy people need in whatever situation they are facing. By pursuing Liberty University’s Master of Divinity in Professional Chaplaincy, you can be the person to bring guidance, support, and care to others from a Christian perspective.
Our chaplain degrees are diverse enough to help meet the specific goals you have set for your professional life. We offer a 75-credit-hour general track that can prepare you to work with employees, students, athletes, and more in the setting that is most familiar to them. Additionally, we offer 93-credit-hour tracks in military, community, and healthcare that can help you hone your skills in one of these areas.
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.
Accreditation
Liberty University’s John W. Rawlings School of Divinity is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). Your seminary degree is approved by ATS and has met rigorous accreditation standards. So you can feel confident that your degree is both academically excellent and well-respected among churches, ministries, and nonprofit organizations.
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Award-Winning Campus
At Liberty, you’ll find an affordable, high-quality education that equips students like you for the real world. Our commitment to excellence helped us rank 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.
Why Choose Liberty’s Professional Chaplaincy Master’s Program?
Choosing where to pursue your degree is a crucial decision. Because our mission at Liberty University is Training Champions for Christ, we strive for excellence in all that we do. Here are some of the ways our professional chaplaincy program stands out:
All of our Master of Divinity professors have years of real-life experience in ministry. Some have pastored churches, run nonprofit organizations, and authored Christian books. Additionally, they have each earned their doctorate in a divinity-related field. Your program will be enriched by the knowledge and experience they have gained throughout their years of professional ministry.
Your residential program is offered in a way that allows you to complete your degree while still dedicating time to your ministry and family. Several courses are available online, in an intensive format, or as part of our Monday-only class option. Additionally, you have the flexibility to choose the specialization that best fits your goals, which opens up additional options for the number of CPE units you will complete as well as the opportunity to complete a thesis or internship.
In ministry, the best tool for learning is experience. Your professional chaplaincy degree contains hands-on practice to make sure you are well-prepared for your career by graduation. CPE units will provide you with the supervision of a Liberty-trained mentor in a clinical setting. Plus, some of our specializations allow you to choose an optional internship.
As a Christian university, we incorporate biblical principles into every course. Your classes will all be taught from a conservative, evangelical perspective so you are ready to use these values in your career as a chaplain. Additionally, each of our professors is a Christian, and they are committed to guiding you both academically and spiritually throughout your program.
What Will You Learn in Our Professional Chaplaincy Master’s Degree?
Throughout your chaplaincy degree, you will receive all the training your need to be a spiritual leader – the same training that is required of pastors, Christian ministry associates, and parachurch administrators. You will take courses that cover 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.
Additionally, you can choose one of the following specializations: general, community, healthcare, or military. Your specialization will provide you with focused courses that will help you learn to teach and lead others in the particular area that you choose. You will also have the option of personalizing your degree with a thesis, internship, and CPE courses depending on your professional goals.
Featured Courses
CHPL 500 – Introduction to Chaplaincy Ministry
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- Ministry in religiously pluralistic, multicultural, and multi-staff environments
- Similarities and differences among the various types of chaplaincies
- Skills, strategies, and character traits necessary for effective ministry
- Theological and cultural issues found in both formal and informal ministry settings
CHPL 598 – Spiritual and Professional Development of the Chaplain
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- How various chaplain ministries operate
- The biblical nature of chaplain ministry and its practical application within the secular and pluralistic contexts of the military, healthcare, and community chaplain settings
- The formation of godly character necessary for successful chaplain ministry
- The professional and spiritual formation of chaplains
CHPL 615 – Chaplain Ethics for Advisement and Pastoral Care
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- Chaplain ethical advisement of leaders and followers within the military, healthcare, and community chaplain environments
- Preparation for ethical dilemmas through the development of an ethical decision model and personal code of ethics
- The ethics of evangelism and exercising one’s faith in a pluralistic culture
- The methodology and practice of biblical ethics applied within the secular and pluralistic contexts where chaplains serve
CHPL 655 – Chaplain Evangelism and Discipleship
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- Evangelism follow-up, discipleship, and Scripture memorization
- How to wisely share the Gospel in military, healthcare, and community settings
- The biblical imperative of evangelism and various methods of witnessing in pluralistic cultures
Career Opportunities for M.Div. in Professional Chaplaincy Graduates
- Corporate chaplain
- Hospice chaplain
- Hospital chaplain*
- Law enforcement/first responder chaplain
- Military chaplain
- Pastor
- Prison chaplain
- Youth pastor
*May require 4 units of CPE and board certification
