Divinity with a Concentration in Chaplaincy (MDiv)
The M.Div. with the Chaplaincy concentration prepares students for the process to be certified as a Board Certified Chaplain (BCC via BCCI) with the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) or The National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC). On the IPS website, you can learn more about Chaplaincy.
CURRICULUM
The Master of Divinity, M.Div. degree is a 72-credit-hour (24-course) degree program that builds on top of the Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies (MAPS) degree program. All components of the M.Div. Chaplaincy concentration, except for Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), can be completed online or on-campus. Some courses are also available in the summer through the IPS Rome program. Students can complete the CPE requirement at any ACPE accredited location (across the USA).
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Understanding | ||
| Context | ||
| IPS 555 | Human Person and Psychological Development | 3 |
| IPS 532 | Social Context of Ministry | 3 |
| Scripture | ||
| IPS 417 | Introduction to the Old Testament | 3 |
| IPS 416 | Introduction to New Testament | 3 |
| Scripture Electives | 3 | |
| Systematic Theology | ||
| IPS 570 | Introduction to Theology and Ministry | 3 |
| IPS 531 | Christian Doctrine | 3 |
| IPS 402 | Church and Mission | 3 |
| IPS 404 | Theologies of Suffering | 3 |
| Ethics | ||
| IPS 553 | Moral Theology and Christian Ethics | 3 |
| Healthcare/BioEthics Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Christian Living | ||
| IPS 541 | Liturgy and Christian Sacraments | 3 |
| IPS 545 | The Foundations of Christian Spirituality | 3 |
| IPS 403 | Spiritual Paths in World Religions | 3 |
| Spirituality Elective | 3 | |
| Ministerial Practice | ||
| IPS 560 | Liturgical Leadership | 3 |
| IPS 565 | Pastoral Leadership | 3 |
| IPS 564 | Foundations of Pastoral Care | 3 |
| Ministerial Electives | ||
| Four (4) Elective Courses | 12 | |
| Optional Elective for those seeking APC Certification 2 | ||
| Contextual Education | ||
| IPS 580 | Contextual Education I | 3 |
| IPS 581 | Contextual Education II | 3 |
| IPS 530 | Clinical Pastoral Care Registration | 0 |
| Final Integration Project | ||
| IPS 493 | Health Care Integration Project Portfolio | 0 |
| Total Hours | 72 | |
- 1
If student is going into chaplaincy in a different area, e.g., prison chaplaincy, a different ethics elective may be substituted here.
A variety of bioethics courses are offered through Loyola's Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics.
- 2
Additional 3 credit hours
Ministerial Practice
7 courses, 21 credit hours
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| IPS 560 | Liturgical Leadership | 3 |
| IPS 565 | Pastoral Leadership | 3 |
| IPS 564 | Foundations of Pastoral Care | 3 |
| Ministerial Electives | ||
| Select four courses | 12 | |
| Optional Elective for those seeking APC Certification 1 | (0) | |
| Total Hours | 21 | |
- 1
Additional 3 hours
Contextual Education
Based on the requirements for Board Certification as a chaplain, the M.Div.—Chaplaincy concentration requires students to complete four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). Three of these units must be submitted for Advanced Standing credits for two Contextual Education courses (6 credit hours): IPS 580 Contextual Education I and IPS 581 Contextual Education II.1 More information on CPE can be found here. During the fourth and final unit of CPE, students must concurrently register for IPS 530 Clinical Pastoral Care Registration, a zero credit registration course.
- 1
Certification through APC only allows 1 unit of CPE to count for 3 credits towards the 72 credits of graduate work required. Students who plan to seek board certification may need to take an additional 3 credit elective.
M.Div. Midpoint Review
When students reach the half-way point in their coursework, they begin preparing for contextual education. As part of this preparation process, students will also do a Midpoint Review. The student will write a brief statement (3-4 pages) on his or her “Vocational Identity, Vision, and Practice." This statement will first be approved by the Faculty Coordinator for Contextual Education. It will be submitted to the student's advisor, and the student and advisor will meet to discuss the statement and the student's progress toward the completion of the M.Div. program. Alternatively, if the advisor has concerns about the student’s progress, further work may be requested to successfully complete this review (e.g., further units of CPE, spiritual direction, or pastoral counseling, re-taking courses in which one did not receive a grade of C or higher, etc.). Failure to successfully complete this review and/or any additional steps requested in this process may be grounds for dismissal from the program.
Final Integration Project
The final program requirement is IPS 493 Health Care Integration Project Portfolio. In IPS 493 Health Care Integration Project Portfolio, students are mentored in the process of preparing the materials required to sit for board certification.
More information about the vocation of chaplaincy can be found here.
To learn more about the Spiritual Direction concentration, please fill out our request for information form or attend an information session.
Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations
Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
MDiv (Master of Divinity)
By completing the Master of Divinity, students will be able to demonstrate:
- The ability to interpret pastoral circumstances in relation to scripture, tradition, and human sciences; (Theology/Religious Heritage).
- The ability to engage, transform, and/or critique social, economic, political, and ecclesial realities of our day in order to address the changing landscape of ministry. (Cultural Context)
- The ability to engage the relevant dimensions of Christian faith, discipleship and ministry with interpersonal, spiritual, and ecclesial maturity. (Maturity/Personal Formation)
- The ability to be present to the person and community’s condition and environments by developing skills to discern and describe the ministry required; (Skills/Ministerial Leadership)
- The ability to construct ministerial vision and formulate ministerial strategies to effect personal and community transformation.
- By completing the Concentration in Chaplaincy, students will be able to demonstrate an understanding and personal integration of methods of pastoral care appropriate to the healthcare setting, supported by a conceptual foundation of theology and ethics.
- By completing the Concentration in Chaplaincy, students will be able to demonstrate a competency to obtain certification as a Board Certified Chaplain (BCC) with The National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC), The Association of Professional Chaplains (APC), or other recognized national certifying association.