Request Info Apply

Online Certificate in Basic Chaplaincy

At A Glance

5 Courses
1 Year
100% Online

Cost Per Semester Credit Hour

$499*

Semester Credit Hours

15

Tuition Cost for Entire Program

$7,485*

* All stated financial information is subject to change.

Meet People in the Hard Moments

What does it mean to be a chaplain? How do you communicate with people from a wide variety of spiritual, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds? Chaplains are often called to provide support and comfort in hard moments – a role that requires both practice and expertise. This certificate will provide a basic overview of the chaplain field and the opportunity to practice communicating effectively and empathetically with diverse people.

Chaplain providing support to a person in difficult situation

Do you want to explore chaplaincy?

The Certificate of Basic Chaplaincy provides foundational knowledge and skills in the field of chaplaincy, but does not lead to certification as a chaplain. If you’d like to pursue official Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) certification as a chaplain, our seminary offers a chaplaincy specialization as a part of an ATS-accredited Master of Divinity program.

What Will I Study?

  • The essential duties of chaplain as provider, facilitator, caregiver and advisor
  • New insights into chaplaincy concepts, theories and methods
  • Causes of stress and how they impact the body psychologically, physiologically and spiritually
  • Cultural and gender implications of stress
  • The physical, psychological, spiritual and cultural impacts of grief and loss
  • Reflect on the holistic approach to helping those impacted by grief and loss
  • Your individual sense of identity in Jesus Christ, active engagement with the Holy Spirit, and a sense of purpose in God’s greater plan
  • How to communicate effectively and empathetically with people from a variety of spiritual and cultural worldviews, particularly in the practice of discipling others

Why Study Chaplaincy?

  • Pursue advanced learning in a growing field
  • Add an emphasis to an existing major of study
  • Highlight a specialization in your current or future occupation, and/or
  • Demonstrate higher-level learning in these areas to graduate schools

Certificate in Basic Chaplaincy Requirements

Certificate in Basic Chaplaincy (18 credit hours)

Complete the following:

Not all courses are offered every year. The certificate is successfully finished when all certificate courses are completed with grades of C- or better and a certificate GPA of 2.0 or above.

Students must complete 6 credits of MGOL 275: Field Experience.

This course introduces students to what chaplaincy is and is not, the various organizations that utilize chaplains, and how chaplains of different worldviews interact with those who call on them. Students will be introduced to concepts and techniques that successful chaplains use as providers, facilitators, caregivers, and advisors.
This course will examine the physical, psychological, spiritual, and cultural impacts of grief and loss as a human experience. Throughout the course, students will discuss a holistic approach to understanding the many aspects of grief, loss, bereavement, and healing. Students will also explore strategies and skills to respond to grief and loss.
In this course, students will explore the orthodoxy (right thinking), orthopraxy (right behaviors), and orthopathy (right feelings) of spiritual formation, asking such essential questions as, “Who am I?”, “How do I view God?”, and “How does my faith impact how I engage with those around me?” As students consider effective ways to articulate and communicate a deepening relationship with God, they will also explore specific spiritual practices and the art of discipling others within a faith community.
This course incorporates a theoretical and experiential exploration of the causes and effects of stress physiologically and psychologically. Students will be introduced to physical, mental, and spiritual techniques to understand and reduce stress and increase relaxation.
Supervised experiences in businesses, nonprofit organizations, and public agencies.

How to Apply

  1. Apply Online

    Create an account with a username and password and complete the certificates application online for admission into any of the certificate programs

    New Applicants Returning Applicants

  2. Connect with an Admissions Counselor

    An admissions counselor will reach out about any next steps to get started in the certificate program.

  3. Pay Tuition Deposit

    To hold your spot, you’ll need to submit a $100 tuition deposit,* which will apply toward tuition for your first course.

    *A $100 tuition deposit is required for non-degree certificate students. The deposit is held on the student account and applied to satisfy costs of enrollment. If the student cancels or withdraws, the balance is applied first to outstanding costs and otherwise is forfeited.

  4. Enroll in Courses

    You’ll enroll in the first course of your certificate program!

Tuition and Financial Aid

three graduates celebrating with their diplomas

Tuition for all online certificates costs $499 per credit hour. Each class is generally three credits. The total cost for the Certificate in Basic Chaplaincy is $7,485 over a 12-month period.

Payment plans are available. Financial aid is not available for certificates at this time.

Keep Moving Forward

three graduates celebrating with their diplomas

Credits you earn in this certificate program will count toward a bachelor’s degree in our Accelerated Online Degree Program. If you’re interested in learning more about applying credits to a bachelor’s degree, contact our admissions team today!

questions?