Chaplaincy Concentration

Prepare for ministry of presence, care, and compassion in clinical and public settings.

BSK’s Chaplaincy concentration for the Master of Divinity degree equips students to offer spiritual care in times of crisis, trauma, and transition.

What is Chaplaincy?

Chaplaincy is a vocation of spiritual care carried into places where people experience profound need—hospitals, military contexts, correctional facilities, and other public settings. Chaplains accompany individuals and families through illness, loss, uncertainty, and hope, offering a steady and compassionate presence.

Where You’ll Serve

Students preparing for chaplaincy may be called to serve in a variety of settings, including:

  • Hospitals and healthcare systems
  • Hospice and palliative care
  • Military contexts
  • Correctional facilities
  • Educational and nonprofit institutions

Formation for Chaplaincy

The Chaplaincy concentration integrates theological study, pastoral care, and clinical formation.

Students are invited into a process of learning that is both rigorous and deeply personal.

Through this concentration, students will:

  • Cultivate practices of attentive presence and spiritual care
  • Engage diverse communities with humility and sensitivity
  • Respond to trauma, grief, and crisis with theological and pastoral wisdom
  • Develop ethical awareness and professional integrity in care settings
  • Learn to serve alongside interdisciplinary teams in complex environments

Distinctives of the Concentration

This concentration offers focused preparation for ministry in clinical and institutional contexts:

  • Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE): Supervised, hands-on ministry in real-world settings
  • Trauma and Theology: Engaging suffering, loss, and healing through theological reflection
  • Interprofessional Collaboration: Working alongside medical and care professionals
  • Care in Diverse Contexts: Formation for ministry across cultures, identities, and traditions
  • Ritual and Spiritual Care: Shaping meaningful practices that support individuals in times of need

Vocational Pathways

Graduates of the Chaplaincy concentration are prepared to pursue:

  • Chaplaincy in healthcare and institutional settings
  • Board certification in chaplaincy
  • Ongoing formation in clinical and pastoral care

Curriculum Highlights

The M.Div. with a concentration in Chaplaincy is a 75-hour program that combines core theological education with specialized coursework in spiritual care.

Courses include:

  • Chaplaincy Foundations
  • Pastoral Care in Diverse Communities
  • Theology, Trauma, and Pastoral Practice
  • Applied Professional Ethics
  • Psychology and Theology of Family
  • Rituals and Spiritual Care
  • Research-Informed Practice in Chaplaincy
  • Healthcare and Interprofessional Practice

Students also complete Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) as a central component of their formation.