Chaplaincy Requirements at MTSO
MTSO’s Master of Divinity degree satisfies the master’s degree requirements for students who intend to seek professional certification as Associate Certified Chaplains by the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) and other such agencies. Students seeking certification do not need a specialization or certificate to satisfy these requirements. (Please note that the Master of Arts in Public Theology does not meet all requirements for board certification.)
Clinical Pastoral Education
APC requires two units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) for certification as an Associate Certified Chaplain and four units of CPE for certification as a Board Certified Chaplain. Students at MTSO may take one unit of CPE to satisfy their field education requirements and another unit of CPE as elective credit. Only two units of CPE can be taken for academic credit.
After completing the M.Div., students may apply for a year of residency at an approved CPE training program. Residencies are full-time paid positions during which students complete an additional three to four units of CPE. Students will apply for board certification after fulfilling all APC requirements.
Center for Integrative Pastoral Practice at MTSO
For persons seeking a CPE site, MTSO is the home of the Center for Integrative Pastoral Practice. CIPP@MTSO uses students’ existing ministry settings for the clinical assignments required for Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) certification. CIPP@MTSO serves students who are forging ministry pathways in both traditional and non-traditional contexts, from chaplaincy settings to churches to nonprofits such as social-service organizations and urban farms.
Chaplaincy certification
Chaplaincy certification from APC generally requires an endorsement from a religious denomination, in the form of ordination or commissioning. Students should consult with their own denominations or religious bodies to determine what other requirements may be necessary. United Methodist students can learn more about Chaplaincy and Endorsed Ministry requirements here.
Additional courses may be required by a denomination or religious body in order to meet endorsement requirements.
Additional courses in pastoral and spiritual care
M.Div. students may use their additional elective credits to take courses in advanced pastoral care and counseling, including (but not limited to) courses from the following list:
- PC661: Pastoral Theology of Suffering (3 credit hours)
- PC665: Forgiveness in Pastoral Care and Counseling (3 credit hours)
- PC672: Trauma and Narrative Pastoral Care and Counseling (3 credit hours)
- PC711: Multicultural Perspectives and Issues in Pastoral Care and Counseling (3 credit hours)
- PC721: Gender, Race, and Class Issues in Pastoral Care (3 credit hours)
- PC756: Spiritual Dimensions of Illness and Recovery (3 credit hours)
- PC771: Grief Care and Counseling (3 credit hours)
- PC772: Integrating Spirituality and Pastoral Care (3 credit hours)
All courses offered at MTSO can be found in the MTSO Academic Catalog.