A nurse comforts a patient and holds their hand

A Curriculum Designed for Whole-Person Ministry

The curriculum for our M.A. in Clinical Ministry is designed to prepare you for whole-person care through courses in spiritual care, ethics, leadership, and cultural humility. Learn how faith-informed education equips you to serve with compassion in diverse settings.
 

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the Master of Arts in Clinical Ministry will be able to:

  1. Integrate theological, spiritual, and ethical principles into professional chaplaincy and spiritual care practices.
  2. Exhibit cultural humility and ethical discernment, delivering compassionate care that respects diverse beliefs, traditions, and experiences in healthcare and community settings.
  3. Cultivate leadership abilities to build therapeutic alliances, advocate for holistic care, and guide organizational mission.
  4. Develop foundational counseling skills that inform compassionate spiritual care in times of loss, suffering, and crisis.
  5. Critically evaluate spiritual care practices and implement innovative solutions.

Curriculum Sequence

Trimester Course Code Course Name Weeks Credits
1 - Spring
9 Credits
CHPL 600 OR CHPL 610 History and Role of Chaplains OR Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy 14 3
CHPL 621 Spiritual Care in Mental Health, Crisis, and Trauma 7 3
PSYC 5XX Foundational Skills in Counseling 7 3
2 - Summer
9 Credits
RELP 543 Grief and Loss 14 3
CHPL 622 Spiritual Care in the Stages of Life 7 3
RELB 579 OR RELT 668 Audacity to Trust: Faith and Healing OR Wrestling with God in Suffering 7 3
3 - Fall
9 Credits
RELE 505 Christian Ethics in Healthcare 14 3
CHPL 623 Spiritual Care in Organizational Settings 7 3
RELT 568 World Religions for Healthcare Professions 7 3
4 - Spring
Credits
CHPL 669 OR ACPE 510 Capstone Action Project OR ACPE Clinical Pastoral Education (if no units on admission) 14 3
RELC 6XX Narrative Counseling 7 3
HTCA 545 OR HTSC 645 Population Health: Caring for Your Community OR Cultural and Ethical Considerations in Healthcare 7 3
clinical team mission education

Clinical Pastoral Education

As part of your preparation for clinical ministry, you may need to complete a unit of ACPE-accredited Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). AdventHealth offers a well-established CPE program in multiple formats, and there are more than 300 accredited programs available across the United States, giving you flexibility in meeting this requirement.

Take the First Step in Your Ministry Journey

Take the next step in your calling to provide compassionate, faith-informed, whole-person care. Apply today to begin your ministry journey.