Program Overview

---

M.A. in Theology & Religious Studies with a Concentration in Chaplaincy

Ministry of Presence

Chaplains walk with others through some of the most sacred moments of their lives. Become a living reminder of God’s presence and love to those who need it most.

Professional Partnership

John Carroll University partners with the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Spiritual Care to provide the theological foundation and pastoral skills necessary to become a board-certified chaplain—equipping you for a meaningful career in virtually any hospital, hospice, health-care, or other setting.

Flexible Training

JCU's Master of Arts in Theology & Religious Studies with a Concentration in Chaplaincy offers full-time and part-time pathways toward Board Certification, allowing students to complete the academic and CPE requirements in as few as two years.

The Cleveland Clinic

Offers Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) through summer intensive or fall/spring extended units. The residency option provides a stipend for qualified applicants seeking to complete four CPE units over the course of one calendar year.

John Carroll University

Offers all graduate courses both in person and fully online. Once-a-week synchronous classes meet in the evenings, allowing students to earn their academic and CPE credit simultaneously.

Reasonable Cost

John Carroll Graduate Tuition

• $625 per credit hour (rates)
• 32 credit hours: $14,640
• Total JCU Cost: $20,000

Cleveland Clinic CPE Tuition

• 1st CPE Unit: $550
• 3 subsequent units ($400 each): $1,200
• Total CC Cost: $1,750

Total Program Cost: $21,750

Diverse Coursework

The M.A. Program in Theology & Religious Studies is firmly grounded in the Jesuit Catholic tradition of the university and radically inclusive of diverse religious and spiritual worldviews. Courses offered include:

• Scripture & Revelation (TRS 5100)
• Abraham: Father of Many Nations (TRS 5110)
• Constructing Religious Identity (TRS 5200)
• Origins of Christianity (TRS 5240)
• Christ & the Pascal Mystery (TRS 5320)
• Church & Sacrament (TRS 5340)
• The Rabbis on Sex & Gender (TRS 5416)
• Islam in America (TRS 5441)
• Islamic Spirituality (TRS 5444)
• Ancient Jewish Prayer (TRS 5499)
• Catholic Moral Theology (TRS 5530)
• Cross-Cultural Ethics (TRS 5550)
• Bioethics (TRS 5563)

Application

Prospective students apply separately to the M.A. in Theology & Religious Studies at John Carroll University and the Clinical Pastoral Education program at the Cleveland Clinic's Center for Spiritual Care. Admission to one program does not guarantee admission to the other.

John Carroll University Application

• Application Form
• Undergraduate Academic Transcripts
• Personal Statement
• Two Letters of Reference

Cleveland Clinic Application

• Application Form
• Questionnaire (Personal, Professional, Religious/Spiritual History)
• Two References
• Interview
• Application Fee

Which Path is Right for You?

• TWO YEARS: Complete chaplaincy training in two years by taking coursework and CPE simultaneously.
• THREE YEARS: Complete chaplaincy training by taking two years of coursework + one year paid CPE internship.
• UP TO FIVE YEARS: Complete chaplaincy training on your own timeline by taking courses and CPE when they work for you.

Program Highlights

• Board Certification
• What to expect at John Carroll
• What to expect at Cleveland Clinic
• What is CPE?
• Upcoming Courses

Board Certification Requirements

To assist you in becoming a Board-Certified Chaplain, John Carroll University works with two national organizations that provide certification: The National Association of Catholic Chaplains (for Roman Catholics) and The Association of Professional Chaplains (for all denominations and religious traditions).

Master's Degree

• National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC) requires a graduate-level degree in theology, divinity, religious studies, pastoral ministry, pastoral studies, or spirituality (see NACC criteria).
• Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) requires a qualifying master’s degree in theology, philosophy, or psychology.

Four CPE Units

Satisfactory completion of four CPE Units is required for Board Certification.

Comprehensive Portfolio

Both the NACC and the APC require individual candidates to submit a comprehensive portfolio that includes a number of common elements.

Official Sponsorship

The Association of Professional Chaplains requires current documentation of endorsement or of good standing issued by any recognized religious/spiritual/faith group.

Board Interview

Once all portfolio materials have been submitted, candidates can request an appointment for an in-person interview before the appropriate certification board.

At John Carroll University

• Each class meets one evening a week (5:00-7:40pm) for 14 weeks during the fall and spring semesters.
• Classes are taught on the John Carroll campus in a HyFlex format, allowing students to choose each week whether they will participate in person or via video-conference link to the classroom.
• All classes can be completed remotely.
• There are no asynchronous courses.
• Students build their curriculum around their interests and needs, from course offerings such as: Scripture & Revelation; Catholic Moral Theology; Islamic Spirituality; Ancient Jewish Prayer; Cross-Cultural Ethics.

The Cleveland Clinic

• Offers two different formats for CPE training: summer intensive units and fall or spring extended units.
• The summer intensive unit meets 40 hours each week (including class and clinical time), Monday through Friday, for ten weeks.
• The fall/spring extended unit meets one day each week (8 hours), with an additional 16 hours of clinical time (including evening and weekend on-call shifts), for 16 weeks.

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)

• A well-established, ecumenical and interreligious process of ministerial formation in which students learn through the practical experience of providing and reflecting on spiritual care in a clinical environment.
• Working under the supervision of a Certified Educator, students learn not only how to help other people draw on their own spiritual resources in the journey of healing, but also how to face their own strengths and weaknesses so as to be a companion and not an obstacle to others on their journey.

JCU Course Descriptions

For a list of upcoming graduate courses and course descriptions, click here or visit the JCU Bulletin.

Association of Professional Chaplains

For members of any religious or spiritual tradition, the APC sponsors the Board of Chaplaincy Certification, Inc. (BCCI), which administers a robust interreligious and ecumenical certification.

National Association of Catholic Chaplains

NACC Chaplains are Catholics who manifest proficiency in Catholic theology and spiritual care praxis, and develop competence in the areas of Theory, Practice, Professional Identity and Conduct, Professional Practice Skills and Organizational Leadership.

Career Outlook

• According to the Mayo Clinic, by 2030 the number of hospital chaplaincy positions is expected to grow by 12%.
• The employment rate for chaplains has hovered at or above 99% for the past 10 years (source: zippia.com)
• Chaplains with a master's degree earn $52,000 median annual salary, $6,000 more than without the degree.