A hospital chaplain meets with a patient and family member

Focus on Spirituality in Health Care With an Online Master’s in Chaplaincy

The M.S. in Spiritual Care degree provides an approved alternative path to the traditional Master of Divinity requirement for chaplaincy certification. By focusing on spirituality in health care settings, you receive targeted education in the ministry of whole-person care.

The online chaplaincy program can be completed in under three years, offering an accelerated completion timeline.

Affiliated with AdventHealth, a national health care organization with over 30 years of providing Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), you will engage in a leading-edge approach to online chaplaincy training that will challenge and expand your worldview.
 

A Master’s in Spirituality That Equips You to Serve

Completing our master’s in chaplaincy program equips graduates to serve in diverse ministry contexts, from hospital systems to community care facilities. Additionally, the degree satisfies a foundational requirement for graduates seeking to become board-certified chaplains through organizations like the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC).

Graduates of the online M.S. in Spiritual Care program will:

  • Demonstrate cultural sensitivity in health care environments
  • Offer informed ethical perspectives in health care deliberations 
  • Practice well-researched and evidence-based spiritual care
  • Demonstrate practical knowledge of various religions, approaches to spirituality, and belief systems
  • Provide spiritual guidance in interdisciplinary settings

Looking for answers to common questions about the chaplaincy degree? Check out our MSSC Q&A. If you’ve already completed your M.Div. or equivalent degree and want to explore an online chaplaincy program, view your next steps and learn more about the world of Clinical Pastoral Education.
 

Launch Your Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy Career

Chaplains provide spiritual guidance to patients, their families, and facility staff members of various faiths and religious belief systems. Of the almost 50,000 clergy employed in the U.S., 28% serve in hospitals, home health organizations, and skilled nursing facilities. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the number of hospital chaplains will grow faster than the average national job rate, rising 16% through 2026.

Our master’s in chaplaincy degree prepares you for roles such as: 

  • Chaplain with patient and family

    Hospital Chaplain

    Experience a range of spiritual care opportunities. From blessing a new life brought into the world to providing comfort as one nears the end of life, you will guide patients and their loved ones through a whole-person healing process and serve as a source of strength. Hospital chaplains also minister to clinicians and staff within the facility. 

  • hospice-chaplain

    Hospice Chaplain

    Provide focused care to patients and families experiencing life-altering illness. Chaplains minister to individuals from different backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs, providing emotional and spiritual support. Hospice chaplains also assist families in coordinating end-of-life services.

  • A soldier holding a bible

    Military Chaplain

    As commissioned officers, military chaplains support the spiritual well-being of armed forces members and their families, offering guidance on religion and morale in a caring and compassionate manner. Military chaplains oversee a variety of programs, including counseling sessions, religious education, and officiating ceremonies like funerals and memorial services. 

What Our Spiritual Care Students Say

I look at this degree as a pathway to learn how to offer spiritual support from an operational perspective. Continuing one’s education is a benefit to anyone willing to learn more about how to become a refined version of themselves. This program has been such an affirming walk of faith.

Brian Jones, Class of 2023

Regional Director of Clinical Mission Integration for AdventHealth

Take the First Steps. Start Your Application.

Explore new opportunities to extend the healing ministry of Christ through our M.S. in Spiritual Care degree. Our Admissions team is ready to assist as you begin your journey.