Education / Degree Programs

Approximately one-quarter of theological schools in the United States offer some kind of formal training in chaplaincy. This list includes all of the programs we are aware of with information about the type of training available; please contact us if you have additional information. The Lab has contributed to several publications on chaplaincy education:

Cadge et al. (2019). “Training Chaplains and Spiritual Caregivers? The Emergence and Growth of Chaplaincy Programs in Theological Education.”
Clevenger et al. (2019). “Education for Professional Chaplaincy in the US: Mapping Current Practice in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE).”
Cadge et al. (2019). “Training Healthcare Chaplains: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.” Please contact us if you are interested in this paper.

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Just getting started? Check out our Beginner’s Guide to Spiritual Care, now available here.

You may also be interested in our series Field Guide for Aspiring Chaplains.

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Revising or starting a chaplaincy education program? Check out our free eBook Educating Effective Chaplains here, and more resources for educators here.

Please note

This listing of degree programs is provided solely for informational purposes; the only criteria for inclusion are 1) that a program be designed specifically to provide chaplaincy training and 2) be accredited by the appropriate accrediting body. The Chaplaincy Innovation Lab does not endorse any of these programs and their presence on this list should not be construed as a recommendation by the Lab. If you have questions or would like to notify us about new programs, let us know at info@chaplaincyinnovation.org.

You can sort this table by the column headers by clicking on each header. We have noted chaplaincy-specific degrees where possible; in some cases the credentials are best described in a general sense (i.e. just “MDiv,” “DMin,” etc.).

Abilene Christian University	Churches of Christ	Abilene	TX	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration
Academy for Jewish Religion	Interdenominational Jewish	Los Angeles	CA	Master of Jewish Studies
Academy for Jewish Religion - CA	Interdenominational Jewish	Los Angeles	CA	MDiv or equivalent with chaplaincy specialization (N) Clinical Training Center
Acadia Divinity College	Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada	Wolfville	NS	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration
Advent Health University	Seventh-Day Adventist	Orlando	FL	MS in Spiritual Care
Ambrose Seminary of Ambrose University	Christian and Missionary Alliance	Calgary	AB	MA with chaplaincy concentration
Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary	Mennonite Church USA	Elkhart	IN	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration
Ashland Theological Seminary	Brethren Church (Ashland, Ohio)	Ashland	OH	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration
Assemblies of God Theological Seminary	Assemblies of God	Springfield	MO	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration
Associated Canadian Theological Schools	Interdenominational Protestant	Langley	BC	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration
B. H. Carroll Theological Institute	Baptist	Irving	TX	MDiv, MDiv in Chaplain Ministry, Master of Arts in Counseling and other related Masters
Baptist Seminary of Kentucky	Cooperative Baptist Fellowship	Georgetown	KY	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration
Bayan Chicago	Muslim	Chicago	IL	MDiv with Islamic chaplaincy concentration
Berkeley Divinity School	Episcopal Church	Berkeley	CT	MDiv
Beulah Heights University	Nondenominational Protestant	Atlanta	GA	MDiv
Bob Jones University	Nondenominational Protestant	Greenville	SC	MDiv with Military Chaplaincy Concentration and Preaching and Pastoral Ministry concentration
Boston College School of Theology and Ministry	Roman Catholic	Boston	MA	MDiv
Boston University School of Theology	United Methodist Church	Boston	MA	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration
Brigham Young University	Latter Day Saints	Provo	UT	MA in chaplaincy
Brite Divinity School	Disciples of Christ	Fort Worth	TX	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration
Campbell University Divinity School	Cooperative Baptist Fellowship	Buies Creek	NC	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration
Candler School of Theology	United Methodist Church	Atlanta	GA	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration; DMin with chaplaincy track
Carey Theological College	Canadian Baptists of Western Canada	Vancouver	BC	MDiv and DMin
Central Seminary	American Baptist Churches USA and Cooperative Baptist Fellowship	Shawnee	KS	Chaplaincy certificates
Chaplaincy Institute	Multifaith	Berkeley	CA	Interfaith and progressive online programs for Chaplaincy, Spiritual Direction, and Ordination, since 1999. Recognized by the APC, DOD, and ACPE.
Chaplaincy Institute of Maine	AWAIC	Portland	ME	Two Year Interfaith Chaplaincy Training
Charlotte Christian College and Theological Seminary	Nondenominational Protestant	Charlotte	NC	MDiv or equivalent with chaplaincy specialization
Chicago Theological Seminary	United Church of Christ	Chicago	IL	Chaplaincy certificate
Christian Theological Seminary	Disciples of Christ	Indianapolis	IN	MDiv, DMin and dual degree programs
Claremont School of Theology	United Methodist Church	Claremont	CA	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration
Columbia Biblical Seminary of Columbia International University	Interdenominational Protestant	Columbia	SC	MA in chaplaincy, MDiv with chaplaincy concentration
Columbia Theological Seminary	Presbyterian Church (USA)	Decatur	GA	Graduate Certificate in Intercultural Chaplaincy
Columbia Biblical Seminary of Columbia International University		Denver	CO	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration; Professional Chaplaincy Certificate
Duke University Divinity School	United Methodist Church	Durham	NC	MDiv, DMin
Earlham School of Religion	Religious Society of Friends	Richmond	IN	MDiv in pastoral care
Eastern Mennonite Seminary	Mennonite Church USA	Harrisonburg	VA	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration
Emmanuel College, Toronto School of Theology		Toronto	ON	MPS, MTS, MDiv
Erskine Theological Seminary	Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church	Due West	SC	MDiv in Chaplain Ministry; Chaplaincy emphasis options in MA and DMin programs
Evangelical Theological Seminary	Evangelical Congregational Church	Myerstown	PA	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration
Fletcher Seminary	Multidenominational	San Antonio	TX	M.Div with concentration options in Chaplaincy/Spiritual Care, Biblical Studies, Cross-Cultural Ministry and Congregational Ministry
Fordham University Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education	Roman Catholic	Bronx	NY	MA in Pastoral Care, MA in Pastoral Mental Health Counseling, MA in Pastoral Studies
Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary	Mennonite Brethren Church in North America	Fresno	CA	MDiv
Fuller Theological Seminary	Multi-denominational Christian	Pasadena, Houston, and online	CA, TX, and online	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration (Pasadena and online); MA in Chaplaincy (Houston and online); DMin with healthcare chaplaincy cohort (online)
Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary	Methodist	Evanston	IL	MA in Pastoral Care and Counseling, with Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care Track
Gateway Seminary	Southern Baptist Convention	Ontario	CA	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration
Grace School of Theology	Christian	The Woodlands	TX	MDiv, incl. minor in chaplaincy; Certificate in Chaplaincy; MA in Chaplaincy; MA in Military Chaplaincy
Grace Theological Seminary	Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches	Winona Lake	IN	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration
Graduate Theological Union	Multifaith	Berkeley	CA	Chaplaincy certificate
Grand Rapids Theological Seminary of Cornerstone University	Interdenominational Protestant	Grand Rapids	MI	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration
Hartford International University for Religion and Peace	Multifaith	Hartford	CT	M.A. and Certificate (recognized as MDiv equivalent by ATS); DMin with Chaplaincy specialization
Harvard Divinity School		Cambridge	MA	MDiv
Hebrew College	Jewish	Newton Centre	MA	N/A
Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion	Reform Jewish	New York	NY	MDiv or equivalent, no chaplaincy or chaplaincy-relevant specialization; clinical training center; accredited DMin in chaplaincy.
HMS Richards Divinity School Division of Graduate Studies	Seventh-Day Adventist	Riverside	CA	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration
Hood Theological Seminary	African Methodist Episcopal Zion	Salisbury	NC	MDiv, DMin
Howard University School of Divinity	Nondenominational Protestant	Washington	DC	MDiv
Iliff School of Theology	United Methodist Church	Denver	CO	Master of Pastoral and Spiritual Care, MTS, MDiv, DMin
Institute of Buddhist Studies		Berkeley	CA	MDiv with Chaplaincy Concentration
James and Carolyn McAfee School of Theology	Cooperative Baptist Fellowship	Atlanta	GA	MDiv with pastoral care concentration
Lancaster Theological Seminary	United Church of Christ	Lancaster	PA	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration
Liberty University	Nondenominational Protestant	Lynchburg	VA	MDiv, DMin in Chaplaincy Degree Program, Pastoral Counseling Certificate
Loma Linda University	Seventh Day Adventist	Loma Linda	CA	MDiv or equivalent with chaplaincy specialization
Loyola University Chicago - Institute of Pastoral Studies	Roman Catholic	Chicago	IL	MDiv or equivalent with pastoral care specialization, relevant to chaplaincy; MA with chaplaincy specialization
Luther Seminary	Evangelical Lutheran Church in America	St. Paul	MN	MA with chaplaincy track; MDiv
Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary	Evangelical Lutheran Church in America	Columbia	SC	Chaplaincy certificate
McMaster Divinity College	Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec	Hamilton	ON	MDiv with pastoral care concentration
Meadville Lombard Theological School	Unitarian Universalist Association	Chicago	IL	MDiv with Chaplaincy Concentration
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary	Southern Baptist Convention	Kansas City	MO	Chaplaincy DMin
Moravian Theological Seminary	Moravian Church in North America	Bethlehem	PA	MA in chaplaincy
Multonmah University	Christian	Portland	OR	MDiv with Chaplaincy Track
Nazarene Theological Seminary		Kansas City	MO	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary	Southern Baptist Convention	New Orleans	LA	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration
New Saint Andrews College	Nondenominational Protestant	Moscow	ID	N/A
New York Theological Seminary	Multifaith	New York	NY	MA in pastoral care
New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care		New York	New York	CPE, Certificate in Buddhist Studies and a Masters in Pastoral Care and Counseling in conjunction with New York Theological Seminary
Northeastern Seminary at Roberts Wesleyan College	Interdenominational Protestant	Rochester	NY	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration
Northwest Baptist Seminary	Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches in Canada	Langley	BC	MDiv
Oral Roberts University College of Theology and Ministry	Interdenominational Protestant	Tulsa	OK	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration
Palm Beach Atlantic University	Interdenominational Christian	West Palm Beach	FL	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration; MA in chaplaincy; Graduate Certificates
Oral Roberts University College of Theology and Ministry	Church of God (Cleveland, TN)	Cleveland	TN	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration
Carolina University	Nondenominational Protestant	Winston-Salem	NC	MDiv with Tracks in Pastoral Studies, Military Chaplaincy, Hospital Chaplaincy, Law Enforcement Chaplaincy, Law Enforcement Chaplaincy, and Marriage and Family Chaplaincy
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary	Presbyterian Church USA	Pittsburgh	PA	MA with pastoral care concentration
Portland Seminary	Interdenominational Protestant	Portland	OR	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration
Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University	Orthodox Jewish	New York	NY	Graduate Program in Pastoral Counseling
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College	Jewish Reconstructionist Communities	Wyncote	PA	Certificate in Congregational and Family Systems with the Council for Relationships, Certificate Program in Marriage and Family Therapy with the Council for Relationships
Regent University School of Divinity	Interdenominational Protestant	Virginia Beach	VA	MDiv or equivalent with chaplaincy specialization
San Francisco Theological Seminary	Presbyterian Church USA	San Anselmo	CA	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration
Seattle University School of Theology and Ministry	Interreligious Christian	Seattle	WA	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration
Seminary of the Southwest	Episcopal Church	Austin	TX	MA in chaplaincy
Shasta Bible College & Graduate School	Nondenominational Protestant	Redding	CA	MDiv with Concentrations in Pastoral and General Ministries and Military Chaplaincy
Shepherds Theological Seminary	Nondenominational Protestant	Cary	NC	MDiv with Chaplaincy Concentration, DMin
Kairos University	North American Baptist Conference	Sioux Falls	SD	MDiv with pastoral care concentration
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary	Southern Baptist Convention	Fort Worth	TX	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration
St. Andrew's College	United Church of Canada	Saskatoon	SK	MDiv, MTS, DMin
St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry	Roman Catholic	Rochester	NY	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration
St. Mary's Seminary and University	Roman Catholic	Baltimore	MD	MDiv, DMin
St. Stephen's College	United Church of Canada	Edmonton	AB	Accredited DMin in chaplaincy
Starr King The Chaplaincy Institute	Multifaith	Berkeley	CA	Interfaith Chaplaincy Program, MDiv
Chaplaincy Institute	Multifaith	Berkeley	CA	Interfaith and progressive online programs for Chaplaincy, Spiritual Direction, and Ordination, since 1999. Recognized by the APC, DOD, and ACPE.
The Jewish Theological Seminary of America	Conservative Jewish	New York	NY	N/A
Toronto School of Theology	Interreligious Christian	Toronto	ON	MDiv or equivalent with pastoral care concentration
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School	Evangelical Free Church of America	Deerfield	IL	MA in chaplaincy
Union Theological Seminary		New York	NY	MDiv, DMin in Chaplaincy
United Theological Seminary	United Methodist Church	Dayton	OH	MDiv with pastoral care concentration
United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities	United Church of Christ	New Brighton	MN	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration
University of the West	Buddhist	Rosemead	CA	MDiv, PhD
Vancouver School of Theology	Interdenominational Protestant	Vancouver	BC	MA in pastoral care
Vanderbilt University Divinity School	Interdenominational Protestant	Nashville	TN	MDiv with Chaplaincy Track and Pastoral and Prophetic Congregational Leadership track, DMin in Integrative Chaplaincy
Villanova University	Catholic	Villanova	PA	MA in Ministry and Theology with Chaplaincy Track
Western Michigan University		Kalamazoo	MI	MA in chaplaincy
Western Seminary	Conservative Baptist Association of America	Portland	OR	MDiv with chaplaincy concentration