Divinity with a Concentration in Chaplaincy (MDiv)
As of Fall 2026, the subprogram described on this page is no longer accepting applicants.
Those interested in Chaplaincy ministries should apply directly to the Master of Divinity (MDiv) program, into which chaplaincy courses can be integrated. The MDiv degree satisfies the educational requirements for Board Certification by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains and the Association of Professional Chaplains.
The M.Div. with the Chaplaincy concentration prepares students for the process to be certified as a Board Certified Chaplain (BCC via BCCI) with the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) or The National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC). On the IPS website, you can learn more about Chaplaincy.
The Divinity with a Concentration in Chaplaincy (MDiv) also offers an Accelerated Master's Pathway for Undergraduate students to start their Graduate studies in their senior year. Further details of the AMP, including the suggested sequence of courses, can be found under the Curriculum tab.
Related Programs
Curriculum
The Master of Divinity, M.Div. degree is a 74-credit-hour (24-course) degree program that includes and builds on the requirements for the Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies (MAPS). All components of the M.Div. Chaplaincy concentration, except for Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), can be completed online or on-campus. Some courses are also available in the summer, including through the IPS Rome program. Students can complete the CPE requirement at any location accredited by the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE), College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy (CPSP), or Clinical Pastoral Education International (CPEI).
Besides the traditional Master's program, the Divinity with a Concentration in Chaplaincy (MDiv) is also offered as an Accelerated Master's Pathway where exceptional students can begin their first year of Graduate studies in their senior year. A suggested sequence for the AMP can be found below.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Understanding | ||
| Context | ||
| IPS 555 | Human Person and Psychological Development | 3 |
| IPS 532 | Social Context of Ministry | 3 |
| Scripture | ||
| IPS 417 | Introduction to the Old Testament | 3 |
| IPS 416 | Introduction to New Testament | 3 |
| Scripture Elective - IPS 599 Special Topics or an alternative approved by your academic advisor 1 | 3 | |
| Systematic Theology | ||
| IPS 570 | Introduction to Theology and Ministry | 3 |
| IPS 531 | Christian Doctrine | 3 |
| IPS 402 | Church and Mission | 3 |
| IPS 404 | Theologies of Suffering | 3 |
| Ethics | ||
| IPS 553 | Moral Theology and Christian Ethics | 3 |
| Healthcare/BioEthics Elective - IPS 651 Clinical Bioethics or an alternative approved by your academic advisor. 2 | 3 | |
| Christian Living | ||
| IPS 541 | Liturgy and Christian Sacraments | 3 |
| IPS 545 | The Foundations of Christian Spirituality | 3 |
| IPS 403 | Spiritual Paths in World Religions | 3 |
| Spirituality Elective - IPS 572 Ignatian Spirituality or an alternative approved by your academic advisor 3 | 3 | |
| Ministerial Practice | ||
| IPS 560 | Liturgical Leadership | 3 |
| IPS 565 | Pastoral Leadership | 3 |
| IPS 564 | Foundations of Pastoral Care | 3 |
| Ministerial Electives | ||
| Four (4) Elective Courses - IPS 599 Special Topics and any course for which the student has met prerequisite requirements, selected from the core curriculum of any another IPS degree. Popular options include IPS 485 Religious Education, IPS 501 Advanced Human Relations Skills, IPS 502 Theology of the Developing Person, IPS 551 Catholic Social Ethics, and IPS 615 Liberation Theology 4 | 12 | |
| Optional Elective for those seeking APC Certification 5 | ||
| Contextual Education | ||
| IPS 578 | Contextual Education Preparation | 1 |
| IPS 579 | Contextual Education Introduction | 1.5 |
| IPS 580 | Contextual Education I | 1.5 |
| IPS 581 | Contextual Education II | 3 |
| IPS 530 | Clinical Pastoral Care Registration | 1 |
| Final Integration Project | ||
| IPS 493 | Health Care Integration Project Portfolio | 0 |
| Total Hours | 74 | |
- 1
For example, "Justice in Scripture," "Wisdom Literature," "Paul and His Letters," and others.
- 2
A variety of bioethics courses are offered through Loyola's Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics. If student is going into chaplaincy in a different area, e.g., prison chaplaincy, a different ethics elective may be substituted here with the approval of your academic advisor.
- 3
Students will select a Spirituality Elective in conversation with their faculty advisor, typically from the curriculum of our spirituality programs; for example, "Ignatian Spirituality."
- 4
Students will select ministerial electives in conversation with their faculty advisor. Most select classes included in the curricula of other IPS degrees (such as Pastoral Counseling and Social Justice). Among the options are "Ignatian Spirituality," "Social Ethics in the Catholic Tradition," and "Leadership in Social Justice Organizations."
- 5
Additional 3 credit hours, if necessary (see the "Contextual Education" section below and note the APC Board Certification Requirements)
Contextual Education
Based on the requirements for Board Certification as a chaplain, the M.Div.—Chaplaincy concentration requires students to complete four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). Three of these units must be submitted for Advanced Standing credits for two Contextual Education courses (6 credit hours): IPS 580 Contextual Education I and IPS 581 Contextual Education II.1 More information on CPE can be found here. During the fourth and final unit of CPE, students must concurrently register for IPS 530 Clinical Pastoral Care Registration, a zero credit registration course.
- 1
Certification through APC only allows 1 unit of CPE to count for 3 credits towards the 72 credits of graduate work required. Students who plan to seek their board certification may need to take an additional 3 credit elective.
M.Div. Midpoint Review
When students reach the half-way point in their coursework, they begin preparing for contextual education. As part of this preparation process, students will also do a Midpoint Review. The student will write a brief statement (3-4 pages) on his or her “Vocational Identity, Vision, and Practice." This statement will first be approved by the Faculty Coordinator for Contextual Education. It will be submitted to the student's advisor, and the student and advisor will meet to discuss the statement and the student's progress toward the completion of the M.Div. program. Alternatively, if the advisor has concerns about the student’s progress, further work may be requested to successfully complete this review (e.g., further units of CPE, spiritual direction, or pastoral counseling, re-taking courses in which one did not receive a grade of C or higher, etc.). Failure to successfully complete this review and/or any additional steps requested in this process may be grounds for dismissal from the program.
Final Integration Project
The final program requirement is IPS 493 Health Care Integration Project Portfolio. In IPS 493 Health Care Integration Project Portfolio, students are mentored in the process of preparing the materials required to sit for board certification.
More information about the vocation of chaplaincy can be found here.
To learn more about the Spiritual Direction concentration, please fill out our request for information form or attend an information session.
Suggested Sequence of Courses
Traditional Master's Program
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| IPS 570 | Introduction to Theology and Ministry | 3 |
| IPS 417 | Introduction to the Old Testament | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| IPS 416 | Introduction to New Testament | 3 |
| IPS 531 | Christian Doctrine | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| IPS 402 | Church and Mission | 3 |
| IPS 564 | Foundations of Pastoral Care | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| IPS 404 | Theologies of Suffering | 3 |
| IPS 553 | Moral Theology and Christian Ethics | 3 |
| IPS 532 | Social Context of Ministry | 3 |
| IPS 578 | Contextual Education Preparation | 1 |
| Hours | 10 | |
| Summer | ||
| IPS 565 | Pastoral Leadership | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| IPS 541 | Liturgy and Christian Sacraments | 3 |
| IPS 555 | Human Person and Psychological Development | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| IPS 579 | Contextual Education Introduction | 1.5 |
| Hours | 10.5 | |
| Spring | ||
| IPS 560 | Liturgical Leadership | 3 |
| IPS 580 | Contextual Education I | 1.5 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 7.5 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| IPS 403 | Spiritual Paths in World Religions | 3 |
| IPS 530 | Clinical Pastoral Care Registration | 1 |
| IPS 545 | The Foundations of Christian Spirituality | 3 |
| IPS 581 | Contextual Education II | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Spring | ||
| IPS 493 | Health Care Integration Project Portfolio | 0 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 74 | |
Accelerated Master's Pathway
Students can take up to 18 credit hours in the senior year with admission to the AMP. These credits are shared between the Bachelor's and Master's programs.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| Courses Taken Senior Year, Fall Term | ||
| IPS 417 | Introduction to the Old Testament | 3 |
| IPS 570 | Introduction to Theology and Ministry | 3 |
| Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| Courses Taken Senior Year, Spring Term | ||
| IPS 416 | Introduction to New Testament | 3 |
| IPS 531 | Christian Doctrine | 3 |
| IPS 560 | Liturgical Leadership | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Courses Taken Master's Year 1, Fall Term | ||
| IPS 402 | Church and Mission | 3 |
| IPS 564 | Foundations of Pastoral Care | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| Courses Taken Master's Year 1, Spring Term | ||
| IPS 404 | Theologies of Suffering | 3 |
| IPS 532 | Social Context of Ministry | 3 |
| IPS 553 | Moral Theology and Christian Ethics | 3 |
| IPS 578 | Contextual Education Preparation | 1 |
| Hours | 10 | |
| Summer | ||
| Courses Taken Master's Year 1, Summer Term | ||
| IPS 565 | Pastoral Leadership | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Courses Taken Master's Year 2, Fall Term | ||
| IPS 541 | Liturgy and Christian Sacraments | 3 |
| IPS 555 | Human Person and Psychological Development | 3 |
| IPS 579 | Contextual Education Introduction | 1.5 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 10.5 | |
| Spring | ||
| Courses Taken Master's Year 2, Spring Term | ||
| IPS 580 | Contextual Education I | 1.5 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 7.5 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Courses Taken Master's Year 2, Spring Term | ||
| IPS 403 | Spiritual Paths in World Religions | 3 |
| IPS 530 | Clinical Pastoral Care Registration | 1 |
| IPS 545 | The Foundations of Christian Spirituality | 3 |
| IPS 581 | Contextual Education II | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Spring | ||
| Courses Taken Master's Year 3, Spring Term | ||
| IPS 493 | Health Care Integration Project Portfolio | 0 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 74 | |
- 1
Elective course chosen with approval of IPS academic advisor.
Guidelines for Accelerated Master's Pathways
In Accelerated Master’s Pathways, students share limited, authorized credits between their Undergraduate and Graduate degrees to facilitate completion of both degrees in a shorter amount of time. Shared credits are Graduate level credit hours (400-level or higher) taken during the Undergraduate career and then applied both to the Undergraduate degree and towards Graduate program requirements.
Admission and Matriculation
Accelerated Master's Pathways are designed to enhance opportunities for advanced training for Loyola’s Undergraduates. Admission to these programs is competitive and will depend upon a positive review of credentials by the Graduate program. Accordingly, the admission requirements for these programs may be higher than those required if the Master’s degree were pursued entirely after the receipt of a Bachelor’s degree.
Students enrolled in an Accelerated Master's Pathway who choose not to continue to the Master’s degree program upon completion of the Bachelor’s degree will face no consequences.
Ideally, a student will apply for admission to an AMP program as they approach 90 credit hours in their Undergraduate career.
Students will not officially matriculate into the Master’s degree program and be labeled as a Graduate student by the university, with accompanying changes to tuition and Financial Aid (see below), until the Undergraduate degree has been awarded. Once admitted to the Graduate program, students must meet the academic standing requirements of their Graduate program as they complete the program curriculum.
Advising and Registration
Students in their final Undergraduate year will work with Advising in the home School of their Bachelor's program(s), as well as the Graduate Program Director of the Master’s program. Any 400-level or higher courses that the student plans to enroll in should be reviewed by both advisors to ensure that these courses will complete requirements for both degrees.
Registration in Graduate level courses during the Undergraduate year may require assistance from the Graduate Program Director and/or the student’s current academic advisor to enroll.
Shared Credits
Only courses taken at the 400-level or higher will count toward the Graduate program. At the Undergraduate level, students are restricted to enrolling in and sharing up to the number of Graduate level credits explicitly indicated in the catalog for their selected AMP program.
In general, Graduate level coursework should not be taken prior to admission into the Accelerated Master's Pathway. Exceptions may be granted for professional programs where curriculum for the Accelerated Master's Pathway is designed to begin earlier. On the recommendation of the program’s Graduate Program Director, students may take one of their Graduate level courses before they are admitted to the Accelerated Master’s Pathway if they have advanced abilities in their discipline and course offerings warrant such an exception.
Degree Requirements and Conferral
Undergraduate degree requirements are in no way impacted by admission to an Accelerated Master’s Pathway. Students should not, for example, attempt to negotiate themselves out of a writing intensive requirement on the basis of admission to a Graduate program.
The program’s Graduate Program Director will designate credit hours to be shared through the advising form and Master’s degree conferral review process. Graduate credit hours taken during the Undergraduate career will not be included in the Graduate GPA calculation.
If students wish to transfer credits from another university to Loyola University Chicago, the program’s Graduate Program Director will review the relevant syllabus or syllabi to determine whether it meets the criteria for a 400-level course or higher.
Programs with specialized accreditation requirements that allow programs to offer Graduate curriculum to Undergraduate students will conform to those specialized accreditation requirements.
Degrees are awarded sequentially. All details of Undergraduate commencement are handled in the ordinary way as for all students in the School/College/Institute. Once matriculated in the Graduate program, students abide by the graduation deadlines set forth by the Graduate program. Students in these programs must be continuously enrolled from Undergraduate to Graduate degree program unless given explicit permission by their program for a gap year or approved leave of absence. In offering the option of an Accelerated Master’s Pathway, the university is making possible the acceleration of a student’s Graduate degree completion. It should be understood that students may not request deferral of their matriculation into the Master’s degree program. If students would like to delay their Graduate studies after earning the Undergraduate degree, they may apply for admission to the traditional Master’s degree program. Any application of Graduate credit earned while in the Undergraduate program is subject to the policies of the Graduate degree granting school.
Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations
Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.
Learning Outcomes
MDiv (Master of Divinity)
By completing the Master of Divinity, students will be able to demonstrate:
- The ability to interpret pastoral circumstances in relation to scripture, tradition, and human sciences; (Theology/Religious Heritage).
- The ability to engage, transform, and/or critique social, economic, political, and ecclesial realities of our day in order to address the changing landscape of ministry. (Cultural Context)
- The ability to engage the relevant dimensions of Christian faith, discipleship and ministry with interpersonal, spiritual, and ecclesial maturity. (Maturity/Personal Formation)
- The ability to be present to the person and community’s condition and environments by developing skills to discern and describe the ministry required; (Skills/Ministerial Leadership)
- The ability to construct ministerial vision and formulate ministerial strategies to effect personal and community transformation.
- By completing the Concentration in Chaplaincy, students will be able to demonstrate an understanding and personal integration of methods of pastoral care appropriate to the healthcare setting, supported by a conceptual foundation of theology and ethics.
- By completing the Concentration in Chaplaincy, students will be able to demonstrate a competency to obtain certification as a Board Certified Chaplain (BCC) with The National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC), The Association of Professional Chaplains (APC), or other recognized national certifying association.