Curriculum Planning Worksheet for MAPS-HC Chaplaincy Concentration

The IPS Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies (MAPS) offers a unique Health Care Chaplaincy concentration to prepare students for the entire process to be certified as a Board Certified Chaplain (BCC) with The National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC).

This 36-credit hour degree program consists of the eight Core Courses of the MAPS degree, three health-care related electives, four units of CPE, two workshops, and the Health Care Integration Project.

All components of the MAPS—Health Care Chaplaincy concentration, except for CPE, can be completed online or on-campus. Some courses are also available in the summer through the IPS Rome program.

MAPS - Health Care Chaplaincy Concentration Curriculum

Eight Core MAPS Courses:

• IPS 570 Introduction to Theology and Ministry
• IPS 416 Christian Origins
• IPS 417 Literature of Ancient Israel
• IPS 402 Church and Mission
• IPS 531 Christian Doctrine and History
• IPS 541 Liturgy and Sacraments
• IPS 553 Moral Theology and Christian Ethics
• IPS 555 Human Person and Psychological Development

Three Health Care Related Courses:

• IPS 564 Foundations of Pastoral Care
• IPS 404 Theologies of Suffering
• A variety of health care ethics courses offered through the IPS and Loyola's Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics Institute: http://hsd.luc.edu/bioethics/

Four Units of CPE

Based on the requirements for Board Certification as a chaplain, the MAPS—HCC concentration requires students to complete four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). More information on CPE can be found here.

Two Workshops

The NACC also recommends that those preparing for chaplaincy complete at least two workshops related to issues in health care.

The Health Care Integration Project

The final program requirement is IPS 493—the Health Care Integration project. In IPS 493, 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.

Students interested in becoming Board Certified Chaplains with the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) can do so by pursuing the Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree and choosing electives aimed at meeting APC competencies. The APC certifies Protestant chaplains as well as chaplains in an array of religious traditions.

To learn more about the Health Care Chaplaincy concentration, please fill out our request for information form or attend an information session.