Master of Arts in Chaplaincy
School of Mission and Theology
As more individuals in the US identify as “spiritual” rather than “religious,” there is a growing need for spiritual care outside of traditional ecclesial settings. Fuller’s new, leading-edge MA in Chaplaincy (MAC) prepares chaplains to create new paths and spaces for providing spiritual care while staying grounded in their personal Christian faith. This brand new degree program launches in Fall 2023.
Designed by Chaplains
Faculty-practitioners bring deep expertise
Holistic Formation
Get equipped for healthy, sustainable ministry
Based in Houston
Study online with 3 intensives in Houston
2-Year Program
64 units
Study with faculty like these:
Co-Chair and Assistant Professor of the Practice of Chaplaincy and Community Development, and Law Enforcement Chaplain
Assistant Professor of the Practice of Preaching and Chaplaincy, and Board-Certified Hospital Chaplain
Affiliate Assistant Professor of Theology and Navy Reserve Chaplain
Explore other members of our renowned faculty
Specific, Nuanced Training for Chaplains
Intentionally designed by a team of chaplain faculty-practitioners who bring profound expertise and diverse experience, Fuller’s MA in Chaplaincy program offers indispensable training built around four main competencies—integration, holistic wellness, embodiment, and leadership development—for students called to chaplaincy in a multitude of contexts.
- Integration; understanding the biblical, theological, and practical framework for spiritual care intervention, grounded in personal Christian faith in pluralistic contexts.
- Holistic wellness; (including for self) integrating theory and practice through an understanding of skills including pastoral presence and counseling, crisis intervention management, and trauma-informed care provision.
- Embodiment; learning the practices of embodied relational care through the ministry of God’s sacred presence, accompanying people physically, spiritually, and emotionally through moments of difficulty, crisis, and transition, and delivering care in the lives of persons from diverse religious and sociocultural contexts.
- Leadership development; (through mentoring, cohorted learning, coursework, and field integration) deepening awareness of the diverse ethical, cultural, and religious aspects of chaplaincy, along with corresponding skills in communication, bridge building, and collaboration for engaging in the liminal spaces and tensions in pluralistic contexts.
A cohorted learning model fosters a sense of community where students can cultivate supportive relationships with other chaplains that can sustain them in future ministry.
Students come to this master's-level chaplaincy program with a desire to deliver spiritual care to people outside of traditional church settings by embodying the ministry of God's presence. Graduates will be equipped to serve as chaplains in a wide range of settings, including but not limited to:
- Healthcare (e.g., hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, veterinary hospitals)
- Law enforcement, fire, and emergency services
- Prison system
- Corporate businesses or nonprofit organizations
- Parachurch ministries
- Education (e.g., schools and universities)
- Sports
- Entertainment
- Social Movements
Learn Online and in Houston
Most courses in the MA in Chaplaincy are fully online, where students benefit from Fuller’s relationally focused online learning model. Students will also complete three hybrid courses over the two-year program, gathering with their cohort at Fuller Texas in Houston for three-day intensives where they benefit from learning in a supportive in-person setting. This program is approved in many states and is not limited to Texas residents; speak with an admissions counselor to find out more.
"This is the degree I hoped for when I became a chaplain: a degree that focuses on practical theology, integrated theory, and tangible skills as well as on chaplain wellness. Fuller’s MA in Chaplaincy program helps chaplains to serve from a place of groundedness and peace. The cohorted learning creates a community of fellow chaplains to journey within and beyond the degree program"
– Mary Glenn, MA in Chaplaincy Co-Chair and Assistant Professor of the Practice of Chaplaincy and Community Development
Curriculum
The MA in Chaplaincy degree’s rigorous, practice-focused curriculum is marked by interdisciplinary courses that leverage Fuller’s main disciplines—theology, biblical studies, missiology, and the psychological sciences—and equips students with a comprehensive understanding of the chaplain’s role in God’s desire for human flourishing. A cohort-centric learning model creates community with fellow chaplains, and practical training directly equips students for their specific ministry settings.
This program was developed to address all 31 core competencies shared amongst the major chaplaincy certifying bodies in the US, including the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education and the Association of Professional Chaplains.
Students in Fuller’s MAC program will benefit from the following learning outcomes:
- Graduates will be able to demonstrate a guiding framework for spiritual care intervention that integrates biblical, theological, and practical understandings which is grounded in their personal Christian faith.
- Graduates will be able to demonstrate the ability to develop strategies for their own holistic wellness as well as for those to whom they offer chaplain care.
- Graduates will be able to demonstrate the ability to embody the practices of relational care through the ministry of God's sacred presence to people from diverse backgrounds in times of difficulty, crisis, and transition.
- Graduates will be able to demonstrate the ability to communicate, bridge build, advocate, and lead in the pluralistic contexts of chaplaincy.
**Please note: Students enrolled in the Master of Arts in Chaplaincy program are ineligible to receive Title IV Aid.
Jesus in the Room
As a hospital chaplain, Fuller alum Andrea Cammarota carves out sacred space in the fast-paced environment of the emergency room
Chart Your Course to Chaplaincy
Different types of chaplaincy have different requirements—from which degree to get, to whether you need ordination or CPE training. Download a free chart that maps out the specific requirements for each area of chaplaincy, from military to healthcare to corporate, and more.
Please note that requirements for chaplaincy positions vary widely and that no single, universal standard is applied across all forms of chaplaincy. It is currently the employer who determines the desired qualifications. The chart below is based on advertised job openings in Texas and California in December 2022 and represents what was generally required in the noted areas of chaplaincy at that time. Chaplaincy is a rapidly growing and evolving field so these requirements are in a state of flux. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the student to research the area of chaplaincy in which they are interested to determine the likely requirements before they apply, including whether an MDiv (Chaplaincy concentration) or the MAC (MA in Chaplaincy) will best fit the educational component.
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