Interreligious Chaplaincy: Program Overview
The first of its kind, the GTU’s Interreligious Chaplaincy Program equips leaders to practice spiritual care among diverse populations. The program offers students who have previously earned a qualifying master’s degree the opportunity to earn a Certificate in Interreligious Chaplaincy.
Spiritual care is a vital need across industries, including hospitals, universities, prisons, military, immigration, family and social services, disaster relief, airports, and corporations. This program provides the skills to effectively serve persons from diverse religious backgrounds in a wide variety of situations and life stages. Coursework will incorporate practical spiritual care and interreligious training, as well as counseling, theology, and ethics. The certificate fulfills a requirement for board certification and equips students with spiritual caregiving skills and knowledge necessary to practice chaplaincy in traditional and non-traditional chaplaincy settings. The ICP works closely with the GTU's Centers for Jewish, Dharma, and Islamic Studies and with affiliate institutions to increase the competency of chaplaincy students in traditions underrepresented among institutional chaplains.
Application Requirements for Interreligious Studies Certificate
- Must hold an accredited bachelor’s degree or its equivalent.
- Must hold an accredited master's degree or its equivalent in a relevant field of study.
- All applicants must submit official transcripts from all institutions in which a degree was earned to the Admissions Office.
- International students who have not earned a degree from an English-speaking institution are required to submit official TOEFL scores with an expected minimum score of 79 (internet based).
- Letter of Recommendation from a peer in the spiritual care field, a religious leader, or a faculty advisor.
For non-California residents, participation in this online program for a Certificate in Interreligious Studies may be subject to another state’s limitations.
Please see the most up to date Certificate (per credit) tuition rates HERE
The ICP Jewish Studies Fellowship, made possible through the generous donation of The Taube Foundation, offers a scholarship that provides tuition support for courses in the Certificate in Interreligious Chaplaincy for students affiliated with the Center for Jewish Studies. Meet past recipients.
The ICP Hindu Studies Fellowship, offered in coordination with the Motwani Jadeja Foundation (MJF) and the Hindu Community Institute (HCI), offers tuition grants for students in the GTU's Interreligious Chaplaincy Program who are taking courses in the Hindu Tradition. Learn more and apply here on the HCI's website.
Final deadline for Fall certificate students is extended to July 15th
The ICP Program
The Interreligious Chaplaincy Program offers two certificate programs: in-person learning and distant education. Post-master’s students are encouraged to apply for the ICP — those without a MA can first enroll in the GTU MA program.
Course Requirements
The Certificate in Interreligious Chaplaincy is a 24-credit program that includes coursework in theology, ethics, spiritual care, and chaplaincy practices, as well as Clinical Pastoral Education
ICP Courses as Electives
The Interreligious Chaplaincy Certificate welcomes students from the GTU Centers for Jewish, Islamic, or Dharma Studies, or any GTU affiliate to take ICP courses as elective.
Contact
For more information on the Interreligious Chaplaincy program, contact Dr. Kamal Abu-Shamsieh, program director, at kshamsieh@gtu.edu. For infomation about applying to the GTU, contact admissions@gtu.edu.
Faculty and Staff
