Course Syllabus

MIN310: Chaplaincy

Instructor & Contact Information

The People tab in Canvas provides information on the course instructor and you can send a message to your instructor following these instructions. Faculty are expected to: 1) grade and return assignments, with feedback, within 7 days from the date of submission; 2) reply to your Canvas messages within 72 hours; 3) reply several times each week in total in the discussion forums (not to each individual student); and 4) demonstrate the core values of City Vision University.

Course Description

This course is designed for people who have received a call from God or are exploring the call to Christian ministry and who may wish to explore the possibility of chaplaincy ministry, either as a full-time calling or in conjunction with other forms of ministry. The course introduces students to the contexts in which chaplains minister, the types of tasks they perform, and the challenging issues that they will face ministering in various settings outside the scope of the traditional church's ministry, such as the military, the workplace, hospitals and retirement homes, prisons, and rescue missions or homeless shelters.

Course Outcomes

After completing this course, you will be able to:

  1. Understand the Biblical, legal, and historical basis for the role of a chaplain
  2. Define the role and basic tasks of a chaplain
  3. Understand how to minister as a chaplain in various institutional settings
  4. Understand how to minister as a chaplain in a world of racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity
  5. Understand how to minister faithfully from a Biblical perspective as a chaplain in a religiously pluralistic society
  6. Apply theories of human development and psychological needs to the work of a chaplain
  7. Act as a healing presence and apply the discipline of active listening
  8. Act ethically and morally as a chaplain, avoiding circumstances that could compromise a chaplain’s authority

Degree Program Outcomes

Degree outcomes are the overall skills and knowledge we expect you will have after successfully completing a degree program at City Vision University. After completing the degree, you will be able to do the following in each of the listed domains:

Bible/Theology

  1. Bible. Use sound principles of Biblical interpretation to analyze the structure, themes and content of the Bible and apply that to local contexts.
  2. Theology. Apply the foundational truths of Christian theology grounded in Scripture to local contexts.

Spiritual Formation

  1. Calling. Create a synthesis of a reflective life vision and plan to enable 24/7 ministry based on God’s purposes for work and their own unique calling.
  2. Leadership. Develop a personal philosophy and plan for leadership based on principles of leadership and effective ministry management.
  3. Life Balance. Develop plan for him/herself and others to establish life balance in a society saturated with technology and addiction.

Ministry & Missions

    1. Cross-Cultural Ministry. Develop strategy for effective cross-cultural management and ministry and apply that to their own organizational or ministry context.
    2. Specialization. Develop skills and apply learning and concepts in one area of specialty ministry. *

Required Texts

Students are required to purchase these texts before the first day of classes. 

Guidelines for Written Work

All written work must follow our Writing Format and Forum Requirements. You must read these to understand how to cite sources appropriately.

Critical Policies to Read for This Course

Note: These policies are critical for all students to read. In case of change, we have linked to the versions on our website to make sure you have the latest version.

Additional Policies:

This syllabus is subject to change without notice up until the first day of the semester. Last updated: February 4, 2022

Course Summary:

Date Details Due