The MDiv in Interreligious Chaplaincy program will prepare you for a career in chaplaincy and provide you with interreligious and intercultural spiritual care competency. You’ll learn to serve as an effective and compassionate minister, working with people from diverse faith backgrounds and walks of life.
This interfaith chaplaincy program may be a good fit for you if you plan to pursue a career in chaplaincy in any of a number of contexts, including:
- the military
- hospitals and other healthcare settings
- prisons
- schools
- first responder units
- corporate settings
You also may pursue a career providing pastoral and spiritual care within religious and spiritual communities.
Concentration Learning Outcomes
In addition to achieving the core MDiv degree learning outcomes, a graduate of the Interreligious Chaplaincy program will be able to:
- demonstrate skills for effective, professional, ethical, and compassionate pastoral and spiritual care to a diversity of persons;
- craft, deliver, and reflect on a sermon or public address that demonstrates effective speaking form/style and content based on a selected context;
- articulate effective strategies for pastoral/spiritual care and counseling with a person or group of a given cultural identity that demonstrate an informed understanding of the student’s own culture(s) and theology, as well as the behavioral and social sciences;
- articulate effective strategies for providing spiritual care in a given interreligious setting;
- incorporate an informed understanding of trauma into describing its impact on the spiritual well-being of individuals, families, and communities;
- articulate their own theology/spirituality of trauma informed pastoral care, particularly as it relates to their ministerial/vocational path; and
- identify appropriate specific strategies for trauma healing that they can incorporate into their practice as a spiritual/pastoral care provider.
United’s MDiv at a Glance
- 72 credits
- Twenty-four 3-credit courses, including one field experience
- A final thesis or project is not required, but you can choose to complete a thesis as an elective course
- Can be completed in approximately three years if you take a full-time course load of 9 credits per trimester
- Most MDiv concentrations, including Interreligious Chaplaincy, can be completed entirely via distance learning; many courses can be taken completely asynchronously
Depending on the vocational setting, employment as a chaplain may require completion of additional CPE units beyond United’s degree requirements and endorsement/support by a recognized faith group, which may require additional coursework. BCCI certification, which is a common employment requirement, requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and an additional 2,000 hours of chaplaincy work experience after CPE.
Program Course Guide Sheet for Academic Year 2025–2026
| LEARNING OUTCOME |
NUMBER OF COURSES |
COURSES |
| Theology | 4 |
Invitation to Theology: Truth, Goodness, and Beauty
Choose one:
History of Christian Theologies
History of Modern Theologies
Constructive Theology
One additional Theology and Religion course
|
| Textual Hermeneutics | 4 |
Introduction to Religious Texts
Two 2000-level Religious Texts courses
Choose one:
Biblical Exegesis
One additional 2000-level Religious Texts course
|
| Ethics and Justice | 2 |
Comparative Religious Ethics
Choose one:
Queer and Trans Theologies
Black and Womanist Theologies
|
| Formation | 1 | Introduction to Spiritual and Personal Formation |
| World Religions | 1 |
World Religions
|
| Religion, Culture, and the Arts | 1 |
Choose one:
History of Arts and Theology
Art, Religion, and Contemporary Culture
|
| Social Transformation | 1 | Leadership and Strategies for Social Change |
| Religious Leadership and Practice | 2 |
Choose one:
Organizational Leadership and Administration
Social Enterprise
CPE Internship
|
| Concentration | 7 |
Introduction to Pastoral and Spiritual Care
Preaching and Your Public Voice Intercultural Approaches to Chaplaincy Interreligious Approaches to Chaplaincy Trauma, Suffering and Care Two elective courses |
| Research and Communication | 1 | MDiv Capstone Seminar |
| DEGREE TOTAL |
24 | |
Learn More
Want to learn more about our MDiv in Interreligious Chaplaincy? Fill out the form below and a member of our Admissions team will be in touch soon.
MDiv in Interreligious Chaplaincy Certification FAQs
What is interreligious chaplaincy?
Interreligious chaplaincy is a form of spiritual care that equips chaplains to support people from many different faith traditions, spiritual backgrounds, and cultural identities. An interreligious chaplaincy program, such as our Master of Divinity in Interreligious Chaplaincy, prepares students to provide compassionate, ethical, and trauma-informed care across diverse religious and secular contexts.
What does an interfaith chaplain do?
An interfaith chaplain offers spiritual care, emotional support, and guidance to individuals and communities regardless of their religious or non-religious identity. Interfaith chaplains serve in hospitals, the military, schools, prisons, first responder units, corporate environments, and community organizations. United’s interfaith chaplaincy training helps students develop the intercultural and interreligious competencies needed for this work.
What does “interreligious” mean?
“Interreligious” refers to engagement, dialogue, and collaboration among people and traditions from different religions or belief systems. In chaplaincy, interreligious work involves providing care that is sensitive to varying theologies, cultural identities, and spiritual needs, all core skills students develop in United’s interreligious chaplaincy program.
What is the Master of Divinity in Interreligious Chaplaincy at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities?
The Master of Divinity in Interreligious Chaplaincy is a 72-credit graduate program designed to prepare students for careers as interfaith or multi-faith chaplains. Students gain theological depth, trauma-informed care skills, intercultural competency, and experience through Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). Most coursework can be completed online, making it accessible for working adults.
Who is the MDiv in Interfaith Chaplaincy designed for?
This program is ideal for individuals called to chaplaincy roles in healthcare, the military, prisons, schools, corporate settings, first-responder units, or community-based spiritual care. It’s also a strong fit for those seeking to become multi-faith chaplains or serve in congregational and interreligious ministry settings.
What courses are included in United’s Interreligious Chaplaincy program?
Coursework includes pastoral and spiritual care, trauma-informed care, interfaith and interreligious approaches to chaplaincy, preaching and public voice, intercultural ministry, world religions, ethics, and leadership. Students complete a CPE internship and have access to electives that deepen their vocational focus.
How long does it take to complete the MDiv in Interreligious Chaplaincy?
Students can complete the degree in approximately three years by taking 9 credits per trimester. The program is flexible, with many courses offered asynchronously for distance learners.
Is United’s interfaith chaplaincy program offered online?
Yes. All of United’s MDiv concentrations can be completed online. Courses are available through distance learning, making the program ideal for students balancing work, ministry, and personal commitments.
What are the requirements for becoming a professional interfaith or multi-faith chaplain?
Professional chaplaincy requirements vary by setting but often include:
-
A Master of Divinity or equivalent degree
-
Completion of multiple CPE units
-
Endorsement from a recognized faith group
-
Clinical experience
United’s interreligious chaplaincy training provides the academic foundation needed for these pathways.
What career paths can I pursue with a Master of Divinity in Interreligious Chaplaincy?
Graduates often serve as interfaith or multi-faith chaplains in hospitals, hospice care, the military, prisons, universities, corporate offices, first-responder units, and community organizations. Others become spiritual care providers in congregations, nonprofit settings, or interfaith organizations.
How do I enroll in United’s Interreligious Chaplaincy program?
Prospective students can apply online through United Theological Seminary’s admissions portal. The process typically includes transcripts, recommendations, and a personal statement. Our enrollment team can guide applicants through each step.
Does United offer an Interfaith Chaplaincy Institute?
United does not host a standalone “Interfaith Chaplaincy Institute,” but the Master of Divinity in Interreligious Chaplaincy serves as a comprehensive interfaith chaplaincy training program grounded in theology, world religions, intercultural care, and trauma-informed ministry.
What makes United’s interreligious chaplaincy program unique?
United emphasizes interreligious learning, arts-integrated theology, trauma-informed care, justice-focused ministry, and flexible distance learning. Students benefit from a curriculum that blends academic rigor, spiritual formation, and practical chaplaincy experience.
Is a thesis required for the MDiv in Interreligious Chaplaincy?
A thesis is not required, but students may choose to complete one as an elective if they want to pursue advanced research or prepare for doctoral studies.
Can I complete the program while working full-time?
Yes! Many students complete the interfaith chaplaincy program while working, thanks to online classes, asynchronous coursework, and flexible scheduling.