This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2025-2026 VCU Bulletin. Courses that expose students to cutting-edge content and transformative learning may be added and notification of additional program approvals may be received prior to finalization. General education program content is also subject to change. The final edition and full PDF version will include these updates and will be available in August prior to the beginning of the fall semester.
Program accreditation
Association for Clinical Pastoral Education
Program goal
To provide clinical education for pastoral care professionals as well as other health care providers in the spiritual care of patients and families within an interdisciplinary context
Student learning outcomes
- Utilize behavioral sciences to examine one’s narrative history and its intersection with the provision of spiritual care [ACPE Category A]
- Deliver spiritual care with intercultural and interreligious humility [ACPE Category B]
- Provide spiritual care with a trauma-informed lens [ACPE Category B]
- Address one’s implicit biases in their spiritual care [ACPE Category B]
- Assess group dynamics as related to the provision of spiritual care [ACPE Category C]
- Maintain professional boundaries and evaluate one’s boundaries as related to spiritual care encounters [ACPE Category C]
- Utilize evidence-based spiritual care interventions and diverse spiritual care resources [ACPE Category D]
- Evaluate the influence of organizational dynamics and organizational well-being in spiritual care [ACPE Category D]
- Maximize the clinical method of learning to expand self-awareness and clinical skills [ACPE Category E]
- Evaluate ethical decision-making and interdisciplinary teamwork in complex clinical situations [ACPE Category E]
- Establish an ongoing plan for professional consultation and continued learning [ACPE Category E]
- Integrate relevant research in one’s practice of spiritual care [ACPE Category E]
- Integrate relevant philosophical, psychological, sociological and theological theories into spiritual care practice.
VCU Graduate Bulletin, VCU Graduate School and general academic policies and regulations for all graduate students in all graduate programs
The VCU Graduate Bulletin website documents the official admission and academic rules and regulations that govern graduate education for all graduate programs at the university. These policies are established by the graduate faculty of the university through their elected representatives to the University Graduate Council.
It is the responsibility of all graduate students, both on- and off-campus, to be familiar with the VCU Graduate Bulletin as well as the Graduate School website and academic regulations in individual school and department publications and on program websites. However, in all cases, the official policies and procedures of the University Graduate Council, as published on the VCU Graduate Bulletin and Graduate School websites, take precedence over individual program policies and guidelines.
Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on academic regulations for graduate students.
Degree candidacy requirements
A graduate student admitted to a program or concentration requiring a final research project, work of art, thesis or dissertation, must qualify for continuing master’s or doctoral status according to the degree candidacy requirements of the student’s graduate program. Admission to degree candidacy, if applicable, is a formal statement by the graduate student’s faculty regarding the student’s academic achievements and the student’s readiness to proceed to the final research phase of the degree program.
Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following degree candidacy policy as published in the VCU Graduate Bulletin for complete information and instructions.
Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on degree candidacy requirements.
Graduation requirements
As graduate students approach the end of their academic programs and the final semester of matriculation, they must make formal application to graduate. No degrees will be conferred until the application to graduate has been finalized.
Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following graduation requirements as published in the Graduate Bulletin for a complete list of instructions and a graduation checklist.
Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on graduation requirements.
Other information
Students receive a Department of Patient Counseling student handbook during orientation.
Admission requirements
| Degree: | Semester(s) of entry: | Deadline dates: | Test requirements: |
|---|---|---|---|
| M.S. | Fall | May 1 |
In addition to the general admission requirements of the VCU Graduate School, applicants must have successfully completed undergraduate training and hold a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution reflecting ability to perform at the graduate level; graduate degree in a health-related field; or two years of graduate theological education. Students must apply and be accepted to VCU’s Graduate School to participate in the clinical pastoral education program.
This program also requires submission of the following supplemental material: a current resume, the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education Inc. application materials, copies of all previous self- and supervisor’s CPE evaluations and two verbatim case studies of clinical work. An interview with the faculty admission committee will be granted based on application material.
Application fact sheets and narrative instructions can be found on the ACPE website.
Chaplain certification concentration
- The chaplain certification concentration is available to individuals who have a previous graduate degree or who have at least two years of graduate education in theology, the behavioral sciences or the health-related sciences. It is assumed that completion of this 44-credit-hour concentration will take four to five semesters.
- Students admitted to this option must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Submission of the Graduate Examination Record is required when this GPA requirement is not met.
- Applicants holding degrees from recognized foreign institutions should display an acceptable level of English proficiency by achieving a minimum score of 550 on the TOEFL paper-based examination or 100 on the Internet-based examination. Ability to communicate orally and in writing must be presented to the Department of Patient Counseling admissions committee.
Degree requirements
In addition to general VCU Graduate School graduation requirements, students must:
- Complete a minimum of 44 credit hours in accordance with the approved curriculum
- Complete all core courses
- Complete all required elective course hours
Curriculum requirements
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core requirements | ||
| PATC 501 | Introduction to Spiritual Care in Health Care | 1 |
| PATC 515 | Basic Spiritual Care | 7 |
| PATC 516 | Introduction to Spiritual Care Clinical Practicum | 2 |
| PATC 592 | Independent Study in Spiritual Care | 2 |
| PATC 611 | Theory of Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy Practice I | 3 |
| PATC 612 | Theory of Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy Practice II | 3 |
| PATC 613 | Group Process I | 2 |
| PATC 614 | Group Process II | 2 |
| PATC 615 | Group Process III | 2 |
| PATC 617 | Theory of Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy Practice III | 3 |
| PATC 635 | Clinical Ethics | 2 |
| PATC 639 | Spiritual Care Management | 2 |
| PATC 640 | Research Basics | 1 |
| PATC 641 | Evidence-based Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy Inquiry | 1 |
| PATC 642 | Developing and Presenting Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy Research | 1 |
| PATC 646 | Clinical Practicum I | 2 |
| PATC 647 | Clinical Practicum II | 2 |
| PATC 648 | Clinical Practicum III | 2 |
| Electives | ||
| Courses may be taken in patient counseling, gerontology and rehabilitation counseling. Other electives may be allowed with prior permission of the program director and chair. | 4 | |
| PATC elective course (500 level or higher) | ||
| GRTY elective course (620 and 630 series) | ||
| RHAB elective course (620 and 630 series) | ||
| Total Hours | 44 | |
The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this degree is 44.
Contact
Calvin Bradley, Jr., M.Div.
Assistant professor and program director
bradleyce@vcu.edu
Additional contact
Marilyn J.D. Barnes, M.P.H.
Assistant professor and chair
barnesmj5@vcu.edu
(804) 828-0540